It was actually about a citizen's advisor when Jens Otto Madsen (EL) spoke at the city council meeting in Thisted. But when the politician from the Unity Party drew a parallel to a recently concluded theme meeting on Hanstholm Port, it triggered a rant from Thisted's mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen (V):
- Jens Otto, I have to say. Firstly, we do not refer to closed annexes or read out closed annexes. Secondly, these are not public theme meetings that we have in the municipal council. You simply have to stick to what you are allowed to talk about here.
The city council had just been informed of plans for a port merger between the municipal Hanstholm Port and ADP A/S (Associated Danish Ports ed.), which operates the Fredericia and Nyborg ports. This is what sources close to the process tell DOI.dk under the promise of anonymity. The editors know the identities of the sources.
The advanced merger plans to form Hanstholm Havn A/S are scheduled to be discussed at closed city council meetings in Thisted and Fredericia municipalities in January 2025. Here, a final decision on the port merger will be made, effective from late summer 2025.
ADP becomes majority owner
Specifically, a merger offer is on the table for the distressed port, where the municipality has secured a five-year grace period on the remaining debt of around 500 million. DKK. The debt stems from a port expansion to over 600 million. DKK, which was completed in 2020.
The debt is the reason why Hansholm Port has gone from being a municipal self-governing port to being a municipal port, as the port's turnover of approximately DKK 33 million annually could not maintain the large loan, which is why the municipality had to take over the operation of the port. Since then, they have secured a grace period on the loan, which expires in 2028. At that time, only the citizens of Thisted Municipality will have to pay if the port does not earn enough money.
The port merger and the formation of Hanstholm Havn A/S will mean that ADP A/S will have to invest DKK 63 million in the new company, while Thisted Municipality will invest DKK 60 million. DKK. i.
However, the agreement will also mean that two of the port's outer piers will remain in the hands of the municipality, while Hanstholm Havn A/S' ownership will be divided 49 percent to Thisted Municipality and 51 percent to ADP A/S. The two remaining outer piers are state-owned. It has also been agreed that the future board of directors will consist of five members. Thisted Municipality will be allowed to elect two members, while ADP A/S will appoint the last three, including the chairman of the board.
The pier rental to the port will then ensure the municipality an income of at least five million DKK and a maximum of 15 million DKK annually. The pier is valued at 350 million DKK, so the rental income is not exactly favorable for Thisted Municipality, because the debt of the 500 million DKK is still with the municipality. It is still unknown what form of port operation will be pursued in the traditional fishing port.
Thisted mayor: I cannot name specific partners
Thisted's mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen (V) can tell a little bit, when DOI.dk catches up with him.
- We have had the port for two years now, and that is why we are now looking for other options. We have always said that it was temporary that the port should be a municipal port, because there are a number of limitations to it. But I can't name any specific partners, says Niels Jørgen Pedersen, adding with an indulgent chuckle about his city council colleague who spoke a little too much:
- It is absolutely correct that we have had a theme meeting about the port.
DOI.dk has tried to get a comment from Fredericia's mayor Christian Bro (A), who is vice chairman of the board of ADP A/S, where the municipality owns 89 percent of the shares together with Nyborg and Middelfart municipalities, which have ownership shares of 10.6 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.
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