Freshfields advises Maersk’s APM Terminals on JV and planned €1bn investment in Bremerhaven

Global law firm Freshfields advises APM Terminals on its negotiations regarding the planned long-term joint venture with EUROGATE and a planned €1bn investment in the modernisation of the operated North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB). The transaction is subject to receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals.

Under the joint venture, APM Terminals and EUROGATE intend to upgrade NTB into one of the world’s most efficient and resilient container handling facilities. The planned investment is intended to increase annual capacity from 3 million to 4 million TEU and includes the comprehensive modernisation of terminal equipment and infrastructure. Through the electrification of equipment and the use of renewable electricity, the terminal is intended to operate with zero GHG emissions, the first of its kind in Germany.

APM Terminals is a global terminal operator and part of A.P. Møller – Maersk, operating 60 terminals in 33 countries. EUROGATE is Europe's leading shipping line-independent container terminal group. The planned investment is expected to strengthen Bremerhaven’s role as a strategic hub for cargo flows into Germany and within Maersk’s global ocean network.

Freshfields advises on all legal, antitrust and tax aspects of the joint venture.

The Freshfields team is led by Partner Julia Sellmann and Principal Associate Johannes W. Schiele (both Corporate/M&A) together with Partner Christian Ruoff and Principal Associate Tobias Franz (both Tax, all Hamburg) and also includes Partners Alan Ryan (Silicon Valley/Brussels) and Andreas von Bonin (Brussels, both Antitrust), and Associates André Loock and Steffen Blume (both Corporate/M&A), Leon Liekefett (Tax, both Hamburg), Andrés Betancor (Silicon Valley/ San Francisco) and Theresa Schmid (Brussels, both Antitrust).

The Freshfields Team regularly advises A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S on strategic transactions, including the current acquisition of a minority stake from, and joint venture with DP World regarding the South Container Termina in Jeddah Islamic Port in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the acquisition of the Senator International Group in 2022.