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Hapag-Lloyd to buy Zim Lines

[ February 16, 2026   //   ]

Hapag-Lloyd to buy Zim Lines

Hapag-Lloyd has signed an agreement to buy 100% of Israel’s ZIM Integrated Shipping Services for over US$ 4 billion, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

Under the deal, FIMI, Israel’s largest and leading private equity fund, will take ownership of a carved-out container liner business that will connect to the Hapag-Lloyd network to ensure  global maritime connectivity for the State of Israel. The new line will initially operate large vessels and take over full responsibility for ZIM’s golden share as well as the ZIM brand. The Israeli government holds a golden share in Zim that requires it to maintain a presence in the country, with a certain number of vessels Israeli-owned.

The deal would confirm Hapag-Lloyd as the world’s fifth-largest container shipping company with a fleet of over 400 vessels, capacity of over 3 million TEU, and an annual transport volume of more than 18 million TEU.

Hapag-Lloyd chief executive, Rolf Habben Jansen,  said: “ZIM is an excellent partner for Hapag-Lloyd. Customers will benefit from a significantly strengthened network on the Transpacific, Intra Asia, Atlantic, Latin America and East Mediterranean.”  

Chairman of ZIM’s board of directors, Yair Seroussi, said the announcement was “the culmination of a thorough strategic review conducted by ZIM’s Board of Directors dedicated to maximizing shareholder value … We believe that it represents the most prudent and beneficial transaction for all ZIM stakeholders that further advances the tremendous value creation track record that we have established since our IPO.”

Founder and chief executive of the FIMI Funds, Ishay Davidi, added: “We will create a stable Israeli company, the new ZIM, and view Hapag-Lloyd as a significant strategic partner for its on-going operations. New ZIM will integrate significant transatlantic capabilities, alongside additional shipping routes to Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, supported by advanced global maritime transport capabilities.”

Approvals by regulatory authorities and ZIM shareholders are expected by late 2026.

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