ZIM Integrated Shipping (ZIM) to be acquired by Hapag-Lloyd for $35 per share in $4.2 bln cash deal

 

 

 

 

• Chart the day before, Fri 13 Feb 2026 

 

  

Hapag-Lloyd (OTC: HPGLY) is buying Israeli competitor Zim Integrated Shipping Services for $4.2 billion as the shipping firm looks to bolster its capacity.

Germany-based Hapag-Lloyd said Monday that it signed a deal to buy Zim for $35 a share in cash, a 58% premium to Zim’s closing price of $22.20 on Friday. The total deal price of around $4.2 billion will be funded from cash reserves and external financing of up to $2.5 billion.

The combined business will have a standing capacity of more than 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units, the standard form of measurement in container shipping, and more than 400 vessels. Hapag-Lloyd currently has vessel capacity of 2.5 million TEU and 305 vessels, according to the company’s website.

The deal is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Hapag-Lloyd said. Any deal will require the consent of the state of Israel, Zim shareholders and regulators.

Zim is considered a strategic asset for the Israeli state. As part of the deal, Israel’s special stake in Zim will be transferred to a carved-out container business, which will be owned by Israeli private-equity firm FIMI, Hapag-Lloyd said. The new container line will start with 16 vessels, according to Hapag-Lloyd.

The move comes after Zim appointed an independent board that has spent the last several months conducting a strategic review to assess a range of options, including a sale of the company, capital allocation options and other measures to maximize shareholder value.

Zim recently reported a sharp drop in third-quarter earnings as freight rates tumbled and container volumes slipped, with the company warning that fourth-quarter conditions had weakened.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) reported earnings on Wed 13 March 24 (b/o)

 

 

 

 

 

ZIM: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

HAIFA, Israel (AP) — HAIFA, Israel (AP) — ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) on Wednesday reported a loss of $148.4 million in its fourth quarter.

On a per-share basis, the Haifa, Israel-based company said it had a loss of $1.23.

The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of $1.33 per share.

The container shipping company posted revenue of $1.21 billion in the period.

For the year, the company reported a loss of $2.7 billion, or $22.42 per share. Revenue was reported as $5.16 billion.

Unusual Options Activity Tue 9/26/23

Stocks seeing volatility buying (bullish call buying/bearish put buying):

Calls:

• ZIM Oct 12.50 calls are seeing interest with 50 contracts trading vs. open int of 3345, pushing implied vol up around 16 points to ~210.87%
  
• GME Dec 80.00 calls are seeing interest with 65 contracts trading vs. open int of 7260, pushing implied vol up around 29 points to ~142.78%. The Co will report its next earnings in December

Puts:

• RUM Oct 8.00 puts are active with 20 contracts trading vs. open int of 2970, pushing implied vol down around 51 points to ~148.61%
  
• SRPT Jan 75.00 puts are active with 190 contracts trading vs. open int of 555, pushing implied vol down around 6 points to ~124.22%. The Co will report its next earnings in late October/early November

Sentiment: The CBOE Put/Call ratio is currently: 1.02, VIX: (18.53, +1.63, +9.65%).
October 20 is options expiration -- the last day to trade October equity options.