UK's Allport merges with HK's Cargo Services Far East Limited

ALLPORT, one of Britain's largest freight forwarders, is merging with CS Logistics Holdings Limited, the parent company of Cargo Services Far East Limited of Hong Kong.

The two have worked together for 20 years having established the Far East Cargo Line NVOCC network and set up joint ventures in South Africa, Singapore, Thailand and Korea, said an Allport statement.

Allport was founded 50 years ago by Will Toye and John Clayton, who both retain a minority stake in the new venture. CS Logistics Holdings Limited, founded in 1990 by John Lau, with Allport taking a share from the start, now has 28 offices in Hong Kong and mainland China with more than 4,200 staff.

"We believe this is the best way to continue growing the company and the business we have developed together," said Mr Toye. "We share the same values, business ethos and vision for the future so it is very much a natural progression to merge."

The business will continue to operate under its existing names and will now manage more than 700,000 container movements annually as well as significant air freight and pre-retail origin logistics.

Allport specialises in logistics, maritime, chemicals, fashion, retail, beverages, defence, finance, medical, technology and telecom. The Allport Group is the largest privately held freight forwarder in the UK with 2009 revenues of GBP219 million (US$338 million).

From London, the company operates at 25 UK locations, employs 1,000 and moves five million kilogrammes a day by land, sea and air for 3,000 customers. Founded in 1963, as a sea freight forwarder by John Clayton and Mr Toye, Allport MAT expanded into air freight in 1965, with fixed offices at Southend Airport and 'mobile' offices at London Heathrow.
(Source:www.schednet.com)