Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG and MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting GmbH & Cie. KG, which are both fully-owned by Rickmers Holding AG, reached agreement as Sellers on February 7, 2017 with ZEABORN Chartering GmbH & Co. KG as Purchaser regarding their respective operating businesses. The execution of the transaction was subject to the approval of the financing banks of the Rickmers Group and remains subject to anti-trust authorities.

The planned sale involves the entire operating business of Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG as shipping line and the entire operating business of MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting GmbH & Cie. KG, which focuses on bunker purchasing and chartering brokerage for the segment. The transaction also covers the employees, assets, subsidiaries and branch offices of Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG and current commercial contracts. NPC Projects A/S, acquired in July 2016 by Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG, is also included in this transaction. The Purchaser is to acquire the right to use the brand names ‘Rickmers-Linie’ and ‘Rickmers-Line’, however only within the scope of activity of the business to be acquired. On closing the planned transaction the Sellers are to pay compensation in the single-digit million-euro range. The parties have agreed to maintain confidentiality regarding details of the acquisition-price calculation.

The sale of the Rickmers-Linie business segment has no impact on the workforce, shipping routes and Rickmers-Linie tonnage under long-term charter. Employees of this business segment will continue to work at the offices used by the Rickmers Group on Neumühlen, Hamburg, Germany for the time being. Under the terms of the planned transaction, Bertram R.C. Rickmers is to hold a minority stake in ZEABORN Chartering GmbH & Co. KG via a company he holds privately.

The Rickmers Group will focus in future on the activities of its Maritime Assets and Maritime Services business segments.

Source: Rickmers Group