DPDHL agrees to buy J.F. Hillebrand Group
Deutsche Post DHL Group has signed an agreement to acquire up to 100 percent of J.F. Hillebrand Group AG (Hillebrand) and its subsidiaries at an equity value of around €1.5 billion.
August 18, 2021: Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL) has signed an agreement to acquire up to 100 percent of J.F. Hillebrand Group AG (Hillebrand) and its subsidiaries at an equity value of around €1.5 billion. Hillebrand is a global service provider specialized in ocean freight forwarding, transport and logistics of beverages, non-hazardous bulk liquids and other products that require special care. Hillebrand generated revenue of around €1.4 billion in the last twelve months.
The strategic combination of Hillebrand with DHL's Global Forwarding, Freight (DHL) division will strengthen the group's position in the dynamic ocean freight forwarding market.
"With the growing maturity of our freight forwarding business, this bolt-on acquisition of Hillebrand is highly complementary to our existing portfolio,” said Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group.
"After concentrating on improving the business operationally, we are now able to direct our core business towards sustainably higher margins by broadening our reach and service offering in specialised segments,” noted Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
DHL will benefit from Hillebrand's know-how and customer experience in bulk liquids and other adjacent special care commodities, to leverage the positive underlying growth pattern of these products. Hillebrand will in turn benefit from DHL Global Forwarding, Freight's large scale network in over 190 countries and global forwarding expertise in air, ocean and road freight to ensure strong development opportunities for the business, and its employees.