HHLA acquires interest in Austrian intermodal service provider Roland Spedition GMBH

HHLA will acquire 51 percent of the shares, while the remaining 49 percent will remain in the hands of both co-shareholders Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall, who will continue to manage the business.

Roland Spedition GmbH was founded in 1982 as a joint venture by Austrian logistics specialist Heinz Gutjahr and Bremen-based Roland Spedition and has established itself in the market as a neutral and reliable partner for freight forwarders and shipping companies in maritime hinterland transport. With a yearly volume of approximately 130,000 TEU, the company is one of the largest owner-led container operators for combined hinterland transport in Austria today, thus making a major contribution to the modal shift from roads to the more environmentally friendly rail. The network stretches across Central and Southern Europe and connects the ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Antwerp as well as Koper and Trieste to the hinterland. The company employs approximately 50 employees at two sites in Austria.

HHLA will incorporate Roland’s service portfolio into its wide European network of seaport terminals in Hamburg, Tallinn, Trieste and Odessa as well as intermodal hinterland connections and inland terminals. Together with Roland, HHLA will offer its customers individual climate-friendly transport solutions across Europe.

Both shareholders and managing directors Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall have led the company since 2005 and will remain on board as co-partners and managing directors.

Angela Titzrath, Chief Executive Officer of HHLA: “Managing directors Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall have developed Roland into a ‘best-in-class’ service provider for intermodal, climate-friendly transport as well as a reliable partner for its international customers and the Port of Hamburg. Roland is thus an extraordinary addition to our existing service portfolio in the European intermodal market and decisively strengthens the connection between the Port of Hamburg and the important Austrian market. We intend to continue this success story together.”

Shareholders and managing directors of Roland Spedition, Christian Gutjahr and Nikolaus Hirnschall: “For us, the focus is on the long-term perspective for our company, our customers and our employees – HHLA’s investment creates this perspective. We have known HHLA for approximately 40 years as a solid and reliable business partner, and we look forward to deepening this cooperation and continuing to develop our business together with HHLA. We will also continue to be a neutral and reliable partner for our customers.”

The closing of the transaction is still contingent upon conditions precedent, in particular permissions pertaining to competition law.