In 2012, French container shipping company group CMA CGM sold Ponant to Bridgepoint. Following Bridgepoint’s acquisition, Ponant’s sales doubled to €140 million and its profits tripled plus the company replaced two older vessels.

The company has now been acquired by Artemis, chaired by François-Henri Pinault, who is the controlling shareholder of the Kering group whose assets include the fashion brands Gucci and Saint-Laurent, auction house Christie’s and Bordeaux wine estate Chateau Latour. This is the first cruise company acquisition by Artemis.