CMA CGM plans to sign with investors by the end of July

CMA CGM Group has a few additional weeks to complete its capital increase with external investors, the company said on Monday. The discussions, which are "well advanced", require the preparation of particularly complex documents.

The world's third largest container shipping group, CMA CGM is operator of Malta Freeport Terminals.

CMA CGM Group's operational activity has sharply improved since the beginning of the year. Over the first quarter, volumes carried rose 21 per cent compared with the same period 2009, while EBITDA stood at $380 million, up $640 million year-on-year and in line with first-quarter 2008. Quarterly revenue was up by 29 per cent to $3.2 billion. Second-quarter results will exceed first-quarter figures, the Marseilles-based group said.

A few weeks ago, the company said this year will be shaped by the delivery of the group's new head office, the CMA CGM Tower, which in the autumn will consolidate nearly 2,000 Marseille staff members currently based at seven locations.