Danish transport and logistics company, DSV Panalpina, has agreed to acquire Agility’s Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business.
The combination is expected to create a top-three global freight forwarder based on revenues.
The acquisition will be an all-share transaction and closing is expected Q3 2021.
Multimodal logistics provider, Agility, will become the second largest shareholder in DSV with an approximate 8.0 per cent stake in the combined company.
Earlier this year, Agility moved its Australasia regional headquarters to Melbourne’s Airport Business Park.
Agility and DSV have reached an agreement that DSV will acquire Agility’s stand-alone GIL business in an all-share transaction. DSV will issue 19,304,348 shares, representing approximately 8.0 per cent of all post-transaction outstanding shares of DSV. Based on the DSV share closing price of DKK 1,299.5, and an exchange rate of DKK 1.00 = USD 0.163 and KWD = 0.049, the all-share transaction has an implied equity value of GIL of $4.1 billion USD or approx. €3.4 billion.
The combination of DSV and GIL will fortify DSV’s position as a leading global transport and logistics company with a combined pro forma revenue of approximately 22 billion USD and a combined workforce of more than 70,000 employees.
“This deal creates significant shareholder value and marks a new milestone in Agility’s journey,” said Agility Vice Chairman, Tarek Sultan.
“Agility remains committed to the supply chain industry, and will become the second largest shareholder in one of the fastest-growing and most profitable logistics companies in the world.
“I want to thank GIL’s leadership and employees for profitably growing the company and steering it through one of the most challenging periods the industry has ever seen during the global pandemic. Agility is proud of what GIL has achieved.
“Agility will be exploring opportunities between DSV and its other businesses, with promising areas of future cooperation potentially including Agility’s Logistics Parks business, Shipa group of companies, and technology ventures. Agility will remain an emerging markets leader, investor in emerging technologies, and champion of sustainable business.”
DSV Group CEO, Jens Bjørn Andersen, said Agility’s Integrated Logistics business and DSV are an excellent match.
“The combination of our two global networks will provide us with the opportunity to offer our customers an even higher service level,” he said.
“GIL’s global network, industry competencies and strong market position in APAC and the Middle East complement DSV’s network well and will support our long-term value creation ambitions.
“Our two groups of companies already share a culture of entrepreneurship and local ownership, and we look forward to welcoming GIL’s talented staff to DSV.”
Scale remains one of the key competitive advantages in freight forwarding with significant operational and commercial benefits. The combination of DSV and Agility GIL is expected to increase DSV’s annual revenue by approximately 23 per cent, which will rank the combined company in the freight forwarding industry top three with a pro forma revenue of approximately 22 billion USD and a combined workforce of more than 70,000 employees. The combined company will have own operations in more than 90 countries, with expected volumes of more than 2.8 million containers (TEUs) and more than 1.6 million tonnes of air freight transported yearly.
“GIL’s presence in fast-growing emerging markets in APAC, as well as Europe and Americas, will be a strong addition to DSV’s existing network,” said Andersen.
GIL will bring additional warehousing capacity of more than 1.4 million square metres across the Middle East and Asia, significantly strengthening DSV’s contract logistics capabilities and Solutions division. GIL will also add road freight activities to DSV’s network in Europe and the Middle East.
“This deal is one of the largest private M&A deals made in the GCC to date,” said Sultan.
“We expect that this transaction will have a positive impact on shareholder’s equity and the company’s market value.
“It will give Agility the resources and flexibility to explore new opportunities and reposition the company for the next phase of growth.”
Not part of the deal is Agility’s Logistics Parks business that develops warehousing and light-industrial infrastructure, and its portfolio of subsidiary companies, covering fuel logistics, commercial real estate, airport services, customs digitisation, and digital logistics, among others. Agility will continue to invest in emerging technologies and companies and remains committed to sustainability across its operations and the companies it invests in.