Sale of most of BLG Logistics Group’s forwarding activities in Germany follows a strategic decision by BLG to focus on its domestic and international business in its Contract, Automobile and Container divisions. The Air & Ocean freight forwarding division of European logistics group Rhenus is set to acquire most of BLG Logistics Group’s freight forwarding activities in Germany following a strategic decision by BLG “to focus on its domestic and international business in its Contract, Automobile and Container divisions in future”.
Rhenus Air & Ocean said it was “consolidating its position in Germany with the planned takeover of the freight forwarding business of the logistics company, BLG International Forwarding”. Rhenus said it was using the acquisition “to tap into new business fields and is making its global network available to the BLG Group”.
Provided that the competition authorities approve the development, Rhenus will acquire nine air and sea freight sites from BLG on 1 April.
Nine freight forwarding sites
Rhenus said the nine freight forwarding sites operated by BLG International Forwarding, with about 100 employees, are set to be integrated within the existing network of Rhenus Air & Ocean in Germany, which currently has twelve branches, from the beginning of April onwards. They include business sites in Hamburg and Bremerhaven, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart as well as Munich.
“This will enable the company to handle greater volumes through its LCL gateway in Hilden and its air freight hub at Frankfurt, for example,” Rhenus said.
The BLG freight forwarding site in Bremen, which focuses on overland traffic, transporting heavy goods, project business and sea freight, is excluded from the takeover.
Stefan Schwind, Managing Director of Rhenus Air & Ocean Deutschland, commented:
“We’ve paved the way for the continual expansion of our air and sea freight activities during the last few years. Thanks to the additional business sites, employees and business activities, we’re consolidating our network in the Air & Ocean division in Germany. We’d also like to develop new lines of business, like transporting food using reefer containers and activities in the trade fair and event logistics sector.”
Jens Wollesen, the Contract Board Member at BLG Logistics, commented: “We’ve gained a strong partner in Rhenus Air & Ocean and it’s making available its extensive network to our customers thanks to its global presence. BLG is strategically adapting to changes in market conditions through the sale of our freight forwarding business.
“Even if we’ll no longer be represented right across Germany in terms of freight forwarding in future, we’ll continue to provide extensive international services in our Contract, Automobile and Container divisions.”
The Rhenus Group is a leading logistics service provider with global business operations and annual turnover of €5.5 billion. Rhenus has business sites at 750 locations worldwide and employs 33,000 people.
BLG Logistics is a seaport and logistics specialist with an international network that includes more than 100 business sites and branches around the world and more than 11,700 employees.
Source: Lloyd´s
