Wallenius Wilhelmsen has finalized the acquisition of the remaining shares in Armacup, taking its ownership from 65 percent to 100 percent. The deal closed on April 30, 2025, completing a phased buyout process originally agreed upon in 2022.
The move reflects a calculated step to strengthen operational efficiency and market positioning in the Asia-Oceania region. According to Xavier Leroi, Chairman of the Board at Armacup and COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the transaction is expected to enhance synergies between the two companies and tap into emerging opportunities across the region.
“This acquisition will further enhance the synergies between Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Armacup. It is a strategic move that will also bring growth opportunities in the Asia-Oceania trade through Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s market-leading capacity and our existing investment in integrated logistics offerings in Australia,” said Leroi.
The integration process is already underway. The companies are aiming to simplify workflows, align logistics services, and deliver a more seamless experience to their shared customer base. This includes optimizing vessel deployment, leveraging joint agency networks in China and Australia, and strengthening cooperation across automotive and high & heavy cargo segments.
Armacup, headquartered in New Zealand, has been a recognizable name in the Japanese used car export trade since the 1980s. Over the decades, it’s steadily expanded operations, now serving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across Japan, China, and South Korea. That expansion aligns well with Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s broader ambitions in the region, particularly where integrated supply chain solutions are in demand.
Both firms already operate a shared pool of vessels, coordinate logistics through mutual agency representation, and serve overlapping client portfolios. The full acquisition brings tighter alignment, greater operational flexibility, and the opportunity to build new efficiencies in the trans-Pacific and intra-Asia vehicle and cargo trades.
With the legal framework now finalized, the focus shifts to execution — merging systems, teams, and customer-facing functions, while preserving continuity for long-standing clients across the trade lanes.
The transaction was closed on April 30, 2025.
