HAPAG-LLOYD “APPROACHED BY MANY CARRIERS” FOR MERGER TALKS
Hapag-Lloyd has been approached by many ocean carriers concerning a merger
or cooperation, said Bernd Wrede, chairman of the Hapag-Lloyd group.
Without disclosing names, Wrede said that "many competitors" would
like to cooperate more closely with Hapag-Lloyd.
Hapag-Lloyd has examined, and will examine in the future, the strategy of
growing by merger or acquisition, Wrede said, but the policy is to "stay alone"
for the time being.
Wrede said that he welcomed the trend toward mergers and acquisitions in
liner shipping, including the recent takeover of Sea-Land’s international services by
Maersk Line.