HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Germany's largest container shipping company by transport volume, Hapag-Lloyd, is seeking to acquire an Israeli competitor. The Hapag-Lloyd management board is currently engaged in advanced negotiations regarding the potential acquisition of all shares in Zim Integrated Shipping Services Limited, the company announced.
So far, no binding agreements have been concluded, the statement continued. Required approvals from the management and supervisory boards of the company, as well as from the relevant bodies of the contracting partners, are still pending. In addition, approval from the State of Israel is necessary due to special rights stipulated in Zim's articles of association. The announcement did not specify how much such an acquisition might cost.
In the 2025 fiscal year, Hapag-Lloyd reported a decline in profits, partly due to falling prices. Preliminary earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) amounted to one billion euro. In 2024, this figure had still stood at 2.6 billion euro.
Zim is an internationally active Israeli shipping company with its own fleet of container vessels. Its headquarters are located in the Israeli port city of Haifa. Zim has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2021. The company operates a global network of shipping routes./le/DP/zb
