ADN considers further acquisitions

Wholesale express courier company African Distribution Network is on the acquisition trail. The company, which serves courier and freight companies moving cargo into and out of Africa, is exploring acquisitions in various parts of Africa, managing director Simon Chalker told FTW. This follows its first international investment earlier this year when the company bought TFI Express UK in London, a company that runs on a similar basis to ADN but with Europe as its main area of operation. “TFI has been handling most of our consignments to the UK for several years,” said Chalker. “The company has a strong management team and a work ethic very similar to ADN with a firm customer base in New York and Sydney as well as the UK and Europe.” Earlier this year South African entrepreneur, Bernie Cox, acquired a majority shareholding in ADN. “Recognising the potential of the company, he invested a substantial amount of capital which is enabling us to expand both locally and internationally,” said Chalker. The UK acquisition was part of this strategy. The TFI name has been changed to ADN in the UK. Cox sold his entire shareholding in Berco Express, the company he started in 1992, to Aramex, the Dubai-based global logistics and transportation company, in December 2011. Aramex and Berco Express are retail courier companies whereas ADN is a wholesale operation and is also a service supplier to Aramex ADN has a comprehensive network of African offices and agents that ensure complete control over the distribution process from source to destination, said Chalker. This includes over-border road freight, airfreight and ocean freight. “Our network allows us to offer full door-to-door services on all freight products into many African countries that courier and freight companies previously would not have been able to offer to their clients. We are also able to arrange collections and imports into South Africa and the UK, as well as cross-trade shipments from abroad into African countries. “The service is strictly wholesale, allowing courier and freight companies to deliver their goods to us at the shortest possible and practical cut-off times, ensuring that their shipments are on the next available flight and routing into Africa.” CAPTION Simon Chalker ... expanding locally and internationally.