Irish Continental Group CEO leads €1.2 billion management buyout

Eamonn Rothwell heads the bid to take Irish Ferries parent private, adding to a wave of cross-border M&A activity in the UK and Ireland.

Av Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automatisert 24. juli 2026, 18:59 UTC · 1 min lesetid

Irish Continental Group (ICG), the parent company of Irish Ferries, is the subject of a management buyout valued at €1.2 billion.

The deal is being led by the company’s chief executive, Eamonn Rothwell, marking a significant shift in ownership for the major ferry operator.

1 billion agreement between OCS Group and facilities management rival Mitie, highlighting renewed appetite for large-scale consolidations in the region.

The proposed transaction values the firm at €1.2 billion, reflecting the strategic importance of the cross-channel route network.

While specific financing details and the composition of the management consortium were not immediately disclosed, the move signals confidence in the long-term cash flow stability of the ferry business.

This development arrives amid a broader surge in merger and acquisition activity across the UK and Irish corporate landscapes.

Recent months have seen a series of major deals, including the £3.1 billion agreement between OCS Group and facilities management rival Mitie, highlighting renewed appetite for large-scale consolidations in the region.