C.H. Robinson Acquires European Freight Forwarding Companies
MINNEAPOLIS -- C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. here has acquired, in separate transactions, two freight forwarding companies, Hirdes Group Worldwide and Bussini Transport S.r.l. The two companies combined had gross revenues of approximately $52 million in 2004.
Hirdes, which provides air and ocean international forwarding with local cartage, has seven locations in Germany and three locations in the United States. The Hirdes family established the firm in 1871. Thomas Hirdes, 53, served as the chairman, president and managing director of U.S. operations and resides in Chicago, Ill. He and the managing director of Germany, Peter Mundt, 45, will continue with C.H. Robinson. Hirdes has 92 employees, all of whom were offered employment with C.H. Robinson.
Bussini provides international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and domestic truck services and is based in Milan, Italy. The company was founded in 1939 by the Bussini family. Allesandro Bussini, 27, will continue with C.H. Robinson as branch manager. As part of the acquisition, C.H. Robinson hired 27 employees.
"Hirdes and Bussini are strong, successful companies and will be important additions to Robinson's international freight forwarding network," said Joseph J. Mulvehill, international v.p. of C.H. Robinson. "Expanding our international network is one of our key long-term growth objectives and both of these companies will enhance our capabilities and our international relationships. They have great reputations in the industry and excellent track records. We look forward to having them on board."
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., has gross revenues of approximately $4.3 billion and is a global provider of multimodal transportation services, logistics solutions and fresh produce sourcing, operating through a network of 178 offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. C.H. Robinson is one of the largest third-party logistics companies based in North America and works with more than 35,000 motor carriers worldwide. The company is one of the largest third-party providers of intermodal services in the U.S.
Hirdes, which provides air and ocean international forwarding with local cartage, has seven locations in Germany and three locations in the United States. The Hirdes family established the firm in 1871. Thomas Hirdes, 53, served as the chairman, president and managing director of U.S. operations and resides in Chicago, Ill. He and the managing director of Germany, Peter Mundt, 45, will continue with C.H. Robinson. Hirdes has 92 employees, all of whom were offered employment with C.H. Robinson.
Bussini provides international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and domestic truck services and is based in Milan, Italy. The company was founded in 1939 by the Bussini family. Allesandro Bussini, 27, will continue with C.H. Robinson as branch manager. As part of the acquisition, C.H. Robinson hired 27 employees.
"Hirdes and Bussini are strong, successful companies and will be important additions to Robinson's international freight forwarding network," said Joseph J. Mulvehill, international v.p. of C.H. Robinson. "Expanding our international network is one of our key long-term growth objectives and both of these companies will enhance our capabilities and our international relationships. They have great reputations in the industry and excellent track records. We look forward to having them on board."
Founded in 1905, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., has gross revenues of approximately $4.3 billion and is a global provider of multimodal transportation services, logistics solutions and fresh produce sourcing, operating through a network of 178 offices in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. C.H. Robinson is one of the largest third-party logistics companies based in North America and works with more than 35,000 motor carriers worldwide. The company is one of the largest third-party providers of intermodal services in the U.S.