Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Starts Talks for Majority Stake Sale to Private Equity Firm

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and InfraVia, a private equity company in Europe, have entered into exclusive negotiations for InfraVia to acquire a majority stake in LDA, a group specializing in high value-added industrial marine services.

LDA currently specializes in three growing segments, transportation and logistics of industrial equipment, mainly through dedicated Ro-Ro vessels, maintenance of offshore wind farms, and installation and maintenance of submarine telecom and power cables.

With a worldwide presence, LDA manages a fleet of 23 vessels and generates most of its revenue through long-term contracts with blue-chip customers.

As part of the transaction, InfraVia, through its fund InfraVia European Fund VI, would acquire an 80% stake from the Louis-Dreyfus family, shareholder of in LDA, to support the group's development.

The Louis-Dreyfus family would retain a 20% ownership in the group, and Edouard Louis-Dreyfus would remain President.

This transaction would allow LDA to invest a billion euros over the next few years, enabling the group to more than double the size of its fleet and accelerate its development in technological innovation, energy transition and the design of tomorrow's navigation modes and maritime services.

With InfraVia as a shareholder, LDA would accelerate its ambitions to become a leading maritime