Unifeeder and IMCL create Northern Europe’s leading feeder operator
Unifeeder is pleased to announce the acquisition of IMCL Holding
Ltd. from Lemissoler Shipping Group PCL. The combined entity will
through efficient operations and economies of scale offer an even
more competitive and reliable best-in-class service with high
frequency and quality between the major hubs in Northern
Europe.
Unifeeder, the asset light logistics company, is Northern Europe’s
leading feeder operator transporting containers from the large
European container hubs in Belgium, Germany and Holland to more
than 30 regional ports across the Nordic Region, the Baltic States
and Russia. Unifeeder’s feeder operations are complemented by its
fast growing door-to-door multimodal container transport business.
In 2008, Unifeeder had sales of ca €400 million.
IMCL is the largest feeder operator in Poland and transports
containers between the main ports in Germany and Holland and the
Polish ports in Gdynia, Gdansk and Stettin as well as Riga in
Latvia and Klaipeda in Lithuania. The company was established in
1996 and prides itself on providing an unrivalled service to its
customers, many of whom have been with the company since inception.
In 2008 IMCL enjoyed sales of ca €50 million.
The merger of Unifeeder’s and IMCL’s operations will benefit all
stakeholders, from customers to employees and suppliers, as
increased scale advantages and best practise is rolled out across
the combined entity in order to procure a superior product and
service offering in conjunction with increased geographic coverage
and scope of services. The joint network will improve the offering
for inter-European cargo and thereby support initiatives to move
cargo from road to sea. Transporting containers by sea instead of
road is the most environmentally friendly transportation method as
seen by using Unifeeder’s newly launched CO2 calculator on
www.unifeeder.com.
The CEO of Unifeeder, Jesper Kristensen, commented “the acquisition
of IMCL by Unifeeder is an important strategic milestone that will
benefit the customers of both companies. The possibility to provide
additional port calls on routes to the Baltic region, Finland and
Russia creates an improved service offering to everyone’s benefit.
IMCL offers a high quality service to its customers and contributes
outstanding employees to complement Unifeeder’s organisation and
future development. I am very pleased this transaction has been
concluded.”
“The combined entity will be able to offer our customers a more
extensive and flexible service with improved coverage of the ports
in the Baltic Sea. Together with Nakis Kassos, Managing Director,
the other key IMCL employees and the existing organisations in
Poland and Germany, I am delighted to continue to work to ensure a
successful future and integration of the combined entity” said
Philippos Philis CEO of IMCL.
Philip Larkos, Co-founder and CFO of SFS Group Public Company Ltd,
majority owner of Lemissoler Shipping Group PCL, commented
“Lemissoler Group has supported the successful development and
growth of IMCL since its establishment in 1996 and IMCL has firmly
established itself in the Polish market since then. I believe that
Unifeeder is the optimal long term home for IMCL and the
combination is an important strategic move for both
organisations.”
“Unifeeder is a first class logistics company with a very exciting
future. The combination with IMCL is a perfect match and we will
continue to support development initiatives including additional
acquisitions or mergers in order to fully realise Unifeeder’s
strategy” said Peter Dahlberg, Director at Montagu Private
Equity.
The transaction is expected to complete by end 2009.
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