New York, February 16, 2026, 16:02 ET — The market has closed.
- Hapag-Lloyd is picking up NYSE-listed ZIM at $35 a share in cash, putting the company’s value near $4.2 billion.
- With U.S. markets closed for Presidents Day, traders will have to wait until Tuesday for the first American response.
- The transaction remains subject to shareholder and regulatory sign-offs—Israel’s approval, linked to its state “golden share,” is also required.
Hapag-Lloyd of Germany has agreed to buy ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, offering $35 per share in cash—a move that puts the U.S.-listed container ship line back in the spotlight as Wall Street reopens. ZIM CEO Eli Glickman described the deal as a moment of “incredible pride” for the company’s ongoing transformation. Board chairman Yair Seroussi called the agreement “the most prudent and beneficial transaction for all ZIM stakeholders.” (ZIM Investor Relations)
With U.S. exchanges shuttered Monday for Presidents Day, investors had to sit tight and see if ZIM’s New York-listed shares would align with the cash bid once trading resumes Tuesday. (AP News)
ZIM shares ended at $22.20 before the holiday, up nearly 4.8% from the previous close. The $35 bid points to an upside of around 58% from that mark, but as is typical, the stock lags the proposed price—cash deals tend to reflect some uncertainty and the time left before closing. (Investing)
Hapag-Lloyd put the combined company at over 3 million TEU—industry shorthand for a 20-foot container—and more than 400 ships. Executives see “several hundred million” dollars in annual synergies, both from trimming costs and bringing in more revenue by meshing the networks. “An excellent partner for Hapag-Lloyd,” CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said of ZIM. FIMI founder Ishay Davidi underscored the “strategic importance for the State of Israel” of keeping an Israeli carrier alive under the New ZIM carve-out. (Hapag-Lloyd)
Already, the move is facing backlash in Israel. Reuters noted that ZIM workers in Haifa staged a walkout, and the city’s mayor pressed officials to halt the acquisition, citing national security. Israel’s competition authority plans to scrutinize the deal. Hapag-Lloyd said it would use cash on hand plus as much as $2.5 billion in outside funding to pay for the purchase. In Frankfurt, Hapag-Lloyd shares skidded 8%, while ZIM’s soared 50% on the news. JPMorgan described the deal as “a play to gain extra capacity near term.” Hapag-Lloyd, for its part, said the merger would help “secure Hapag-Lloyd’s market position as the fifth-largest shipping line.” (Reuters)
It’s not the typical setup for a company trading in New York. FIMI will grab control of a standalone liner operation—think 16 ships and the ZIM name—plus the Israeli government’s so-called “golden share,” which could let the state scuttle key moves if it chooses.
Tuesday’s open is crucial for traders—not just where ZIM lands, but how it trades out of the gate. Should shares sink under $35, that’s the market signaling a bumpier, drawn-out closing process, maybe more regulatory scrutiny, or even political uncertainty tied to Israel’s sign-off.
Still, there’s a laundry list. ZIM shareholders have to sign off, regulators need to weigh in, and Israel has to greenlight the transfer of its special state share. That’s before you factor in the labor action—throwing another wrench into the works. Any holdup only threatens to stretch the gap to the offer.
Beyond that one stock, rates are in focus this week. The Federal Reserve drops minutes from its Jan. 27–28 meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. ET—traders will be combing through the release for clues on how officials are weighing inflation risks and where they see rates heading. (Federal Reserve)
For ZIM shareholders, eyes are now on Tuesday, Feb. 17—the first U.S. trading day after the break. That’s when the stock lines up against the $35 cash offer, and investors start hunting for hints on timing, regulatory sign-off, or signs of a rival bid.
