FRS to acquire French Caribbean company L'Express des Îles

FLENSBURG, February 21st, 2024 – The internationally renowned ferry company FRS has entered into an agreement to acquire L'Express des Îles, a leading maritime company in the Caribbean Sea. This move is part of FRS's strategic realignment, following the successful sale of FRS Iberia, with a focus on diversifying the range of offered routes.

L'Express des Îles, as a leading player in the industry, aligns perfectly with FRS's expansion plans. The extensive experience and established position of L'Express des Îles in the region present a unique opportunity to strengthen FRS's service offering and to create synergies.

“With the acquisition of L'Express des Îles, FRS continues our trajectory of growth. This acquisition not only reflects our commitment to international expansion but also our determination to gain a foothold in new markets”, says Götz Becker, CEO of FRS.

FRS brings a wealth of experience with the vessel type utilized by L'Express des Îles, facilitating a seamless integration into business operations. With the acquisition of L'Express des Îles, FRS strengthens its position as a strategic partner for customers worldwide.

About L’Express des Îles

For the past 37 years, the Guadeloupe-based maritime company L’Express des Îles has been synonymous with outstanding and reliable service. Headquartered at the Bergevin ferry terminal in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, the company, initially known as "Antilles Trans Express (ATE)" began by offering fast ferry services between the islands of Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, and Marie Galante—all French overseas territories. In 1989, it expanded services to Martinique and Dominica, followed by St. Lucia in 1994. Today, the company operates three high-speed catamarans in collaboration with its subsidiary, "Jeans for Freedom," serving multiple national and international routes.

About FRS

FRS, headquartered in Flensburg, is an internationally operating ferry group. Over the past decades, FRS has evolved from a regional passenger ferry company into a leading specialist in ferry shipping, owning over 60 vessels and employing more than 1,500 staff from over 40 countries. FRS annually transports 5.7 million passengers and 1.5 million vehicles on its numerous national and international shipping lines.

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Press contact:
FRS GmbH & Co. KG
Norderhofenden 19-20 24937 Flensburg, Germany

Moritz Bruns, Managing Director International Division
P: +49 461 864-640 | GSM: +49 172 154 88 00
[email protected]