The Crown Worldwide Group has announced its acquisition of JNP, a specialist fine arts logistics company with 115 employees.

This acquisition enables Crown Fine Arts to considerably strengthen its service offering in the fine arts logistics sector.

Crown Fine Arts has been providing specialised fine arts packing and transportation services since 1989 with fine arts ‘Centres of Excellence’ (CoE) in London, Paris, Milan, Dubai and Hong Kong and operating from over 200 locations worldwide. These CoEs will now be extended to include the existing JNP locations in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Moscow, Munich, St Petersburg and Shanghai.

JNP serves museums, art galleries, auction houses and collectors to arrange the installation, storage, packing, transport, international shipping, collection care and restoration of artworks and antiquities.   It will benefit from the backing and investment that Crown’s network can provide.

Jan Lonnblad, Managing Director of the Finnish parent company, John Nurminen OY, commented: “This divestment is the last of our fully owned logistics companies, as we move strategically into new business areas, such as renewable energy and the cleantech sector. We are pleased that this high quality fine art business is being further developed by Crown as part of their expansion plans.”

David Muir, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Worldwide Group - Europe, Middle East & Africa said: “The fine art market is highly specialised, with clients demanding world class levels of expertise and appreciation. John Nurminen Prima is well established, with excellent credentials and a first class client list including internationally renowned museums and institutions. We welcome this highly experienced team, led by Fred Weijgertse, so that continuity of service for all clients is assured.”

John Nurminen Prima will continue to trade under its existing name during a transitional phase before assuming the Crown Fine Arts brand.

Photo: Back, left to right: Rob Foote, Chief Financial Officer - EMEA, Crown Worldwide Group; Peter Lonnblad, JNP; Markus Aalto, JPN.  Front, left to right: David Muir, Chief Executive Officer - EMEA, Crown Worldwide Group; Jan Lonnblad, Managing Director, Jon Nurminen OY.