Rex Maritime S.A. was established in 1956. It was a type-C company mainly engaged in shipping and tourism. It was also the owner of the vessel "Ariston". It was one of the companies that between 1951-1959 purchased shares of the Société des Bains de Mer and eventually took control of the company that owned Monaco’s most important businesses: the Casino, the Opera House and the famous Hôtel de Paris.