Stena Group to acquire Norwegian ferry operator Color Line

Stena AB Color Line ferry operator acquisition maritime industry Stena Line

Swedish industrial group Stena AB, owner of Stena Line, has signed an agreement to acquire the Norwegian shipping company Color Line from industrialist Olav Nils Sunde and his family. The transaction involves Stena's subsidiary, Stena Rederi, purchasing the entire shareholding in Color Group from ONS Invest II.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed during the first or second quarter of 2027. While ownership is changing, Stena intends for Color Line to operate as an independent business, maintaining its own brand, local Norwegian management, and Norwegian-registered ships.

Stena aims to leverage its industrial expertise to support Color Line in areas such as decarbonization, digitalization, and logistics. The acquisition is expected to unite two major players in European passenger and freight transport. Currently, the agreement does not impact existing sailings, bookings, or customer and supplier relationships.