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Family HoldingPuts its own capital into companiesActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 5 SOURCES

Merit France

Also known as MERIT France, Merit

Marseille holding of the Saadé family that holds their controlling stake in CMA CGM (73%, 2023) and invests beyond it: 20% of Pathé (2025) and 20% of Altice Media (BFM, RMC) alongside CMA CGM.

USEFUL FOR Business owners seeking a long-term partner · Co-investors

Holding company of the Saadé family (CMA CGM), Marseille. Not the Merit France SAS of Montigny-le-Bretonneux (SIREN 485 366 017, automotive parts).

Family & background

FAMILY
Saadé
WEALTH ORIGIN
CMA CGM (container shipping and logistics)
HEADQUARTERS
Marseille, France

Investment approach

SECTORS
Media & EntertainmentReal Estate & PropTechConsumer & E-commerce
STAGES
GrowthBuyout
ROUTES
Companies (own capital)
LATEST DEAL
Pathé (20% stake) · May 2025

Overview

Merit France is the holding company through which the heirs of CMA CGM founder Jacques Saadé — Rodolphe, Tanya and Jacques Saadé — hold about 73% of the container shipping group; press calls it the family office that oversees the family fortune, and its headquarters moved from Lebanon to France around 2021. Beyond CMA CGM it agreed in March 2024 to take 20% of Altice Media (BFM TV, RMC) alongside CMA CGM (80%), and in May 2025 became a 20% shareholder of the cinema and film group Pathé.

Holdings & investments (3)

  • CMA CGMNOTABLE
    Mobility & Logistics
  • PathéNOTABLE
    Media & Entertainment · since 2025
  • Altice Media (BFM, RMC)
    Media & Entertainment · since 2024

People

  • Rodolphe Saadé
    Président · source
  • Tania Saadé Zeenny
    Directeur Général · source
  • Michel Sirat
    Head of Merit France (from 2023; former CMA CGM CFO) · source

Frequently asked questions

Merit France is a family holding based in Marseille, France.

Merit France invests on behalf of the Saadé family (CMA CGM (container shipping and logistics)).

Merit France invests its own capital into companies.

Merit France invests at Growth and Buyout stages in Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & PropTech and Consumer & E-commerce.

Key people at Merit France include Rodolphe Saadé (Président), Tania Saadé Zeenny (Directeur Général) and Michel Sirat (Head of Merit France (from 2023; former CMA CGM CFO)).

Merit France's holdings and investments include CMA CGM, Pathé and Altice Media (BFM, RMC).

The most recent publicly reported investment by Merit France is Pathé (20% stake), announced in May 2025.