V. Ships parent looking for new investors

V. Ships parent looking for new investors Isle of Man-registered V. Holdings, whose main business unit V.Ships is the world's largest provider of ship management services, is searching for an investor to replace Close Brothers Private Equity, part of the Close Brothers Group plc., a financial services organization.
   Close Brothers acquired its 50 percent equity shareholder stake in V. Holdings in 2003 from the Vlasov Group and GE Capital. The remaining interest in V. Holdings is held by about 100 of its managers.
   The company has appointed NM Rothschild to seek interest from financial institutions for the Close Brothers' share.
   'The current management team are fully committed to the expansive growth plans for the business and will continue to hold a significant shareholding interest,' said Donald Anderson, V.Holdings' president and chief executive officer.
   London-based V. Ships provides ship management and related services to more than 900 vessels of most types. Roberto Giorgi, president of V.Ships said: 'Our management team is fully committed to our clients and V.Ships continues to expand both as a focused ship management business for a broad range of cargo and passenger vessels, as a major supplier of crew and as a worldwide marine services provider.'