The world's sixth largest ocean freight forwarder acquires a century-old German logistics company
On February 5, 2025, NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. (referred to as Nippon Express Holdings) announced on its official website that it completed the acquisition of Simon Hegele Group, a century-old German logistics company, with a shareholding ratio of 100%. This means that Simon Hegele Group is officially a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Express Holdings.
It is understood that the parties had signed the relevant agreement on September 30, 2024, and the transaction was officially completed on February 3, 2025, after obtaining regulatory approval.
According to Transport Topics' statistics, in 2022, Japan Express Group's sea freight volume will be about 760,000 TEU, ranking 17th in the world. In 2023, its seaborn cargo volume rose significantly to 1.7 million TEU, ranking sixth in the world.
Between 2019 and 2023, its annual revenue increased from 200 million euros (about $208 million) to 300 million euros (about $312 million). In 2023, revenue was 318 million euros (about $330 million) and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) was 3.7 million euros (about $3.844 million).
Simon Hegele Group CEO Stefan Ulrich has previously said that Nippon Express is the ideal partner, especially in the Asian market, with the access advantages of Nippon Express Group and Simon Hegele Group's technology and experience, through strategic cooperation. Will help Simon Hegele Group expand its healthcare business internationally.
The announcement further emphasizes that in the future, the two parties will strive to maximize synergies by integrating service capabilities and customer bases to provide high-quality logistics solutions to customers worldwide.
In recent years, Nippon Express Group has continued to expand its global presence through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. In January 2024, the group acquired Austria-based logistics group Cargo-Partner for 1.4 billion euros ($1.454 billion).
It is understood that the parties had signed the relevant agreement on September 30, 2024, and the transaction was officially completed on February 3, 2025, after obtaining regulatory approval.
According to Transport Topics' statistics, in 2022, Japan Express Group's sea freight volume will be about 760,000 TEU, ranking 17th in the world. In 2023, its seaborn cargo volume rose significantly to 1.7 million TEU, ranking sixth in the world.
Between 2019 and 2023, its annual revenue increased from 200 million euros (about $208 million) to 300 million euros (about $312 million). In 2023, revenue was 318 million euros (about $330 million) and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) was 3.7 million euros (about $3.844 million).
Simon Hegele Group CEO Stefan Ulrich has previously said that Nippon Express is the ideal partner, especially in the Asian market, with the access advantages of Nippon Express Group and Simon Hegele Group's technology and experience, through strategic cooperation. Will help Simon Hegele Group expand its healthcare business internationally.
The announcement further emphasizes that in the future, the two parties will strive to maximize synergies by integrating service capabilities and customer bases to provide high-quality logistics solutions to customers worldwide.
In recent years, Nippon Express Group has continued to expand its global presence through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. In January 2024, the group acquired Austria-based logistics group Cargo-Partner for 1.4 billion euros ($1.454 billion).
