TRIESTE – Hapag-Lloyd has announced the acquisition of 100% of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd for more than $4 billion.
The deal will create a group with more than 3 million TEU of capacity and over 400 ships. The agreed consideration is $35 per share in cash, for a total value exceeding $4 billion. Closing is expected by the end of 2026, subject to approval by ZIM shareholders and the relevant authorities. Once completed, the transaction will create an operator handling more than 18 million TEU per year.
The integration will strengthen Hapag-Lloyd’s position among the world’s top five container carriers, with an established presence on the main trades: Transpacific, intra-Asian, Atlantic, Latin American and Mediterranean. The group estimates annual synergies of several hundred million dollars, driven by the integration of fleets, digital platforms and commercial networks. «ZIM is an excellent partner for Hapag-Lloyd. We share the same ambitions and the same culture of operational excellence». said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of the German group, highlighting the goal of strengthening its presence in Israel and raising service quality standards.
In parallel, FIMI Opportunity Funds (Israel’s leading private equity fund) will set up a new Israeli company that will retain the ZIM brand and take over the state Golden Share. The company will operate 16 modern, high-efficiency vessels and ensure the country’s strategic maritime connectivity. According to Ishay Davidi, founder and CEO of FIMI, the new ZIM will be a stable and independent company, in a strategic collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd. The stated goal is to preserve a national presence in shipping, maintaining operational continuity and high standards.
Yair Seroussi, chairman of ZIM’s board, said the decision is the outcome of a strategic review aimed at maximising shareholder value and identifying the most prudent option for all stakeholders. Until the transaction is completed, the two companies will continue to operate as competitors. Cooperation will remain limited to existing vessel-sharing and slot charter agreements. With more than 3 million TEU of combined capacity, the new group positions itself as one of the leading global operators in an increasingly concentrated market. At the same time, the creation of a new ZIM under Israeli control maintains a national foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean, with direct implications for the balance of trade flows between Asia, Europe and the Americas.
