Dachser acquires Azkar

Effective January 15, 2013 Dachser is to acquire its Spanish partner Azkar. With headquarters in Coslada near Madrid, the logistics provider generated revenue of EUR 367 million in 2011 with a staff of over 3,000 working in 91 branch offices in Azkar and is one of the biggest Iberian logistics providers and the market leader in the Spanish groupage segment. The tradition-rich company operates at a profit despite the dire strait of the Spanish economy.

The rationale behind the acquisition, which is still subject to the approval of the anti-trust authorities, aims at securing and continuing the growth of both companies and at offering customers enhanced possibilities for European network logistics.

The enterprise will continue to be headed up by José Antonio Orozco and the current management team. For the time being, the company will also continue to operate under the same name.

Dachser and Azkar have enjoyed a close partnership since 2007, with Dachser acquiring a 10% stake in the company in 2008. Within the scope of this cooperation, both companies have increased their respective revenue in the groupage segment to and from Spain by over 20% annually.

Dachser invests hundreds of millions of euros annually in the expansion and modernization of its logistics network, making it one of the most efficient of its kind worldwide. These investments will in the future also benefit Azkar.

With Azkar’s full-coverage branch network, the Dachser family-owned enterprise is now also reinforcing its own network on the Iberian Peninsula. Azkar’s strong position in contract logistics also ties in well with Dachser’s strategic orientation.

Dachser is already represented in Portugal with its own country organization. The integration of both companies will advance the company to one of the country’s leading logistics providers. < Korea Shipping Gazette >