en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 14, the Israeli government plans to make a decision in September on German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd's acquisition of Israeli container shipping company ZIM. Eight government agencies involved in the review will hold a key meeting on September 9 and submit their final opinions.
Following the meeting, the Israeli government will also arrange for Hapag-Lloyd and Israeli private equity firm FIMI to attend a hearing at the Government Companies Authority before deciding whether to approve the transaction based on the state's "special state shares," also known as "golden share" rights.
Hapag-Lloyd signed a merger agreement with ZIM in February 2026, proposing to acquire all of ZIM's shares in cash at $35 per share, with an equity value of approximately $4.2 billion. The price represents a 58% premium over ZIM's closing price on the trading day before the agreement was announced. ZIM shareholders held a special meeting on April 30 and approved the transaction. The main obstacles currently lie with the Israeli government and regulatory approvals in multiple countries and regions.
To address Israel's requirements regarding national security, emergency transportation, and shipping autonomy, the transaction includes a business separation plan. FIMI plans to establish a shipping company in Israel named "New ZIM," which will receive 16 of ZIM's vessels, the ZIM brand, and the obligations corresponding to the Israeli government's special state shares, focusing on operating routes connecting Israel with the United States, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea region. The new company will also receive commercial support from Hapag-Lloyd and gain access to the Gemini global shipping network.
The Israel Port Authority and Maritime Administration remain opposed to the transaction. The agency submitted a second assessment after receiving supplementary information from Hapag-Lloyd and FIMI, but its stance has not changed. Key concerns include whether New ZIM can maintain effective control, economic and operational independence, long-term operational sustainability, and whether the strategic shipping interests protected by the state's "golden share" can be fully safeguarded. According to Israeli media reports, a majority of the government agencies involved in the review may lean toward opposing the transaction, but final opinions are still pending the September meeting and subsequent hearing results.
If the transaction is completed, the combined fleet of Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM will exceed 400 vessels, with total capacity exceeding 3 million TEUs, and projected cargo volume of over 18 million TEUs for the full year 2027. The merger will strengthen Hapag-Lloyd's market coverage on transpacific, intra-Asia, transatlantic, Latin American, and Eastern Mediterranean routes, and consolidate its position as the world's fifth-largest container liner company.
The transaction was originally scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Until the Israeli government makes its decision, Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM remain independent competing companies, and the transaction has not yet been completed.
