Luxury expedition cruise company Ponant Explorations Group has acquired a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions, the small ship expedition company which operates in the world’s most biodiverse hotspots.
The acquisition is backed by the Artémis Group, the Pinault family’s investment company—which owns prestigious fashion houses (Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga), wine estates, including Chateau Latour, and the world’s largest private collection of contemporary art.
Artémis also owns Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, along with auction house, Christie’s. It is also a significant shareholder in the sports brand Puma.
Aqua Expeditions currently operates small ships in the Galápagos, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Spice Islands, the Mekong River, and the Peruvian Amazon River.
It will also launch East Africa itineraries, exploring the Seychelles and Tanzania, with a particular focus on the Aldabra group of islands.
Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO and founder of Aqua Expeditions, will remain as a shareholder and along with his senior management team will continue to lead the company as a stand-alone business unit, continuing to operate under the brand name, Aqua Expeditions.
Hervé Gastinel, chief executive of Ponant Explorations Group, which has a fleet of 14 French-flagged small ships, said the partnership with Aqua Expeditions “reflects our commitment to offering unparalleled travel experiences in iconic destinations such as the Galápagos, and now also river journeys, while preserving the natural beauty of the places we explore.”
