The Hamburg port operator HHLA is set to be acquired by the world’s largest container shipping company MSC. The Geneva-based corporation and the city of Hamburg have signed a binding preliminary agreement to establish a strategic partnership, according to statements from the Senate and the company.
Derzeit hält die Stadt Hamburg rund 69 Prozent an der börsennotierten HHLA. Diese soll künftig in einem Joint Venture geführt werden, wobei die Stadt 50,1 Prozent und MSC 49,9 Prozent der Anteile halten.
To enable this, MSC will make a takeover offer of 16.75 euros per share for all currently freely traded stocks. The current price is around 11.50 euros. At the same time, MSC will significantly increase the cargo volume in Hamburg from 2025 onwards. From 2031 onwards, it should be at least one million standard containers (TEU) per year. Additionally, MSC will relocate its Germany headquarters to Hamburg.
Hamburgs Bürgermeister Peter Tschentscher (SPD) sprach von einer wegweisenden Transaktion. Dies könne der gesamten maritimen Wirtschaft die Schubkraft geben, die in schwierigen Zeiten gebraucht werde. MSC-Chef Soren Toft sagte, mit dieser sehr wichtigen und strategischen Zusammenarbeit werde Hamburg zukünftig ein Knotenpunkt.
Habeck has no concerns.
The Federal Minister of Economics expressed no concerns about the entry plans. These are economic decisions by companies, said Robert Habeck (Green Party). He is not involved in any examination. Unlike entry plans by Chinese corporations, there does not need to be a review of the deal due to general security concerns. Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has taken note of the process in Hamburg. He did not want to comment further.
„I cannot reword“
Hapag-Lloyd über Deal verwundert
Hapag-Lloyd, Germany’s largest shipping company, responded with surprise to the agreement. The announcement of HHLA’s voluntary public takeover offer by the MSC Group was noted by the Hamburg-based traditional company. „We expect that this will not affect our cooperation with HHLA,“ said a spokesperson. Internally, the shipping company expressed confusion about the offer.
„I cannot reword“