The Israeli ministries of Economy, Agriculture, and Transport are seeking to block the $4.2 billion sale of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. The proposed deal involves Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and the FIMI fund.
Government bodies argue the acquisition could undermine national security and disrupt supply chains during emergencies. Officials intend to exercise Israel’s golden share to veto the change of control.
Regulators fear the transaction would transfer ZIM’s fleet to foreign ownership, leaving the domestic entity too weak to meet strategic needs. Officials also flagged Hapag-Lloyd’s partial ownership by Qatari and Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth funds.