The MSC Group has wasted no time putting its stamp on its newly acquired African logistics operation.
It has rebranded the multimodal businesses it bought last year, from France’s Bollore Group, to Africa Global Logistics (AGL).
Bollore Africa Logistics — as AGL was formerly known — was acquired in December in a €5.7bn ($6.2bn) deal.
It will operate as an independent entity within the cargo division of the Switzerland-based group.
Philippe Labonne, formerly the head of Bollore’s port operations, remains president of AGL.
“The acquisition will expand MSC’s value offer from being the world’s largest container shipping line into an integrated logistics provider,” he said.
Labonne highlighted how the acquisition will give MSC access to a well-established logistics network in Africa, including ports, rail and road infrastructure.
AGL has 21,000 employees in 49 countries. It controls 250 logistics and maritime agencies, 22 port and rail concessions, 66 dry ports and two river terminals.
Some commentators believe it was a mistake by AP Moller-Maersk to let AGL slip into the hands of its larger rival.
Maersk sees it as a strategic imperative to move from being a mere box carrier into an integrator of services along the supply chain.
However, Maersk and associate companies continue to increase their investments in the African arena.
Maersk purchase
On Wednesday, AP Moller Capital signed an agreement to acquire RCL Foods’ frozen food logistics division, Vector Logistics.
Vector is one of South Africa’s leading frozen logistics operators, providing multi-temperature warehousing, distribution and supply chain intelligence.
“We see a growth opportunity for Vector Logistics, and we believe that our experience and network will help to drive this growth,” said Joe Nielsen, partner at AP Moller Capital, a fund manager that is an affiliate of Danish investment firm AP Moller Holding.
The company was founded in 2017 to manage stand-alone alternative investment funds focusing on infrastructure in growth markets.
