Geodis Calberson has signed a framework agreement to acquire Cool Jet, the French domestic groupage and chartering business.
The takeover will provide Geodis Calberson with the additional volumes it needs to increase its domestic groupage network to full capacity.
Cool Jet has some 5,000 active customers, 34 depots in France and 1,004 vehicles, 20 per cent of which it owns.
Geodis Calberson will be able handle Cool Jet traffic within its network without the need for additional facilities, however as part of the acquisition it will take on two buildings, one located in Paris and the other in Lesquin in the north.
The groupage division is also set to reinforce its position in the book distribution market by taking full control of Prisme, a dedicated platform for the distribution of cultural products in bookstores throughout France, which Cool Jet had a 50 per cent stake.
Jean-Louis Demeulenaere, deputy chief executive officer of Geodis, said: “This acquisition contributes to a dynamic period of growth that we want to maintain in each of the Geodis divisions. In particular it strengthens our leadership position in France and will accelerate the development of our European groupage activities.”
Denis Zimmer, senior vice president of the Groupage Division, added: “The value of the acquired business and the way it complements our, the high quality of standards implemented by Cool Jet over the last years and the similarities of our companies’ cultures are all guarantees that the integration will be successful and will benefit our customers.”
The transfer of activities will take place on 1st October and is subject to the approval of competition authorities.
