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MSC makes $6.4bn bid for Bolloré’s African logistics business

Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersDecember 21, 2021
2,374 1 minute read
MSC

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) has made a $6.4bn bid to buy out Bolloré Group’s African logistics business, a notable departure for the Swiss container line that has tended to grow organically in its 51-year existence. 

Cash rich MSC has tabled a bid to take over Bolloré’s port, rail and logistics entities in Africa as well as port concessions in India, East Timor and Haiti. Bolloré Logistics in the rest of the world and Bolloré Energy are not part of the proposed deal. 

Bolloré said it is studying the offer, with an end-March date put as the time for the deal to be concluded. 

French billionaire Vincent Bollore had earlier announced he intends to retire early next year. 

Last month MSC’s 2M partner Maersk formed a joint venture with South Africa’s Grindrod with many logistics players looking at the African continent as a source of strong growth this decade. 

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Photo of Sam Chambers Sam ChambersDecember 21, 2021
2,374 1 minute read
Photo of Sam Chambers

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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