2023-05-31 18:25:18
Maritime passenger transport is CMA CGM’s new area of development. The container giant – 155,000 employees, including four thousand in Marseille –, which continues to multiply acquisitions in the field of logistics but also in the media, finalized the takeover, on Wednesday May 31, of the Méridionale navigation company, which provides passenger and freight connections between Marseille, Corsica and Morocco. The company, which, in the port of Marseille, moors its blue boats at the foot of the CMA CGM headquarters and therefore under the eyes of its chairman and managing director, Rodolphe Saadé, had until then belonged to the Stef group, its sole shareholder since 2009.
Founded in 1928, La Méridionale today has nearly six hundred employees and posted, in 2021, a turnover of 89 million euros. In December 2022, it obtained, during a vote in the Assembly of Corsica, the renewal of its public service delegation (DSP) on links with the island from the mainland. A DSP which now runs until 2029. Its four mixed vessels, accommodating passengers and trucks and sailing under the French flag, provide up to thirteen crossings each week between Marseille, Porto-Vecchio and Ajaccio. This last service is carried out within the framework of a group formed with Corsica Linea, another company benefiting from the delegation of public service.
The takeover of La Méridionale, the amount of which has not been disclosed by its new owner, is part of CMA CGM’s strategy to develop a specialized shipping division. This entity brings together the new activity of car transport by boat, the stake in the capital of Brittany Ferries, a company which provides transport in the Channel, as well as the stake in the young Nantes company Neoline, which is developing the first ro-ro sailing ship. Its management is entrusted to Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, former boss of the Ponant company and close to the Saadé family. Mr. Sauvée also becomes the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of La Méridionale. A few weeks ago, this maritime specialist had left the presidency of the board of directors of the newspaper Provencewhich he had held since September 2022.
The growing weight of Rodolphe Saadé
The acquisition of La Méridionale strengthens the link between CMA CGM and Corsica and increases the growing influence of Rodolphe Saadé on the island. In 2022, the shipowner became the owner of the newspaper Corse-Matin, the only island daily, by buying the La Provence group. He also maintains personal ties with Corsica where he goes regularly. In its press release announcing its takeover of La Méridionale, CMA CGM indicates its “demonstrated desire to participate in the influence of the Corsica destination” and to “reinforce its attractiveness”. Commitments that the group has confirmed on several occasions before the leaders of the Corsica community.
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