Effective immediately, Rhenus AG & Co. KG has taken over 100% of Interspe Hamann Group (IHG) headquartered at Hilden/Germany. The merger creates a company with a combined workforce of 11,000 who are distributed over 200 different sites, and annual sales of -2.3bn. IHG is to continue as an independent division and proprietary name within the Rhenus Group, under its proven management. Both sides have agreed not to divulge the purchase price.

"This merger is a historic step for the two sides. We have succeeded in uniting two efficient companies with proven standards of quality and a good performance in the marketplace into a provider of full services", said Dr. Hermann Niehues, chief executive of Rhenus AG. "The take-over gives Rhenus a European network for land transport, extends its world-wide freight services, adds warehousing sites across the continent and thus makes Rhenus a provider of integrated logistics services in Europe."

"The two companies are a perfect match both geographically and as far as services are concerned. The sale makes it possible for IHG to continue the successful expansion it has experienced over the last few years within a new entrepreneurial framework", commented Michael Huber, IHG's former managing partner.

Niehues sees as the chief motives for the take-over IHG's profitability, and the wider range of solutions and value-added services the company has provided for customers: "We are getting our own transport network for contract logistics and can now monitor our clients' international transport chains."

A future structure has already been defined for the larger group. IHG is to form a separate business division within Rhenus AG and will retain its proprietary name. IHG managers continue to be in charge of operations. Michael Huber, former managing partner, will withdraw from the company.

About Rhenus

With sales of -2.3bn, the Rhenus Group is one of Europe's leading logistics companies. Its workforce of over 11,000 is distributed over 200 sites on the continent. Divisions such as Contract Logistics, Freight Logistics, Intermodal and Port Logistics help manage complex supply chains and provide innovative value-added services.

back