The strategic merger of Hillebrand with DHL's Global Forwarding, Freight division will strengthen the Group's position in the dynamic sea freight forwarding market. The focus on the core logistics business is a key element of the Group's Strategy 2025, with the priority for selected inorganic growth being on specific, strategically relevant activities.

"Given the strength of our forwarding business, the acquisition of Hillebrand is an excellent addition to our existing portfolio. In line with our Group strategy, we are strengthening our core logistics business and ensuring long-term profitable growth," says Frank Appel, CEO Deutsche Post DHL Group. "With our financial strength, we can make high-quality investments while reaffirming our continued commitment to meeting investors' return expectations."

"Having focused on improving the business operationally, we are now in a position to focus our core business on sustainably higher margins by expanding our reach and service offering in specialized segments," explains Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight. "Against this backdrop, the acquisition of Hillebrand offers significant opportunities and fits perfectly into our strategy. We look forward to working with the entire Hillebrand team to further develop their world-class business on our platform."

Hillebrand is a recognized specialist in ocean freight forwarding with a focus on beverages and non-hazardous bulk liquids transported in innovative flexitanks and ISO tank containers. DHL will benefit from Hillebrand's expertise and customer experience in liquid bulk and similar specialty cargoes to capitalize on the positive growth prospects of these products. In addition, the company offers a wide range of value-added services that are now available to DHL customers, ensuring consistently excellent service quality and an exceptional customer experience. These services include industry-leading customer management tools with best-in-class IT systems and end-to-end solutions in the fast-growing liquid bulk segments, including its own Flexitank production, which sets the standard in this sector.

For its part, Hillebrand will benefit from DHL Global Forwarding, Freight's global network in more than 190 countries and its worldwide expertise as a freight forwarder for air freight, sea freight and overland transportation to ensure excellent development opportunities for the company and its employees.

"Hillebrand is a leading ocean freight forwarder specializing in the transportation, logistics and supply chain management of beverages, non-hazardous bulk liquids and other products requiring special care in transit. Deutsche Post DHL Group is a major global logistics company - the two companies are a perfect match. We are delighted to announce today that our two companies are joining forces to shape the future together. I am proud of what the Hillebrand teams have built in true collaboration with our loyal customers and suppliers over our 177-year history, and we now look forward to joining forces with Deutsche Post DHL Group," said Cees van Gent, CEO and Chairman of the Board of J.F. Hillebrand Group.

"The acquisition of Hillebrand is a unique opportunity for Deutsche Post DHL Group to expand the business with high value ocean freight services with strong margins and high cash flow. We expect this transaction to be accretive to earnings and cash flow from day one, " confirms Melanie Kreis, CFO Deutsche Post DHL Group.

The merger is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities in certain countries, including the EU and the USA. These approvals are expected in the coming months. DPDHL intends to finance the acquisition with available cash.