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ONA Group

Founded	1934
Founder	Jean Epinat
Defunct	2010
Successor	Societe Nationale d'Investissement
Headquarters	Casablanca, Morocco
Website	www.ona.com

The ONA Group (Omnium Nord-Africain, Arabic: مجموعة أونا) is a defunct Moroccan holding company established in 1934 and dissolved in 2010 and succeeded by Societe Nationale d'Investissement. ONA was an industrial, financial and services conglomerate, focused on positions of leadership and value creation in business activities contributing to the growth and sustainable development of Morocco, the Maghreb Region and the African Continent. ONA Group was structured around several activities: Mining, Agribusiness, Distribution, Financial Services, Telecommunication, Renewable Energies, and Growth Drivers, etc.

The group and its successor promote various cultural programs, local and foreign arts and artists through the charitable foundation Fondation ONA.

In March 2010, ONA announced its merger with Societe Nationale d'Investissement. As a result of the merger, the two companies have been delisted from the Casablanca stock market, and the ONA agri-business branches have been disposed of. This reorganisation has transformed the conglomerate into an investment company that gives larger autonomy to its subsidiaries in the management of their affairs.

History

The Compagnie Générale de Transport et de Tourisme was created in 1919 by Jean Épinat. In 1928, it became an exclusive agent of General Motors in Morocco until 1945.

In 1934, it was rebranded into Omnium Nord Africain. During the same year, the ONA became a holding as it entered the mining sector.

In 1953, after World War II, all the assets of Jean Épinat became under the control of The Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas (Paribas). King Hassan II bought Paribas’ shares in ONA and became the main shareholder of the group in 1980.

In 1982, the group started getting involved in various sectors including dairy products, sugar, banks, chemicals and textile. In 1986, ONA acquired shares in Lesieur Afrique and obtained nearly 40% of Banque Commerciale du Maroc (Morocco's Commercial Bank).

In 1988, ONA invested in the first pay-TV in the Arab world with 2M.

In 1990, the group invested in the retail sector by opening its first hypermarket Marjane Bouregreg. In 2005, the group acquired Maroc Connect, the second internet provider in Morocco, which became Wana corporate and later Inwi in 2009.

In 2005, ONA launched Nareva Holding specialised in low carbon energy.

On March 25, 2010, the group announced that it will be going a strategic reorganisation, including its fusion with SNI and their withdrawal from Casablanca Stock Exchange.

On December 31, 2010, the closure of ONA took place and its activities were integrated into Societe Nationale d'Investissement.

Activities by sector (2009)

The holding diversified its activity sector by engaging in several industries:

Food industry (51.5% of turnover)

• Centrale Laitière: Dairy products (sold to Danone in 2012)
• Fromagerie des Doukkala: Cheese
• Cosumar: Sugar
• Lesieur Cristal: Oils (sold to Sofiprotéol in 2012)
• Bimo: Biscuits (sold to Kraft Foods in 2012)
• Sotherma: Mineral water
• CMB plastique: Plastic packaging
• Sea food products

Distribution (40.5% of turnover)

• Marjane: Retail outlet, shopping centre
• Acima: Retail outlet, shopping centre
• Sopriam: Car distribution
• OPTORG: Distribution of industrial goods

Mines (6.1% of turnover)

• Groupe Managem: Mining operator in Morocco and Africa
• Sonasid: Steel industry

Growth drivers and holdings (1.5% of turnover)

• Inwi: Telecommunication operator
• Nareva: Energy and environment
• Onapar: Real estate holding
• Accolade: Call centre
• Archos Conseil: Information system and management consulting (sold to Capital Consulting on January 18, 2010)
• NetCom: Business systems and Networks

Financial activities (0.4% of turnover)

• Attijariwafa Bank: First banking and financial group in the Maghreb and Africa
• Agma Lahlou-Tazi: Risk management consulting and insurance brokerage in Morocco

Shareholders (2009)

Previous presidents

• Fouad Filali (1986 – April 20, 1999)
• Mourad Cherif (1999 – 2002) Archived 2017-08-26 at the Wayback Machine
• Bassim Jaï Hokimi (2002 – 2005)
• Saâd Bendidi (February 2005 – April 2008)
• Mouatassim Belghazi (April 11, 2008 – March 15, 2011)

See also

• Wana (Telecommunications) the third main telecommunication company in Morocco, a subsidiary of ONA.
• Mounir Majidi
• Mohammed VI of Morocco

References

1. "ONA". Bloomberg News. 6 July 2023.
2. ^ "Omnium Nord Africain (ONA)".
3. "ONA : une Fondation pour la culture". Aujourd'hui le Maroc (in French). Retrieved 2017-08-26.
4. ^ http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/Barbe2016.pdf
5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2017-08-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "Omnium Nord-Africain Group | North Africa - COMM410 Regional Focus". sites.psu.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
7. The Report: Emerging Morocco 2007. Oxford Business Group. ISBN 9781902339764.
8. "Le lancement Inwi, comme si vous y étiez !". Maghress. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
9. "ONA, SNI merger audacious operation". www.moroccobusinessnews.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
10. "L'ONA poursuit le développement des métiers stratégiques". L'Economiste (in French). 2003-09-29. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
11. "Capital Consulting a acquis 100% du capital d'Archos Conseil et ce depuis le 18 janvier 2010".
12. "Attijariwafa bank élue Banque africaine de l'année à l'Africa CEO Forum". ilboursa.com (in French). Retrieved 2017-08-26.
13. "Fouad Filali, un homme, un destin Retour". Maghress. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
14. "Bassim Jaï Hokimi | World Economic Forum". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
15. "Saâd Bendidi: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-08-26.

• ONA Group
• Defunct companies of Morocco
• Conglomerate companies of Morocco
• Holding companies of Morocco
• Mohammed VI of Morocco
• Société Nationale d'Investissement
• Telecommunications companies of Morocco
• Conglomerate companies established in 1934
• Financial services companies established in 1934
• Holding companies established in 1934
• Conglomerate companies disestablished in 2010
• 1934 establishments in Morocco
• 2010 disestablishments in Morocco
• Holding companies disestablished in 2010