Hapag-Lloyd Holding AG will be merged with Hapag-Lloyd AG, retrospective with effect from 1 January 2013. This step is taken in order to simplify the Group structure of Hapag-Lloyd and does not have any impact on shareholder equity, said Jürgen Weber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG.

Shareholders of Hapag-Lloyd, TUI-Hapag Beteiligungs GmbH (TUI AG) and Hamburgische Seefahrtsbeteiligung Albert Ballin GmbH & Co KG (Albert Ballin consortium), now hold a direct share in Hapag-Lloyd AG. The merger has no impact on consolidated financial statements of Germany's largest liner shipping company.

The holding structure was set up during the takeover of the majority of Hapag-Lloyd by the Hamburg-based Albert Ballin consortium in 2008/09. GSL shifts South China Hub to Nansha on its FAX Service Gold Star Line has decided to shift the South China Hub of the FAX Service from Da Chan Bay to Nansha. The decision was made to offer the fast growing Guangdong exporters to West Africa with a port call near the heart of their business.

Gold Star Line believes that South China is a large potential area for growth of the FAX Line in the coming years. Da Chan Bay will continue to be served by other in-house lines to link with the FAX service at Port Kelang. So also the network of feeding services will offer a complete network of receiving and delivery points in the Pearl River Delta locations and other South China areas.

Adding a superior direct service gives GSL Line a strong competitive presence in the Guangzhou / Foshan market.