HGK (Köln) takes over logistics specialist “neska”

Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) is continuing to expand its logistics activities. It has now acquired Imperial Logistics International’s holdings in the “neska” Group.
HGK took over the 65 percent of business shares held by Imperial Logistics International in neska Schiffahrts- und Speditionskontor GmbH (neska) with effect from 1 July 2015. As a result, HGK, which previously held the other 35 percent, is now the sole shareholder in “neska”. The takeover is still subject to the agreement of the anti-trust authority and the local authorities’ supervisory body. The parties have agreed to maintain silence about the purchase price.
HGK CEO Horst Leonhardt comments, “neska has been a significant element in the HGK network for a long time with its wide variety of logistics services along the river Rhine – particularly for combined traffic, but also in logistics operations for bulk commodities. We’re delighted that constructive negotiations with Imperial Logistics International have now enabled us to fully take over “neska”. This will help strengthen our existing business at the ports and with rail services and create the foundation for further growth.”
The sale of the 65 percent share to HGK means that the holdings in “neska” pass completely to HGK. They include: uct Umschlag Container Terminal GmbH (Dormagen), Duisburg Bulk Terminal GmbH (Duisburg), CTS Container Terminal GmbH Rhein-See-Land-Service (Cologne), DCH Düsseldorfer Container-Hafen GmbH (Düsseldorf), KCG Knapsack Cargo GmbH (Cologne), TKN Terminal Köln-Nord GmbH (Cologne) and Pohl & Co. GmbH (Hamburg).
The deal also includes several Imperial subsidiaries, which were assigned to “neska” in operational terms. They include: Rhein-Ruhr Bulk Terminal GmbH (Duisburg), KCT Krefelder Container Terminal GmbH (Krefeld), Alcotrans Container Line B.V. (Duisburg), Alcotrans Container Line GmbH (Rotterdam), Rhein-Ruhr Terminalgesellschaft für Container- und Güterumschlag mbH (Duisburg).
“neska” was founded in 1925 as “neska Niederländische Schiffahrtskontor GmbH” with its headquarters in Cologne. Krupp Handel GmbH was a shareholder from 1982 onwards, initially holding 50 percent. During the course of the company’s history, various freight forwarding companies took a holding in “neska”, including J. Wirtz & Co., Knoche & Barth and Harpen Transport AG. In 1991, Krupp invested its share, which had grown to 65 percent by then, in “nestrans Logistics GmbH”. Krupp had pooled its complete logistics activities in the “nestrans” company. When the South African firm, Imperial Holdings Limited, took over “nestrans” in 1999, the 65 percent of the shareholding in “neska” also passed to Imperial Logistics International, the company established in Duisburg in the same year.
“neska” has specialised in providing handling and warehouse services along the river Rhine. Its facilities are equipped to offer value-added services and, for example, handling for bulk solids, picking and packaging for break bulk cargo or loading and un-loading operations for containers carrying all kinds of goods. Container activities across Europe are pooled under the “neska INTERMODAL” label and shipping services, rail and truck are combined to handle and transport different kinds of goods. 770 “neska” employees generate a turnover of more than EUR 200 million per year.
Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK) is a subsidiary managed by the Cologne Public Services Group (Stadtwerke Köln). HGK is one of the most important German railway companies with its own locomotive and wagon work-shops, 240 kilometres of company track and 66 railway sidings. HGK transferred its former port logistics, railway goods traffic and property letting divisions to RheinCargo GmbH & Co. KG in 2012; this is a joint venture (50/50) between HGK and Neuss-Düsseldorfer Häfen GmbH & Co. KG. RheinCargo is one of the largest inland waterway port operators in Europe and Germany’s largest private rail freight company. HTAG Häfen und Transport AG, which has its headquarters in Duisburg and specialises in inland waterway shipping logistics, is another of HGK’s holdings.
www.hgk.de    www.neska.com