Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, the French maritime and logistics firm, has officially been acquired by private equity group InfraVia Capital Partners, marking a major shift in ownership for the company that has remained family-run since its founding in 1890.
InfraVia has taken an 80% controlling stake in the company, with the Louis-Dreyfus family retaining 20%. The company will now operate under a new name, LD Armateurs, and be led by Samira Draoua, who steps in as CEO. Edouard Louis-Dreyfus will continue as president, ensuring some continuity in leadership.
The deal includes a substantial £1 billion (approx. €1.2 billion) investment pledge from InfraVia, which will fund a significant expansion of LD Armateurs’ fleet and capabilities. The company currently operates 23 vessels including RoRo ships and offshore support vessels, serving sectors such as wind farm maintenance and undersea cable installation.
The new capital injection is expected to more than double the fleet and accelerate the company’s technological innovation, support its energy transition goals, and help develop next-gen maritime services.
Incoming CEO Samira Draoua brings experience from leadership roles in both digital and maritime sectors, having most recently served as CEO of Econocom France. She also previously headed Les Abeilles International, a maritime services company that provided rescue and towing services to the French government before being sold to Boluda in 2024.
LDA’s roots trace back to grain shipping operations in the Black Sea region in the late 19th century. Over the past century, the firm has evolved through cargo shipping, RoRo operations, and now specializes in offshore services and port logistics. The company has also been active in clean energy innovation, revealing concepts for a floating offshore ammonia cracking facility and a liquid hydrogen-fueled service vessel for offshore wind projects.
Source: The Maritime Executive
