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Dutch logistics group Raben is set to exit the freight forwarding sector to focus on contract logistics, agreeing to sell its Polish and German operators to Danish forwarder Leman.
Leman CEO René Bach Larsen said the deal was part of the firm’s broader geographic expansion strategy, driven by M&A.
“This is, first and foremost, a strategic move,” he said. “Germany and Poland are both key markets with solid economies and great potential for us.
“When the opportunity arose to acquire the air and sea operations from our trusted partner for more than 30 years, it was a natural next step. The timing, the markets, and the match were all right.”
He added: “We have a strong appetite for growth and for M&A opportunities that make strategic sense. We will continue to invest where we already have a solid presence – and where new opportunities can strengthen our global air and sea offering.”
In an interview with German trade newspaper DVZ, Raben Group CEO and major shareholder Ewald Raben confirmed the Dutch operator had taken the strategic decision to leave the forwarding sector and focus purely on warehousing and distribution contract logistics activities.
In February it had completed the acquisition of Dutch groupage transport and warehouse operator DGO Group, Raben’s Italian operation has been offloaded to Italian forwarder Sogedim, and this week came the sale to Leman.
According to DVZ, forwarding has been a diminishing part of Raben’s business – of total revenue of €2.2bn, just some €35m was generated from freight forwarding, of which it attributed €15m to the German and Polish activities, and €10m in Italy.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is understood that around 40 employees will transfer to Leman when it integrates the Raben operations in Hamburg, Gdynia, Warsaw, and Poznan from 1 January next year.
Leman also confirmed the deal did not include any road freight operations, and said it “remains focused on Northern Europe and other existing markets, supported by strong, long-term partnerships”.
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