Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE, a subsidiary of the MSC Group, has announced the successful completion of its voluntary public tender offer for shares in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA).
This milestone marks the establishment of a strategic joint venture between the company and the City of Hamburg regarding HHLA. All necessary conditions for closing the transaction have been met, including the approval of the Hamburg Parliament and relevant merger control authorities.
Søren Toft, CEO of MSC, commented: “We want to play our part in pushing the gateway to the world further open – for the benefit of HHLA, the workforce, the people of Hamburg and everyone else connected to this historic port. We will deliver on our side of the agreement. Together with the City, we will invest in growth, technology and infrastructure to strengthen HHLA’s competitiveness. We will bring cargo to Hamburg, and we will fully protect the rights of the workforce. That is our plan for Hamburg.”
Once the capital increase is registered, the City of Hamburg will hold a majority stake of 50.1%, with the remaining 49.9% owned by the MSC Group. Both parties are committed to advancing the strategic growth of HHLA and the Port of Hamburg.
Under the agreement, the MSC Group will increase cargo throughput at HHLA terminals to a minimum of 1 million TEUs annually starting in 2031. Additionally, the City of Hamburg and the MSC Group have pledged a combined US$475 million in equity to fund essential investments in HHLA’s future development.
A key aspect of the partnership involves strong commitments to safeguarding the rights of HHLA employees and ensuring that its terminals remain attractive to all market participants. The next steps will include finalizing medium-term business and investment plans for HHLA to bolster its long-term competitiveness.
The MSC Group has also announced plans to establish its new German headquarters in HafenCity, Hamburg. The beginning of headquarters construction is expected to begin in 2026 and the new offices are anticipated to employ approximately 700 people.
