Merger creates supply chain logistics company

CLIVE EMDON
LAST WEEK saw the official announcement of the merger between Spectrum Shipping and Impson Freight. Spectrum becomes the holding company of a group of companies worldwide, while Impson Logistics will house the logistics business of the Group. According to Glen Gerber, CEO of Spectrum Shipping and now CEO of the Spectrum Group, the two Durban-based companies with national offices have handled in excess of
37 000 consignments over the past year. While Spectrum Shipping had gross billing of R500 million this year, the new group expects this to rise to R1.5 billion in 2007, he said. Gerber joined the company as CEO 3½ years ago. “We took up the challenge to strategically realign the business so that it would be more conducive to sustainable growth and earnings by changing it from a clearing and forwarding company to a supply chain logistics company.” The former merchant banker believes the merger will create a competitive advantage through greater efficiency and better costing for the movement of freight on a global scale. The company will offer charter freight services, insurance, trade finance, foreign exchange management services, and warehousing and distribution solutions on a global basis. The subsidiary companies in the group include Santova NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier), Santova Financial Services, Leading Edge Insurance Brokers, e-OSCI Logistics. They will form the specialist support services to Impson Logistics. Spectrum has two companies in Hong Kong and 12 representative offices in mainland China with partners Patent Logistics International (Shenzhen). The new group has a staff of 269 in South Africa and an international network on five continents of 450 offices