Perrigault SA., the Le Havre - based port and logistics operator and APM Terminals announce the completed sale of APM Terminals’ 50% share in Terminal Porte Océane (TPO) and Société d’Exploitation du Terminal Porte Océane to Perrigault SA. on 22 July 2014, the company said in its press release.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Both companies operated a 50 - 50 joint venture in Le Havre. TPO signed the concession agreement with Port Autonome du Havre (currently Grand Port Maritime du Havre) back in 16 May 2006.
APM Terminals Europe Region CEO, Ben Vree said, “We have enjoyed our partnership with the Perrigault Group and our time serving the Le Havre shipping market. Our agreement today reflects our portfolio management efforts and the sale to Perrigault is good for all parties.”
Perrigault SA CEO Jean Bekaert added, “Our decision to expand our share demonstrates our strategic commitment to serving the French market with the finest port and logistics services in Le Havre. As a leader in the French market, we look forward to continue working with our customers to meet their future demands.”
With the fourth - largest economy in Europe, and the 9 th - largest in the world , France was the world’s 5 th - largest exporter and 6 th - largest importer in 2013, with combined trade of $1.21 trillion. The Port of Le Havre, which dates to 1517, is the largest container port in France and an important center of containerized trade for the European Union. The IMF has projected the French economy to expand by 1% in 2014, and by 1.5% in 2015. Le Havre handles approximately 60% of all French container volume, and is the 6 th - busiest container port in the Northern European port range, handling approximately 2.5 million TEUs in 2013.