HHLA is taking over 51 percent of the shares. The remaining shares will remain with the two co-shareholders Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall, who will continue to manage the business. The completion of the transaction is still subject to various conditions precedent, in particular competition law approvals.

Connection of the service offers

Roland Spedition was founded in 1982 as a joint venture between the Austrian logistics company Heinz Gutjahr and Bremen-based Roland Spedition and has established itself on the market as a partner for freight forwarders and shipping companies in maritime hinterland transport. Today, with an annual volume of around 130,000 TEU, the company is one of the largest owner-operated container operators for combined hinterland transport in Austria, according to company information: the network extends across Central and Southern Europe and connects the seaports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Antwerp as well as Koper and Trieste with the hinterland. The company employs around 50 people at two locations in Austria.

HHLA will combine Roland's range of services with its broad European network of seaport terminals in Hamburg, Tallinn, Trieste and Odessa as well as intermodal hinterland connections and inland terminals. The two shareholders and managing directors Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall have been running the company since 2005 and will remain on board as co-partners and managing directors.

Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA's Executive Board: "Under the two managing directors Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall, Roland has developed into a best-in-class provider of intermodal, environmentally friendly transportation and is a reliable partner for its international customers and the Port of Hamburg. Roland is therefore an excellent addition to our existing service portfolio in the European intermodal market and also decisively strengthens the connection between the Port of Hamburg and the important Austrian market. We want to continue this success story together."