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Hapag-Lloyd AG's share price fell the most since its initial public offering in November as a forecast of lower profit and a share-sale plan overshadowed a final deal to join forces with United Arab Shipping Co. to become the world’s fifth-largest container carrier.

Hapag-Lloyd AG approved a plan to acquire all shares of United Arab Shipping Co., paving the way for the second merger in two years to bolster the position of Germany’s biggest container-shipping line in an industry plagued by excess capacity.

Hapag-Lloyd AG, Germany’s top container shipping line, and five Asian carriers will form a new vessel-sharing alliance to take on bigger rivals amid a glut in capacity that’s depressed freight rates.

Hapag-Lloyd is in talks with United Arab Shipping Co. on a possible combination of their container businesses, potentially setting up the German company’s second merger in two years as the maritime-freight industry grapples with a drop in prices.

Hapag-Lloyd, Germany’s biggest shipping line, is seeking to raise $500 million from the sale of new shares this year as it presses ahead with an initial public offering even as the Chinese economic slowdown and a rout in Volkswagen shares sparked turmoil on stock markets.