Diversified and introduced new concepts
The owning and operation of oil tankers came to form the mainstay of Leif Höegh & Co for decades. From a process of transition in the 1960’s the company diversified into new activities also introducing new concepts for transportation. Combined oil/bulk/ore carriers (OBO) became a speciality for several decades, whereas from a start with transporting cars lifted on and off bulk carriers the car/bulk involvement was developed further into specialised forest product carriers and Ro/Ro car carriers.

A joint venture was formed with Ugland in 1970 Höegh-Ugland Auto Liners (HUAL) and became the basis for developing a world leading Ro/Ro operator. Leif Höegh & Co acquired the other 50% of HUAL in March 2000. Renamed in 2005 Höegh Autoliners is today on of the world’s largest operators in the Ro/Ro and vehicle transportation segment. Höegh pioneered the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) when contracting the world's first LNG carrier with special tanks (the Moss type) delivered to the company in 1973. The vessel is still trading on a long-term contract. Today Höegh LNG owns partly or wholly five LNG carriers including two new vessels to be employed on the worlds northernmost LNG development – Snøhvit.

Stock listing and consolidation
Various owning companies were stock listed since the founding of the first Höegh company Atlantica in 1927, and in December 1987 Leif Höegh & Co ASA was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange after merging the various ship-owning entities. This consolidation process laid the basis for new development towards a decentralised business model. The combined carrier and tanker related activities were de-merged and stock listed as Bona Shipholding in 1992 as a consequence of the US Oil Polution Act (OPA 90) that followed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska.

Bona Shipholding developed into a major operator in the OBO and Aframax tanker segments and was subsequently sold. The acquisition of the reefer operator Cool Carriers in 1994 was developed into Unicool in 1997 through a joint venture with Safmarine. Leif Höegh & Co owned Unicool 100% from the end of 1999 until Cool Carriers AB was sold to J. Lauritzen A/S with effect from 2001. Höegh Fleet Services AS was established as a separate ship-management entity in 1995 serving Leif Höegh & Co’s fleet. Ship management has long been considered a core competence and a part of the company’s products.

From diversified to growth in Ro/Ro and LNG
When Leif Höegh & Co acquired 100% of HUAL in 2000 the company’s strategy had changed from diversification to focus on Ro/Ro and LNG. Consequently non-core activities where disposed off; Höegh Lines involved in the liner business and transportation of forest products in specialised open hatch vessels terminated its activities in March 2001: The Liner business was sold as were the open hatch fleet, and the commercial open hatch operation was transferred to Saga Forest Carriers.

Two large dry bulk carriers were sold in 2005 concluding the disinvestment in non-core assets. In 2003 Höegh Autoliners took delivery of the first new vessel in an extensive fleet expansion and renewal program. In 2006 Höegh LNG takes delivery of two new LNG vessels.

New generation at the helm
In 2003 the third generation took control of the company. The cousins Leif O. Høegh and Morten Høegh, made an offer to acquire all outstanding shares in Leif Höegh & Co AS. The offer was well received and the company was privatised and de-listed. The growth ambitions are carried on.

In 2006 the company is restructured into two seperate entities - Höegh Autoliners and Höegh LNG - with a common holding company (Leif Höegh & Co Limited). The ship management expertice is maintained in Höegh Fleet Services.

Other activities – Building on long-term tradition from cyclical shipping markets
Høegh family interests have developed interests in real estate and in financial advisory services.