Detours

Staff -- Purchasing, 4/6/2006

• Schneider Logistics recently agreed to acquire American Overseas Air Freight, an international freight forwarder and a licensed U.S. customs broker specializing in the handling and shipping of import and export products by air, ocean and truck.
• Ocean freight and logistics company UTi Worldwide has acquired Market Industries Ltd., a privately held provider of logistics and truck brokerage services, for $197.1 million in cash.
• In the small package market, Deutsche Post says its DHL Express operation in the U.S. will not be profitable in 2007, as previously expected. Klaus Zumwinkel, CEO, said in a recent news report, "Further action is needed for the express business in the U.S. We need to eliminate the problems we have identified."
• Swiss logistics giant Kuehne & Nagel will not bid on TNT's Logistics business, according to recent news reports. Kuehne & Nagel CFO Gerard van Kesteren was quoted in a German newspaper as saying the company would only be interested in the Asia Pacific logistics operations of TNT. In a separate announcement, TNT said it has bought out its partner in its Italian subsidiary for sole ownership of TNT Arvil.
• Menlo Worldwide recently launched a subsidiary in Malaysia to support local clients in the consumer goods and high-tech manufacturing sectors, with plans to expand next year. "Kuala Lumpur and Penang are central to the manufacturing operations of many retail consumer goods and technology companies," said James Hsu, managing director, Asia-Pacific for Menlo Worldwide in a recent company statement.