Deutsche Post DHL to acquire German logistics company Hillebrand for €1.5bn

Deutsche Post DHL Group, a German multinational package delivery and supply chain management company, has agreed to acquire J.F. Hillebrand Group and its subsidiaries (Hillebrand) for nearly €1.5 billion.

Based in Mainz, Germany, Hillebrand is a global logistics company. The company is engaged in ocean freight forwarding, transport and logistics of beverages, non-hazardous bulk liquids, and other products that need special care.

In the last 12 months, Hillebrand had earned revenue of nearly €1.4 billion. The company, which is expected to ship close to 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this year, has a workforce of over 2,700 employees globally.

Deutsche Post DHL Group said that the combination of Hillebrand with its global forwarding, freight (DHL) unit will consolidate its position in the ocean freight forwarding market.

Deutsche Post DHL Group to acquire German logistics company Hillebrand for €1.5bn. Photo courtesy of Deutsche Post AG.

Frank Appel — CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group said: “With the growing maturity of our freight forwarding business, this bolt-on acquisition of Hillebrand is highly complementary to our existing portfolio. In line with our Group Strategy, we strengthen our core logistics business and deliver profitable long-term growth.

“Using our financial strength, we are able to pursue quality investments while reinforcing our unchanged commitment to deliver on investor return expectations.”

Hillebrand employs flexitanks and ISO tank containers for transporting beverages, non-hazardous bulk liquids, and others. Deutsche Post DHL Group said that it will benefit from the German logistics company’s expertise and customer experience in bulk liquids and other adjacent special care commodities, to tap the positive underlying growth pattern of the products.

Hillebrand is also said to provide a wide variety of value-added services, which will now be available to the customers of Deutsche Post DHL Group. Among these services are customer facing tools and end-to-end service offers in the rapid-growing bulk liquids segments, which include own flexitank productions.

In turn, Hillebrand will benefit from the large scale network of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight in 190 plus countries and global forwarding know-how in air, road, and ocean freight.

Cees van Gent — CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Hillebrand said: “Hillebrand is a leading ocean freight forwarder specialized in transport, logistics and supply chain management of beverages, non-hazardous bulk liquids and other products that require special care.

“Deutsche Post DHL Group is a major global logistics company – the two companies are a perfect match and we are pleased to announce our agreement to unite and form a future together.

“I am proud of what the Hillebrand teams in true collaboration with our loyal customers and vendors have built over our 177-year history and we now look forward to joining forces with Deutsche Post DHL Group.”

The closing of the deal is contingent merger control clearance in certain jurisdictions such as the European Union, the US, and others, which are anticipated to be given in the coming months.