Broekman buys VLS sites

BUILDING ON BENELUX

WAREHOUSING • BROEKMAN’S RECENT ACQUISITION OF VLSGROUP ASSETS IN THE BENELUX WILL, BOTH PARTIES SAY, OFFER BETTER SERVICES FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE CLIENTS

ROTTERDAM-HEADQUARTERED BROEKMAN Logistics has acquired the VLS-Group’s warehousing activities in Belgium and the Netherlands. The deal reinforces Broekman’s market leadership in the warehousing, distribution and value-adding logistics of packaged and speciality chemicals in the Benelux region.

“This acquisition, the largest in our nearly 60 years of existence, marks a major milestone for Broekman Logistics,” says Raymond Riemen, CEO of Broekman Logistics. “By adding 150,000 m² of storage space, our covered warehouse portfolio increases by over 40 per cent whilst we grow our employee base significantly. On behalf of us all at Broekman Logistics, I warmly welcome each of the new 230 colleagues to our company.”

The VLS-Group, owned by leading Israeli chemical distribution company Gadot Chemical Group, offers integrated logistics and a range of value-adding services, such as drumming, toll manufacturing, transport management and tank storage, to the European chemical industry. The transaction sees six warehouse locations in Rotterdam-Pernis and Antwerp move to Broekman; it does not include VLS’s tank storage activities and other assets in Ghent, nor the VLS activities at three locations in Germany. Both parties agreed not to disclose the terms of the transaction.

“The divestment of our Belgian and Dutch warehousing activities to Broekman Logistics allows us to focus on our core activities, while ensuring a long-term and sustainable future for the employees and clients of the VLSGroup,” says Alain Poublon, CEO of the VLS-Group. BETTER ALL ROUND Explaining the reasoning behind the deal, Willem Jan van Amersfoort, managing director of Broekman Logistics’ Warehousing & Distribution division, says: “There is a strong strategic fit between the two companies, as the client base, locations of the specialised warehousing facilities and the type of value-adding activities complement each other. This acquisition brings additional valueadded logistics activities to our company, such as filling, drumming and bagging, of which our clients and partners will surely benefit.”

Anton van Dongen, director of Benelux operations at VLS-Group, adds: “We are looking forward to become a part of Broekman Logistics. Our customers will be offered the benefits of Broekman Logistics’ global network and thought leadership for chemical supply chain solutions. As a joint team, we are certain that this is a merger of benefits where the two companies will continuously strengthen each other, both now and in the future.”

The five VLS-Group locations in Antwerp and one in Pernis will now operate under the Broekman Logistics brand and be fully integrated into the Warehousing & Distribution division. “We now operate state-of-the-art warehouses in all the major logistics hubs and gateways into Europe: the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Antwerp and the Limburg area, expanding our global reach, whilst maintaining our personal touch,” Riemen concludes.

Broekman Logistics now operates some 445,000 m² of covered warehousing facilities and employs more than 1,000 people at 43 locations worldwide. Outside its Benelux hub, Broekman has operations in Poland and the Czech Republic, representative offices in Shanghai and Singapore, and 14 offices in strategic locations in India. Coverage elsewhere in the world is managed through Broekman’s participation in a number of global freight networks.

Broekman Logistics offers supply chain solutions in three divisions: aside from Warehousing & Distribution, it has multimodal expertise in its Forwarding & Shipping division and niche expertise in Breakbulk Logistics. HCB www.broekmanlogistics.com

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