Ponant, the world’s only French-flag cruise line, has completed its acquisition by Artemis, holding company of the Pinault family.

Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Co-founder and CEO of Ponant, said: “In the last three years, together we have launched and financed new ships, opened new offices in Australia and China, and acquired a leading player in the American cultural cruise market. Today we are entering a new phase with a long-term shareholder who, like Bridgepoint, shares our vision and ambitions for Ponant as a global player in the high-end cruise market.”

Ponant will now work with Artemis to ramp-up its internationalisation programme, consolidate its positions in France, Switzerland and Belgium and thereby enter a new phase in its development.

Under the current Executive Management team, led by Co-founder and CEO Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée and Véronique Saadé, Deputy CEO, Artemis intends to continue Ponant’s strategy focused on innovation.