SOMEC forms shipowning JV with three shipping and shipbuilding companies　　　ソメック、海運・造船3社と船主JV設立

Japan’s first cross-industry scheme to order three newbuildings, as Imabari Shipbuilding expands its M&A strategy

日本初の業界横断スキームで新造船3隻を発注、今治造船のM&A戦略も拡大

ORIX, a major diversified financial group, announced on January 30 that its consolidated subsidiary SOMEC has entered into a capital and business alliance agreement to establish a shipowning joint venture (JV) together with Shoei Kisen Kaisha of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group, Kanbara Kisen of the Tsuneishi Group, and Onomichi Dockyard.

Key takeaways

→ Following approval by the relevant authorities, the parties will establish a new company, Sakura Ocean, and jointly place orders for three newbuildings. The new company will represent an industry-first framework that integrates shipowning, shipbuilding, shipbroking and management functions entirely within domestic companies. Its defining feature is the completion of the entire process — from design and construction to ownership and chartering — under an “all-Japan” structure.

→ Imabari Shipbuilding, which has participated in the JV through Shoei Kisen, has in recent years expanded its business scope beyond shipbuilding into the shipowning and operator segments. This expansion has included involvement in shipbuilding industry consolidation through the acquisition of shares in JMU, equity participation in marine equipment manufacturers, and investment in Daiichi Chuo Kisen through Shoei Kisen.

(For the full article, please refer to the body text provided in both English and Japanese. The Japanese article follows the English version.)

ソメック、海運・造船3社と船主JV設立

日本初の業界横断スキームで新造船3隻を発注、今治造船のM&A戦略も拡大

　総合金融大手オリックスは1月30日、連結子会社のソメックが、今治造船グループの正栄汽船、常石グループの神原汽船、尾道造船と共同で船主JV（合弁会社）を設立する資本業務提携契約を締結したと発表した。

この記事のポイント

→関係当局の承認を経て新会社「さくらオーシャン」を設立し、新造船3隻を共同発注する。新会社は、船主、造船所、船舶仲介、管理機能までを国内企業で一体化する業界初の枠組みで、設計・建造から保有、用船までを「オールジャパン体制」で完結させる点が特徴だ。

→今回、正栄汽船を通じてJVに資本参加した今治造船は近年、JMU株式の取得による造船再編への関与や、舶用機器メーカーへの資本参加、正栄汽船を通じた第一中央汽船への出資などで、造船業にとどまらず船主・オペレーター分野へと事業領域を拡張してきた。

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）

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