Vroon Holding has agreed to sell Livestock Express and 11 owned livestock carriers to Australian agribusiness and shipping group Heytesbury, ending the Dutch owner’s direct involvement in livestock shipping after about 60 years, according to Vroon.
The deal covers 100% of Livestock Express Pte Ltd, its Singapore office and technical management services for third-party vessels. The price was not disclosed. Vroon said the sale is part of a reshaping strategy aimed at concentrating the group on niche markets in energy, liquids, infrastructure and offshore wind, while strengthening its financial position.
Livestock Express will continue as an independent carrier under Heytesbury’s ownership and keep operating under its own brand in global markets.
Heytesbury is already exposed to the sector through the Ocean Swagman, a livestock carrier it owns and Livestock Express operates. The Australian group is also active in northern Australia’s cattle trade.
Vroon chief executive Martijn Schouten said the transaction marks “the final chapter of Livestock Express within the Vroon group and the beginning of a new chapter under its future owner”. “We are proud of everyone who has helped build Livestock Express over the past 60 years into the world’s largest independent livestock carrier, with a fleet of modern, purpose-built vessels,” Schouten said.
Heytesbury chief executive Paul Holmes à Court said Livestock Express would continue operating independently and serving global markets under its own brand.
Vroon Holding is an international shipping group based in Breda, the Netherlands, with operations in transportation and vessel management. After the Livestock Express sale, its main operating brands include Iver Ships, focused on product and high-heat tankers, and Vroon Offshore Services, focused on offshore support, emergency response and rescue, offshore infrastructure and offshore wind.
Livestock Express Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based livestock shipping company operating purpose-built vessels for seaborne livestock transport.
Heytesbury is a family-owned Australian agribusiness and shipping group with cattle breeding and trading activities in northern Australia and commercial links to South-East Asian markets, including Indonesia.
