Major Logistics Company Looks to Buy Specialist Brazilian Road Haulage Outfit

GERMANY – BRAZIL – DHL Supply Chain has announced that it intends to acquire control of the Brazilian road haulage carrier Polar Transportes, retaining the company's management team. The company is a specialist service provider for the Life Sciences and Healthcare industry with 400 full-time employees specialising in temperature-controlled transportation which DHL claims has a strong reputation in terms of technology, quality and regulatory compliance.

Polar Transportes, which was founded in 1996, has been working as a service provider for DHL for over 15 years and runs a fleet of more than 300 trucks with national coverage. The acquisition is aimed at supporting the German group’s growth ambitions in a key emerging market and strengthen DHL’s end-to-end offering for the Life Sciences and Healthcare industry in Brazil. Both parties have agreed to keep the transaction value confidential and the deal is still subject to approval from the Brazilian competition authorities. Javier Bilbao, CEO DHL Supply Chain Latin America, said:

"Acquiring control of our longstanding service provider Polar Transportes is a great opportunity for us in offering an integrated end-to-end solution for the pharma industry in Brazil. We are taking one more step to further foster our strong position in a key emerging market that supports our Strategy 2020.”

Brazil forms the biggest economy in Latin America and regardless of the overall economic decline, the national healthcare sector grew substantially in 2016, achieving a 5.1% growth in volume and 13.2% growth in sales. With the group aiming at industry-specific solutions for an evolving and rapidly growing market DHL’s acquisition may well prove a sound investment. Mauricio Barros, President DHL Supply Chain Brazil, observed:

"This investment will allow us to expand our Life Sciences and Healthcare capabilities in the Brazilian Market. The temperature-controlled transport segment is one of the key elements in this industry. We strongly believe that Polar Transportes is the best player to support us in growing the business in this important area."