Serco acquires Clemaco
Serco Group plc has completed the acquisition of Clemaco, a family owned business based in Ostend, Belgium, which specialises in the support and maintenance of Belgian Navy vessels.
Image courtesy Serco
Clemaco has been a partner of the Belgian Armed Forces since 1964, in particular working closely with the Belgian Navy. Its operations are mostly at the Zeebrugge naval base, where its teams are in charge of the maintenance of Belgian naval vessels, including its fleet of minehunters. Clemaco employs 150 people and provides a wide range of services and support to other Belgian public institutions including the Belgian customs and police, although the majority of its revenues are generated from its work for the navy.
Serco has extensive experience in the maintenance of military vessels, working for several major navies, including the US Navy, Australian Navy and Royal Navy. More than 1,000 vessels and small craft are operated, supported or maintained by Serco at more than 30 sites around the world, from small support craft to the latest generation icebreakers and the most complex submarines. Serco employs more than 200 people in Belgium and operates support services from maintenance to IT management, for Defence, European institutions and international organisations.
Clemaco CEO Frank Verdonck believes the sale of Clemaco to Serco Belgium is reassuring and he is delighted: “With Serco Belgium, we have the certainty of continuity and stability of operations and further development of the business.“
For Gaëtan Desclée, CEO of Serco Europe, bringing Clemaco into Serco fits perfectly into Serco’s strategy, with maritime operation and maintenance services constituting an important axis for future development. “We are delighted to welcome our new Clemaco colleagues into the Serco family. The combination of the skills, experience and knowledge of Clemaco with Serco’s global expertise and capability will provide added value for existing Serco and Clemaco customers, including in particular the Belgian Ministry of Defence. We are pleased that this acquisition will allow Serco to expand its existing activities with the Belgian Navy.”
The news has been well received by Rear Admiral Jan De Beurme, Commander of the Belgian Navy “We are reassured to know that Serco Belgium is taking over the activities of Clemaco. The family business was looking for a buyer. The two partners have been working side by side for several years, this takeover guarantees us continuity in the quality of services. The support of Serco is a real added value, without additional costs and allows us to concentrate on the essential tasks. In conclusion, we have more services and fewer worries. This acquisition is excellent news.”