A.P. Moller Holding has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of global ship leasing platform Ocean Yield from KKR, returning the Oslo-headquartered company to long-term industrial ownership. The transaction integrates a modern fleet of over 70 vessels and a $5 billion long-term contract backlog into the Mærsk family’s $44 billion investment portfolio, substantially reinforcing its maritime infrastructure footprint.
Oslo and Copenhagen | July 2, 2026 – In a major realignment of global maritime capital, A.P. Moller Holding, the parent company of the A.P. Moller Group, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Ocean Yield from funds managed by global investment powerhouse KKR.
The transaction marks a powerful expansion of the Mærsk family-backed investment arm into the ship leasing and alternative maritime finance space. It returns the Oslo-headquartered vessel-owning platform to long-term industrial ownership after nearly five years under KKR’s private equity umbrella.
Fleet Profile: Deep Diversification Across the Water
Ocean Yield has established itself as one of the world’s premier maritime leasing vehicles. The company’s portfolio represents a massive, modern fleet that acts as a vital backbone for global trade and the ongoing energy transition.
The Ocean Yield Asset Portfolio
- Vessel Count: Direct interests in more than 70 modern vessels.
- Segment Coverage: Deeply diversified across gas carriers, container ships, LNG carriers, crude, product and chemical tankers, as well as dry bulk carriers.
- Financial Backlog: A long-term contracted revenue backlog valued at more than $5 billion.
Strategic Rationale: Industrial Legacy Meets Stable Cash Flow
For A.P. Moller Holding, which manages approximately $44 billion in assets, the acquisition adds a high-performing, yield-generating engine to its sprawling maritime ecosystem. The group already controls industry giants like A.P. Moller – Maersk, Maersk Tankers, Svitzer, and offshore player DOF.
The deal is structured to provide the group with highly predictable, investment-grade counterparty revenues while leveraging their deep maritime heritage.
“We believe that combining Ocean Yield’s compelling platform with our century-long experience in the maritime industry will create a strong partnership,” said Martin Larsen, CFO of A.P. Moller Holding. “In addition, we see Ocean Yield’s business model, with its stable cash flow, as an excellent complement to our existing maritime portfolio.”
The KKR Era: Preparing for the Energy Transition
KKR acquired Ocean Yield in late 2021, embarking on an aggressive $3 billion deployment program to scale the business and insulate it against market volatility by securing long-duration charters.
Vincent Policard, Partner and Co-Head of European Infrastructure at KKR, noted that the platform is being handed over in a significantly stronger position: “Together with the management team, we have significantly scaled and diversified the platform, strengthened its long-term contracted revenue base, and supported its transition toward a more modern and sustainable fleet. Today, Ocean Yield is a larger, stronger and more resilient business.”
Crucially, the exit does not signal a total departure from the sector for KKR. The investment firm will remain a strategic partner to Ocean Yield via their ongoing joint investment in CapeOmega Gas Transportation AS, a key player in Norwegian offshore gas infrastructure.
Charting the Next Chapter
For Ocean Yield’s executive team, transitioning to the A.P. Moller Group brings unparalleled industrial backing, especially as the shipping sector faces massive capital expenditure requirements to meet global net-zero targets.
“Under private ownership, we have been able to think and act long term as we have partnered with leading shipping companies and end users,” said Andreas Røde, CEO of Ocean Yield. “We are therefore excited to start our next chapter of growth with A.P. Moller Holding.”
The completion of the transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.
About A.P. Moller Holding
As the privately held parent company of the A.P. Moller Group, A.P. Moller Holding manages approximately $44 billion in assets with an investment mandate established by the founding Mærsk family to build businesses that generate a positive societal impact (nyttig virksomhed). Tracing its heritage back to 1886 and guided by five generations of core values, Constant Care, Humbleness, Uprightness, Our Employees, and Our Name, the corporation controls a sprawling, multi-sector industrial ecosystem. Its premier maritime, energy, and financial portfolio features global heavyweights including A.P. Moller – Maersk, Maersk Tankers, Noble, Svitzer, DOF, Maersk Offshore Wind, ZeroNorth, and Danske Bank.
Source: A.P. Moller Holding