Starting next week Deutsche Bank-controlled investment fund Deutsche Altrnative Asset Management will become a new minority shareholder of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei, the newly formed subholding company of the Genoa-based Rimorchiatori Riuniti group, in charge of harbour towage services in many ports based mainly in Italy and Malta.

The closing of the deal is expected to take place next Thursday and the German financial investor will pay some €150m ($176m) to obtain a 35% share of the towage business with the possibility to rise to 40% in the coming years, several sources told Splash.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti launched a tender aimed at seeking a financial partner in order to grow its financial capacity and targeting new investments and takeovers in the harbour towage business. Apart from Deutsche Altrnative Asset Management there were further three investment funds shortlisted by the group led by the Delle Piane and Gavarone families and they were vehicle companies related to Blackstone, First State Investments and the Italian F2i.

Rimorchiatori Riuniti of Genoa is also active in offshore and deepsea shipping with a fleet of offshore supply vessels, AHTSs, bulk carriers and a containership.