Interschalt maritime systems AG, provider of maritime software for cargo and fleet management, and Müller+Blanck Software GmbH has announced the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of Müller+Blanck.
Interschalt currently has a combined market share of 25% with its storage planning software StowMan and the advanced development StowMan, introduced to the market in 2014.
Interschalt has approximately 65% of the share of the containership segment and is a global market leader.
Müller+Blanck developed the stowage planning software ‘Capstan’, as well as the on-board interface ‘OBI’ in the mid-1990s, which are used by the liner shipping companies Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Süd among others.
With the acquisition of Müller+Blanck, Interschalt will increase its market share in the stowage planning segment to 33% and consolidates its market leadership in the segment for loading computers for containerships.
Robert Gärtner, CEO of Interschalt, said: “This transaction marks a further milestone in our transformation process, the aim of which is to further develop the maritime software business into a strong platform for growth.
“For our stowage planning segment, the acquisition is a fitting addition which we want to use to offer our customers an improved product range, based on the best both systems have to offer. This fusion enables us to ensure stable growth and profitability.”
Holger Blanck, CEO of Müller+Blanck, said: “We are pleased to join forces with Interschalt, a company that – with the new stowage planning software StowMan – has impressively proven its innovative capability.
“We are convinced that because of the merger we will be able to offer a boost in innovation to our customers and new prospects to our employees.”
It is planned that Müller+Blanck will initially continue to operate as an autonomous GmbH (a German acronym translating as a ‘company with limited liability’), under the direction of Holger Blanck, at the Schenefeld site.
Both parties have agreed not to disclose the acquisition price.
