Three companies have joined forces

Ernst Russ AG evolved from the merger of König & Cie. Group and Ernst Russ Reederei into HCI Group in 2016, which produced a corporate group that currently manages assets with a total volume in excess of 6.1 billion euros – with the main focus on shipping, property and energy. Ernst Russ currently manages a fleet of more than 100 container, tanker and bulker vessels, together with shipping, property, renewable energy and private equity assets.

Building on our active asset and investment management expertise, our in-depth understanding of international shipping, and our long maritime and business tradition, we have formed Ernst Russ AG into a group of companies that can look back on a long and successful history while at the same time helping us to shape our future.

Ernst Russ, well-established shipping company

Ernst Russ established his shipping company in Hamburg more than 120 years ago, in 1893, and quickly amassed a fleet of 16 ships. Although he lost ten ships in the First World War, he rebuilt and expanded the fleet to 37 ships. Ernst Russ suffered severe losses again in the Second World War, but the company was saved and rebuilt again. Ernst Russ was able to leave his successors a thriving shipping business. It formed the basis for a modern shipping company focusing on ro-ro and container shipping.

Ernst Russ placed great importance on mutual trust and efficiency. These values guided the actions of his successors as well, enabling them to develop the shipping company into what is now one of Hamburg’s oldest. In 2013, Ernst Russ GmbH joined forces with Peter Döhle Schiffahrts KG and Stüwe – another shipping company – to establish Russ Shipbroker, a globally operating enterprise.

Asset and investment management at HCI Capital

HCI Capital AG was founded in 1985 to issue shares in ship investments. The company quickly evolved into one of Germany’s leading addresses for ship shares and expanded its business to include further asset classes such as property, private equity and alternatives.

HCI Capital AG went public in 2003 and founded Hammonia Reederei in collaboration with Peter Döhle Schiffahrts AG. This was followed in 2015 by the establishment of HCV (Hanseatische Capital Verwaltung GmbH & Co. KG) investment management company and the award of a full licence to the company by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, BaFin). HCI Group provides fiduciary services as well as structuring and managing alternative investment funds (AIF).

Shipping expertise from König & Cie.

König & Cie. GmbH & Co. KG was established in 1999. Its business initially focused on issuing shares in ship investments and other asset classes such as infrastructure, private equity and property. From 2008 onwards, König & Cie. increasingly evolved into a corporate group engaged in international shipping activities and the provision of maritime services, positioning itself as a reliable partner for professional clients and shipping companies.

Alongside its joint venture with OSM Ship Management to exploit synergies arising from the technical management of bulkers, offshore ships, tankers and container vessels, König & Cie. also established Hanseatischer Treuhand Verbund, one of the leading fiduciary companies in the German market. Its strategic partnership with Icelandic shipping company Eimskip completes the international network of König & Cie. in the fields of chartering, sales and purchase, crewing, construction and investment Projects.