Rickmers Wants to Merge with E.R. Schiffahrt

Rickmers Holding AG and E.R. Capital Holding GmbH & Cie. KG are reviewing a potential merger of their shipmanagement units – Rickmers Maritime Services and E.R. Schiffahrt – into a global joint venture.

The companies have signed a declaration of intent to create a new company that would manage around 220 vessels.

The joint statement said that the aim is to “pool strengths in a highly competitive market to further promote expansion of the shipmanagement business and increase the new company’s capabilities.”

 “The review process will take several weeks. As soon as a decision has been reached, the groups will provide further information,” the statement further reads.

 The two companies pointed out that potential merger of the two shipmanagement units would not have any impact on the terms of the corporate bond issued by Rickmers Holding AG and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

 Furthermore, based on the current assessment, the merger would not require modifications to be made to the forecast for financial year 2016, which was recently published by the Rickmers Group on 30 March 2016.