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CMA CGM S.A.

Container Shipping and LogisticsFounded 1978
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Acquisitions

CMA CGM Acquisitions

4

Major Deals Covered

$7.0B

Disclosed Deal Value

What are CMA CGM's biggest acquisitions?

CMA CGM's largest disclosed acquisition here is Bolloré Logistics for $5.3B in 2024. This page covers 4 major deals from 2017 to 2025, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.

Major deals covered
4
Largest deal
Bolloré Logistics ($5.3B)
First deal
2017
Most recent
2025
CompanyYearPricePurpose
Bolloré Logistics2024$5.3BTo turn CMA CGM from a port-to-port carrier into an end-to-end logistics provider with deep air and ocean freight-forwarding capacity, particularly in Africa, Europe and Asia.
CEVA Logistics2019$1.7BTo establish a foundational presence in the global contract logistics and freight forwarding market, marking the first major step in Rodolphe Saadé's pivot toward end-to-end supply chain integration.
Santos Brasil (controlling stake)2025UndisclosedTo control Santos Brasil, owner of South America's largest container terminal at the Port of Santos, and expand CMA CGM's terminal network in Latin America.
Mercosul Line2017UndisclosedCMA CGM S.A. acquired Mercosul Line in 2017.
What companies has CMA CGM bought?
Major acquisitions by CMA CGM documented here include Bolloré Logistics (2024), CEVA Logistics (2019), Santos Brasil (controlling stake) (2025) and Mercosul Line (2017).
What is CMA CGM's most recent acquisition?
The most recent CMA CGM acquisition documented here is Santos Brasil (controlling stake), in 2025.

Santos Brasil (controlling stake)

2025

Why

To control Santos Brasil, owner of South America's largest container terminal at the Port of Santos, and expand CMA CGM's terminal network in Latin America.

Impact

CMA CGM became controlling shareholder with about 51% on April 24, 2025, after buying roughly 47.9% from Opportunity funds and adding a 3.1% stake bought in 2024; a tender offer to minority shareholders followed.

Outcome

Santos Brasil was among the terminal investments that lifted CMA CGM's other-activities revenue 48.4% in 2025.

Source →

Bolloré Logistics

2024

$5.3B

Why

To turn CMA CGM from a port-to-port carrier into an end-to-end logistics provider with deep air and ocean freight-forwarding capacity, particularly in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Impact

Bolloré Logistics was combined with CEVA, lifting group logistics revenue to $18.3 billion in 2025.

Outcome

Integrated into CEVA Logistics; the enterprise value was ~$5.48 billion (€4.85 billion).

Source →

CEVA Logistics

2019

$1.7B

Why

To establish a foundational presence in the global contract logistics and freight forwarding market, marking the first major step in Rodolphe Saadé's pivot toward end-to-end supply chain integration.

Impact

Provided CMA CGM with an immediate global network of logistics professionals and warehousing assets, serving as the proof-of-concept for the larger, more aggressive Bolloré acquisition five years later.

Outcome

While the initial integration faced significant cultural and operational challenges, CEVA laid the critical groundwork for the group's logistics strategy, eventually becoming a core component of the Bolloré integration framework.

Source →

Mercosul Line

2017

Why

CMA CGM S.A. acquired Mercosul Line in 2017.

Source →

CMA CGM S.A.'s Growth & Acquisition Strategy

Growth comes from vertical integration rather than ships alone. CMA CGM bought CEVA Logistics (2019), Ingram Micro CLS and GEFCO (2021-2022) and Bolloré Logistics (2024), then in 2025 took control of Brazil's Santos Brasil, bought UK rail freight operator Freightliner and Air Belgium, and CEVA added Turkey's Borusan Lojistik and agreed to buy Fagioli. It invested $2.5 billion in terminals in 2025, including stakes in Hamburg, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, and in March 2025 pledged $20 billion of US investment over four years.

How CMA CGM S.A. Makes Money

The core business model is ocean freight. They own or lease large container ships (some capable of carrying 24,000 containers at once) and charge corporations to move those containers across the ocean. The profitability is entirely dependent on global shipping rates and the price of bunker fuel. However, recognizing that ocean freight is highly volatile, their modern business model has aggressively shifted to 'End-to-End Logistics'. They want to control the cargo not just on the water, but all the way to the final warehouse.

CMA CGM Acquisitions FAQ

What was CMA CGM's landmark acquisition of Bolloré Logistics in 2024?

In February 2024 CMA CGM completed the acquisition of Bolloré Logistics for an enterprise value of ~$5.48 billion (€4.85 billion) and combined it with CEVA Logistics.

Why was the acquisition of CEVA Logistics in 2019 transformational?

In April 2019, CMA CGM acquired Swiss-headquartered 3PL giant CEVA Logistics for $1.7 billion, establishing CMA CGM as an end-to-end multi-modal supply chain provider and doubling the group's global logistics workforce.

What was the acquisition of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) and APL in 2016?

In June 2016, CMA CGM acquired Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) and its historic American President Lines (APL) brand for $2.4 billion, cementing CMA CGM's dominance on transpacific and intra-Asia trade routes.

What was the acquisition of Ingram Micro CLS in 2021?

In December 2021, CMA CGM acquired Ingram Micro's Commerce & Lifecycle Services (CLS) business for an enterprise value of $3.0 billion, adding dozens of automated contract logistics centers across North America and Europe.

What was the acquisition of automotive logistics leader GEFCO in 2022?

In 2022 CMA CGM acquired European automotive logistics group GEFCO, whose majority owner had been Russian Railways, and folded it into CEVA Logistics.

What was the acquisition of Altice Media in 2024?

In July 2024, CMA CGM Médias completed the acquisition of French media group Altice Media (including news channel BFM TV and RMC radio) for an enterprise value of ~$1.75 billion (1.55 billion euros), expanding its footprint in national news broadcasting.

Which US terminals has CMA CGM acquired?

CMA CGM owns Fenix Marine Services in Los Angeles and acquired the GCT Bayonne and GCT New York terminals on the US East Coast.

What did CMA CGM acquire in 2025?

In 2025 CMA CGM took control of Santos Brasil, bought UK rail freight operator Freightliner and Air Belgium, CEVA acquired Borusan Lojistik in Turkey, and CMA Media bought Brut and Chérie 25.

What companies has CMA CGM acquired?

Flush with massive cash reserves, they executed a $5.5 billion acquisition of Bolloré Logistics in 2023, and previously bought CEVA Logistics, aggressively attempting to transform from just a shipping line into a complete, door-to-door global logistics provider.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.