Renfreight Circle is born

TWO OF South Africa's powerful industrial and services groups have announced their intention to join forces with a US partner to create one of the country's premier logistics and freight management organisations.
Rennies Group (controlled by Safren and AMIC) and Circle International SA (a division of Barlows), on Tuesday jointly announced their intention to pool their international and domestic freight logistics interests with the Circle International Group based in San Francisco, USA.
Rennies will emerge as the largest individual shareholder in the SA venture, which will trade as Renfreight Circle.
Rennies Group c.e. Piet Steyn sees this initiative as a key move in his strategy to put Rennies into the global arena. "We have invested considerable time and resource in finding the right international partner for the future," he said, "and Circle's aspirations and culture fit hand in glove with our own. It is no longer sufficient for our customers and our shareholders that we are the leading customs broker and terminal operators in southern Africa. We must provide international solutions. Circle's worldwide logistics facilities and systems will provide us with the global reach that we need. We are confident that by combining the resources of the two companies, quality and service levels with be further enhanced."

Mike Coward, the Barlows main board director with responsibility for Circle SA, said that he was delighted to continue his partnership with the Circle Group through investment in the new joint venture. He paid tribute to Circle SA's local managemnt in building up a successful business. "I feel very confident that our customers, who have been so loyal to us over the years, will reap the benefits of our decision to combine our strengths with Rennies, who have also enjoyed a first class reputation in South Africa," he said. "Although we have been competitors we have close links through other business relationships."
Circle International's president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa is Peter Singleton, who knows the region well, having previously worked for the Rennies Group both in Africa and Europe. "In 30 years of this business I have never before encountered such a win/win scenario," he said. "Both the new SA partnership and the whole Circle world will see this venture as further evidence of our global commitment to our customers in all five continents."
The Circle International network serves the international transportation and logistics needs of customers globally, maintaining a newtwork of offices and agents in over 350 locations in 96 countries. Circle International is rated in size within the top international forwarders.