- Acquisitions will boost Maersk’s business-to-consumer logistics offering, addressing customers’ growing needs for e-commerce solutions
- The plan is to build B2C logistics capabilities in the world’s three largest e-commerce regions: Europe, North America, and Asia
- Visible SCM operates nine fulfillment centers in the US, complementing Maersk’s current warehouse presence in North America
- B2C Europe’s core offering is in parcel delivery services for both retailers and brands as well as for logistics operators, with a focus on cross-border deliveries
A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced it is acquiring two e-commerce logistics companies in the US and Europe, part of a plan to strengthen its e-commerce logistics products suite in Europe, North America, and Asia.
The transport and supply chain giant said it has acquired Visible Supply Chain Management, a business-to-consumer (B2C) logistics company focused on B2C parcel delivery and B2C fulfillment services in the US and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Furthermore, it announced the intention to acquire B2C Europe Holding B.V., a B2C logistics company focused on parcel delivery services in Europe and based in The Netherlands.
Maersk said many of its customers are seeing strong e-commerce sales growth as they roll out digital first strategies and are looking for support of their B2C supply chain growth. The two acquisitions will address the fast-changing consumer buying patterns and accelerating online consumption, while strengthening Maersk’s e-commerce logistics products suite in line with its strategic business transformation.
“The acquisitions will provide Maersk with a strong growth platform in the rapidly evolving field of E-commerce, where our investments in digitalization and integration will create significant synergies and make a big difference for customers’ ability to sell across multiple channels effectively. Furthermore, they will allow us to have a more comprehensive offering towards small and medium sized customers,” said Maersk ocean & logistics CEO Vincent Clerc.
“Within E-commerce Logistics, Maersk is building an asset-light, global business focused on two core capabilities: B2C Fulfilment and B2C Delivery based on a strong and flexible E-commerce technology backbone. The plan is to build these capabilities in the world’s three largest E-commerce regions: Europe, North America, and Asia. The acquisition of Visible SCM and proposed acquisition of B2C Europe are significant steps on this journey,” said Maersk.
Aymeric Chandavoine, global head of logistics and services at Maersk, said that together with SCM and and B2C Europe, Maersk can build the so-called “factory-to-sofa cycle.”
Visible SCM operates nine fulfillment centers in the US, complementing Maersk’s current warehouse presence in North America. Visible SCM handles 200,000 orders a day and enables 200 million parcels a year through its proprietary technology solutions with 99.8% order accuracy.
The definitive transaction agreements with Visible SCM were signed on June 28. All regulatory approvals and closing conditions have since been obtained and/or satisfied and the parties successfully closed the transaction on August 2. The enterprise value of the transaction is US$838 million.
B2C Europe’s core offering is in parcel delivery services for both retailers and brands as well as for logistics operators, with a focus on cross-border deliveries. It operates a multi-carrier platform with a significant reach and volumes into all European countries through an extensive carrier network.
The definitive transaction agreements with B2C Europe were signed on August 5. The transaction is subject to closing conditions including regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. The enterprise value of the transaction is $86 million.
Cumulative synergies for both transactions of $40 million on EBITDA are expected by 2023, excluding transaction and integration cost.
Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash
