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Hellmann takes over Czech and Slovakia based OptimNet Solutions

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Hellmann takes over Czech and Slovakia based OptimNet Solutions. Image: Hellmann
Hellmann takes over Czech and Slovakia based OptimNet Solutions. Image: Hellmann
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The global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is taking over the Czech and Slovakian-based overnight express provider “OptimNet Solutions s.r.o.”. Hellmann is thus continuing its successful expansion strategy in the overnight express services segment and tapping into another important part of the Central and Eastern European market.

The shareholder Ondřej Zíta remains Managing Director and will seamlessly carry on the operational business together with Wilfried Hesselmann, Head of CEP Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics to continue business relationships with all customers as usual.

OptimNet, the overnight express specialist founded in 2016 in Prague, has developed very successfully in recent years, both in the Czech Republic and, since 2018, in Slovakia. Hellmann has already tapped into the Hungarian and Romanian markets with the acquisition of Innight last year. With the latest takeover of OptimNet, Hellmann will further expand its overnight express services, particularly for the agricultural and automotive sectors, and will thus meet the steadily growing demand for a smooth and fast supply of spare parts in this strategically important core customer segment.

“With the expansion of our overnight express service in Eastern Europe, we are taking another consistent step in our growth strategy, which we initiated at the beginning of last year and have successfully developed in the meantime,” says Jörg Herwig, Chief Operating Officer Road & Rail Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

“I am pleased that we are taking on all 37 OptimNet employees. On the one hand, this will secure jobs, and, on the other hand, we will be able to smoothly build on the business relationships that have already been successfully established in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in recent years, to continue growing here and beyond Eastern Europe,” adds Wilfried Hesselmann, Head of CEP Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

“As a new member of the Hellmann F.A.M.I.L.Y, I look forward to working with our new colleagues to further develop the Eastern European market and drive expansion into new industries,“ says Ondřej Zíta, Managing Director CEP CZ/SVK, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

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Freight Forwarding

Kuehne+Nagel acquires South African freight forwarder Morgan Cargo

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Kuehne+Nagel acquires South African freight forwarder Morgan Cargo. Image: Kuehne+Nagel
Kuehne+Nagel acquires South African freight forwarder Morgan Cargo. Image: Kuehne+Nagel
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Kuehne+Nagel signed an agreement to acquire Morgan Cargo, a leading South African, UK and Kenyan freight forwarder specialised in the transport and handling of perishable goods. During 2022 the company handled more than 40,000 tonnes of air freight and more than 20,000 TEU of sea freight globally, managed by approximately 450 logistics experts.

The acquisition of Morgan Cargo ideally complements Kuehne+Nagel’s perishables logistics service offering, while improving connectivity for customers to and from South Africa, the UK and Kenya, which includes state-of-the-art cold chain facilities.

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, commented: “With Morgan Cargo, we acquire a reliable logistics service provider for the benefit of our customers. Expansion in high-growth markets such as Africa clearly ties into our Roadmap 2026 and reinforces our commitment to the Middle East and Africa Region. We have been active in Africa for many years, but this acquisition is an ideal addition to our regional presence.”

Schalk Bruwer, CEO of Morgan Cargo, added: “We wanted to expand our successful family-owned business and took the opportunity to become part of one of the world leaders in logistics. This new development will provide greater opportunities for our customers in terms of global reach and allow our team to advance their careers beyond the realm that was previously possible. Morgan Cargo is extremely excited to become part of Kuehne+Nagel.”

Closing of the transaction is expected during the third quarter of 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance by the competent merger control authorities.

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Freight Forwarding

Yusen Logistics partners with Toyota Motor to accelerate decarbonization

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Yusen Logistics partners with Toyota Motor to accelerate decarbonization. Image: Yusen Logistics
Yusen Logistics partners with Toyota Motor to accelerate decarbonization. Image: Yusen Logistics
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Following on from last week’s press release Toyota to decarbonise its logistics activities in Europe, Yusen Logistics Europe partners with Toyota Motor Europe in this proactive approach to alternative powertrain development.

Together with VDL Special Vehicles, Yusen Logistics is honored to be part of the team to help accelerate the decarbonization of Toyota’s logistics network with the use of hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Using Toyota’s fuel cell modules VDL will convert an existing vehicle into a zero-emission truck for Yusen Logistics to operate within Toyota Motor Europe’s logistics network.

The innovative technology project is a significant step towards reducing both companies’ overall carbon footprint and aligns with Yusen Logistics’ wider commitment to working together with our partners and communities towards a more sustainable future.

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Freight Forwarding

cargo-partner becomes part of Nippon Express Group

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cargo-partner becomes part of Nippon Express Group. Image: Cargo Partner
cargo-partner becomes part of Nippon Express Group. Image: Cargo Partner
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As cargo-partner is celebrating its 40th anniversary, company owner and founder Stefan Krauter has decided to sell the Austrian global logistics player to Japanese stock-listed Nippon Express Holdings, which is also the parent company of Nippon Express, APC, Franco Vago and others. Having started operations in 1983 with only five employees at Vienna Airport and having developed the company almost completely organically to now 4,000 employees in 40 countries around the globe, Stefan Krauter had already passed on the baton to his management and now has also passed over ownership to his “ideal successor” NX.

After exceeding the billion euro mark in global turnover for the first time in 2020, cargo-partner’s turnover increased by 72%, reaching over 1.8 billion euro in 2021, and further increased to 2.06 billion euro in 2022.

“Leadership by agile founders bears some considerable advantages, but from a certain stage on, highly professional and long-term stable ownership is the bigger asset. It is the founders’ challenge and responsibility to decide about both management and ownership succession at the right time. Not too early to be able to build a stable internal management succession but, for sure, also not too late,” Krauter says. “That is why, together with the Corporate Executive Board, we started evaluating different options for the future of cargo-partner.”

Stefan Krauter continues to explain: “It would also have been a good option for the management and employees to continue going completely alone, but since the ideal new strategic owner was found in NX Group, we were ultimately convinced that this was the right way to go forward. Following the integration policy we have seen from NX Group so far, cargo-partner will remain cargo-partner in regard to both organization and branding – and it will become the strongest cargo-partner ever!”

The deal was signed on May 12, 2023 and will come into effect subject to the usual regulatory (anti-trust and FDI) approvals in an estimated four to seven months along with the subsequent closing.

“Both organizations will benefit from considerable synergies in global office coverage, an expanded service portfolio, strengthened regional, product and IT know-how, increased scale and others. NX Group will benefit from our strong and extensive network in Central and Eastern Europe that complements NX’s existing network in an ideal way, and cargo-partner will jump several leagues in the Intra-Asian and Trans-Pacific trade lanes,” Stefan Krauter states. He adds: “cargo-partner will also continue to work with its current global agents’ network, strive to expand this section of its business and support it in future with its upgraded platform which is presently under development.”

“I will personally continue to support the transition in my new role on the Corporate Supervisory Board and in my advisory function to the Corporate Executive Board. I will be focusing on smart partial integration with the new owners as well as on other matters regarding strategy, M&A and ESG. What an interesting and rewarding challenge at the end of my career!” Krauter says.

The sellers have been advised by J.P. Morgan (financial), ValueAdd (financial), BCG (commercial), Schönherr (legal), and Deloitte (accounting and tax) on the transaction.

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