Comment / Analysis: K+N on a roll, but is Panalpina the next major takeover target?

Atlas Air/Panalpina

07/03/2017

The annual results of two of the most prominent air and ocean freight global forwarders, Kuehne + Nagel and Panalpina, highlight the importance of having the right ’vertical mix’ in a market where major operators are trying to cope with the vagaries of a global economy, the direction of which has become increasingly resistant to predictions.

While K+N continues to grow profits, thanks to careful management of third-party transport services and soaring gross income, which fully offset rising operating costs, Panalpina – whose market cap ...

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Shankar
March 07, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Ironically, very large Global companies without exception suffers from a few common threads:

(A) Lack of inertia – well, I am carefully not using the word “agility!”

(B) Aggression and speed with their decision making! All thanks to their never ending layers of opinion (not necessarily decision!) makers.

(C) A sense of arrogance often creeps into their approach, which most clients don’t quite enjoy experiencing!

(D) Clear accountability of most of their Senior executives, translating the same with specific numbers… Later on “post mortem” is useless!

Reading this feedback, some of you may spring up from your chairs to protest my views – but let someone challenge me on this reality debate!

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- Daniel
  March 08, 2017 at 8:50 am
  Right you are, couldn’t agree more!
  
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Ale Pasetti
March 09, 2017 at 7:00 am
Shankar, Daniel, thanks for your comments — I have little to add not that topic, but as far as consolidation among shippers is concerned, here’s another interesting story, with AKZO Nobel (EUR16.2bn mkt cap pre-bid) rejecting PPG and launching a corporate review.

http://www.4-traders.com/AKZO-NOBEL-6277/news/Akzo-Nobel-AkzoNobel-reviewing-strategic-options-to-separate-Specialty-Chemicals–24009774/

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Alejandro
April 25, 2017 at 12:22 am
Panalpina has hired top KN executives during the last 4 years. Even now they are nominating Dirk Reich as a new member at the board of Directors, after Uber was appointed Chairman, Erni CFO, and many more top executives. Isn’t this a strategy to fight KN instead of thinking on M&A? KN always wanted to improve their FA services where they always lacked the expertise and efficiency of players like Panalpina or DHL and perhaps they will try a takeover, but these ex-KN persons will make it very difficult for sure…

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- Ale Pasetti
  April 26, 2017 at 3:02 pm
  Good points, Alejandro. There’s no war to fight here, IMO — K+N belongs to a different planet! Btw, what do make of their latest results? Did you have a look?
  
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