Kuehne & Nagel International AG announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire USCO Logistics based in Hamden, CT., USA.

With this acquisition Kuehne & Nagel will have full access to the logistics market in North America, and realises a further important step in its strategic concept to offer integrated Contract Logistics Solutions on a global basis.

After having restructured and expanded this business in Europe, the contract logistics operations, as a result of the alliance with SembCorp Logistics Ltd., Singapore, were extended to the Asia-Pacific region. Thus Kuehne & Nagel is now a truly global Contract Logistics player.

USCO Logistics is a privately owned leading, non asset-based North American full-service provider of customized integrated logistics management solutions.

With its 3,300 employees USCO Logistics' nationwide network is managing more than 1,5 million square metres of shared and dedicated space in distribution centers throughout more than 70 locations in the US, Canada and Mexico, making it one of the largest warehouse space providers in North America.

"The acquisition of USCO Logistics is an important milestone for the further development of the Kuehne & Nagel Group. It enables us to offer one-stop, integrated contract logistics solutions in the triad Europe, the Asia Pacific region and North America. In the future, Kuehne & Nagel will be one of the leading suppliers of integrated contract logistics services worldwide. USCO complements our existing leadership position in the worldwide ocean freight and airfreight forwarding businesses", so the comment of Klaus-Michael Kuehne, Executive Chairman of Kuehne & Nagel International AG.

"We are extremely excited about being part of the Kuehne & Nagel Group. This transaction will allow us to provide global logistics solutions to our customers while providing complementary logistics capabilities to our new partner, Kuehne & Nagel. The opportunities created by our joining forces will create a leading global logistics force", said Thomas R. Holmes, Chairman of USCO Logistics.

With more than 14,000 employees at 530 locations in 90 countries - before incorporating USCO Logistics -, the Kuehne & Nagel Group is one of the leading logistics companies worldwide. Its strong market position lies in the ocean-, airfreight and contract logistics businesses, with a clear focus on providing IT-based Supply Chain Management services.