Presto acquires Norwegian Arcos – a leader in maritime safety

Presto, the Nordic region's largest fire protection and safety training company, has announced the acquisition of Arcos – Norway’s leading supplier of courses and consulting services to the shipping industry and energy sector.

“This deal broadens our operations and creates opportunities for growth within Arcos’ largest markets – maritime and offshore – in combination with our already strong land-based training operations. We look forward to a productive shared future”, says Filip Bjurström, President and CEO of Presto.

Presto continues its expansion with the acquisition of Tromsø-based Arcos - a leading supplier of courses and consultancy services with a focus on safety and preparedness.

“We see significant advantages in collaborating with a larger business like Presto, which wants to expand both professionally and commercially. It also means a lot that we can maintain Arcos’ identity despite welcoming new owners. Presto will be able to help us develop our market and range of services even further.

“We also feel that Presto has a corporate culture that suits our way of working”, says the founder of Arcos, Bjørn Gundersen, whose son Torbjørn Gundersen has been a partner in the company since 2014.

Arcos provides courses and consulting services to the offshore industry and maritime operations. Exercises at sea, courses in helicopter evacuation and realistic survival training are all offered in full-sized marine training pools with wind, precipitation and wave modules. The company has eleven employees and is approved by, among others, the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Offshore Norway, the Global Wind Organization and the Norwegian Armed Forces.

“We are delighted that both Torbjørn and Bjørn will continue to work as usual in the company. We’re creating rewarding synergies between both businesses and will continue to look at new opportunities together”, says Filip Bjurström.

“It feels exciting to develop the company even further in collaboration with Presto. Together we are more powerful and can capture an even larger share of the Norwegian market”, says Torbjørn Gundersen.

Arcos’ main focus is on providing safety training to private entities such as the fishing and fish farming industry, shipping and the offshore industry, as well as land-based industries and public bodies such as the police, the armed forces, universities and secondary schools.

“It is a substantial list and an extremely well-run company. We welcome Arcos into the Presto family”, says Filip Bjurström.