MSC to Acquire Majority Stake in Wilson Sons

Container giant, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), to pay $768 million for a majority stake in the Brazilian towage provider and terminal operator, Wilson Sons.

Ocean Wilsons’ subsidiary OW Overseas Investments Limited (OWOIL) announced via the London Stock Exchange that it had agreed to a deal to divest its stake in Brazilian maritime services provider Wilson Sons to MSC’s SAS Shipping Agencies Services.

Listed on the Brazilian stock exchange, Wilson Sons operates in various maritime sectors across major Brazilian ports, including Bahia, and Rio Grande do Sul. 

One of the country’s oldest companies, Wilson Sons operations include one of the largest tugboat fleets in Latin America with 80 tugboats, 23 offshore support vessels under the Brazilian flag, two offshore support bases in Guanabara Bay, a bonded logistics centre in Santo André, and two shipyards in Guarujá.

According to the London Stock Exchange, Wilson Sons’ gross assets were valued at $1.13 billion in June 2024. The 56.47% stake will be sold for $768 million, and is equivalent to 248,664,000 shares.

Ocean Wilsons’ chair, Caroline Foulger, said: “Our strategy has always been focused on delivering enhanced long-term value to our shareholders by carefully balancing investment risks and avoiding the distractions of short-term market cycles”.

Pending regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

“This sale aligns with our purpose and will allow us to concentrate on developing the business through sustainable profitable growth,” Foulgar added.

“Since our initial investment, Wilson Sons has demonstrated significant financial growth and is today the largest integrated port and maritime logistics operator in Brazil. Under SAS's ownership, we are confident that Wilson Sons will benefit from additional resources and support.”

Once the deal is complete, SAS Shipping Services will launch a public tender for the remaining shares in Wilson Sons.

If successful, this could lead to MSC achieving full ownership, providing the flexibility to integrate operations and streamline services across its global network.

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