Hapag-Lloyd Plans Revised ZIM Bid to Address Israel’s Maritime Concerns

Hapag-Lloyd and Israeli private-equity firm FIMI plan to revise their $4.2 billion proposal to acquire ZIM after consultations with Israeli authorities. The Government Companies Authority gave the bidders until September 27 to address strategic concerns. The proposed structure would keep an Israeli-controlled FIMI entity operating 16 ships, preserve access to Asian routes, reduce the threshold for foreign share purchases requiring state approval from 24% to 10%, and maintain the state’s golden-share protections. Hapag-Lloyd said the changes would strengthen Israel’s maritime independence and control over sensitive cargo, while ZIM’s workers committee remained opposed.