The Swedish Stena Group intends to acquire the Norwegian ferry operator Color Line. Both companies have signed an agreement to this effect. The deal is scheduled to be finalised in 2027.
The Swedish shipping and industrial group Stena, which also owns Stena Line, has reached an agreement to acquire the Norwegian ferry operator Color Line. Both companies announced this today. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Stena is acquiring Color Line from the Norwegian entrepreneur Olav Nils Sunde and his family. Specifically, the Stena subsidiary Stena Rederi AB is to acquire all shares in Color Group AS, which in turn is the sole owner of Color Line.
The takeover would bring together two of Scandinavia’s largest ferry operators under the umbrella of the Swedish family-owned group. Stena Line currently operates 40 vessels on 19 routes across Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Color Line has five vessels operating on four international ferry routes between Norway, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
Color Line to remain independent
Once the takeover is complete, Color Line is to continue operating as an independent company in Norway with its own brand and management. The vessels are also to continue sailing under the Norwegian flag.
Stena intends to use its experience and resources to further develop the Norwegian shipping company. Key areas of focus include decarbonisation, digitalisation, logistics and customer service.
“This is a real milestone in the history of Stena Line,” explained Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson. The takeover strengthens the company’s position and opens up new business opportunities. At the same time, the aim is to work together to contribute to the development of more sustainable ferry transport.
Color Line CEO Trond Kleivdal also sees new prospects in the merger. Stena intends to retain the established Color Line brand whilst creating a stronger foundation for the company’s future development.
Completion scheduled for 2027
Until the transaction is finalised, both shipping companies will remain legally and operationally independent. According to the companies, the agreement will have no impact on existing bookings, timetables or business relationships with customers and suppliers. The companies expect the takeover to be finalised towards the end of the first quarter or during the second quarter of 2027.
Last year, Color Line carried just under 3.6 million passengers and around 150,000 freight units to and from Norway. Turnover in 2025 stood at more than NOK 6.7 billion (€641 million). The company employs around 2,200 full-time staff across four countries.
According to its own figures, Stena Line operates around 35,000 crossings a year and employs 8,750 staff. The ferry operator’s turnover amounts to SEK 20.2 billion. In addition to the ferry business, the parent company, Stena AB, is active in shipping, the offshore sector, and the property and finance sectors, amongst others.
Stena on course for expansion
As recently as mid-October, Stena Line had also announced a further expansion of its fleet. As reported by HANSA, the shipping company has concluded an agreement with CLdN to take over the RoRo vessel “Somerset”. The freighter, built in 1999 at the former Flender shipyard in Lübeck, is due to be taken over at the end of October and, following a spell in dry dock, will be deployed on the Dublin–Liverpool route from December under the name “Stena Freighter”. As part of the fleet reorganisation, Stena Line is redeploying the two vessels “Stena Scotia” and “Stena Hibernia” to the Rotterdam–Harwich route, where they are set to replace two chartered vessels that are being withdrawn from service.
