MSC Group in Early Talks for Majority Stake in Meyer Werft
A potential transaction would involve the German shipbuilder’s Papenburg and Rostock operations, while excluding Meyer Turku in Finland.
MSC Group, the parent company of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, is holding preliminary discussions about acquiring the controlling 80% stake in Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard, according to a report. The discussions remain at an early stage, and it is uncertain whether MSC will proceed with an acquisition.
The German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony supported Meyer Werft in 2024 with €400 million in equity and €2.6 billion in loan guarantees, the report said. The governments, which hold the controlling stake, are seeking the return of at least €400 million as well as employment guarantees for workers in Papenburg and Rostock.
Any potential deal would cover Meyer Werft’s German yards in Papenburg and Rostock but would not include Meyer Turku in Finland.
Meyer Werft’s listed cruise projects include Disney Believe and four additional next-generation Disney Cruise Line ships ordered through 2031. It is also scheduled to build Carnival Festivale for delivery in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028. MSC Cruises has ordered four 180,000-gross-ton New Frontier-class ships from the yard, with options for two more and deliveries planned between 2030 and 2035.
