CMA CGM Buys SOFRANA

CMA CGM has reached an agreement to purchase the majority of the shares in SOFRANA Unilines, a key player in the Pacific Islands regional maritime trade.

SOFRANA Unilines operates directly, or in partnership, a fleet of 10 vessels on eight trade-lanes, servicing 21 ports in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands.

The company will be purchased through CMA CGM subsidiary ANL. ANL already offers 16 trade lanes servicing major ports throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, North Asia, South East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and North America. With successful operations in the South Pacific region for almost 50 years, SOFRANA will provide enhanced port coverage to ANL and CMA CGM in this region, says CMA CGM in a statement.

“ANL’s extensive reach across Asia, ISC and North America coupled with SOFRANA’s in-depth knowledge of the Pacific islands will provide customers with a new level of service and routing options, all supported by the financial and operational strength of the CMA CGM Group.

The newly combined group, SOFRANA ANL, will join CMA CGM’s portfolio of regional experts: OPDR and MacAndrews in Europe, CNC in Asia. In addition, CMA CGM announced in June its project to acquire Mercosul Line to build up its operations in Brazil.

The acquisition of SOFRANA Unilines is expected to be completed by the end of October.