GFS acquired by International Logistics Group Ltd

Enterprise Carrier Management (ECM) company, Global Freight Solutions (GFS), has been acquired by industry-leading e-commerce fulfilment specialists, ILG (International Logistics Group Ltd), part of the Yusen Logistics/NYK group of companies.

The acquisition provides significant investment for GFS to accelerate the development of its multi-carrier ECM platform and leverage the capabilities and infrastructure of the wider group to provide B2B and B2C customers with global end-to-end support across the entire supply chain.

Established more than 20 years ago, GFS are the pioneers of ECM technology and multi-carrier parcel services. Having more than doubled in size following investment from Phoenix Equity Partners in 2017, GFS offers single access to 1000+ shipping lanes across 220+ countries, UK and worldwide, backed by their technology to automate and simplify multi-carrier shipping from checkout to doorstep and back again.

Neil Cotty, CEO, GFS states: “We are entering a very exciting phase for GFS – this new relationship and the synergies with ILG and the wider group will help us realise our vision. It allows us to offer our B2B and B2C customers greater cost-benefits, unrivalled services, and expertise across every aspect of their supply chain, in every corner of the world.”

ILG specialises in omnichannel fulfilment solutions in the beauty, wellbeing and fashion sectors with 13 bespoke facilities in the UK and EU. In 2018, ILG was acquired by Yusen Logistics and continues to deliver year-on-year growth.

Mike Stephenson, Chairman, ILG commented: “This new and exciting acquisition gives us the advantage of GFS’s best-in-class multi-carrier technology and services to greatly enhance the offering to our delivery and fulfilment clients and power our expansion into overseas markets.”

The acquisition by ILG for an undisclosed amount will see GFS’s existing management team continue in existing roles, whilst Phoenix will exit in full. GFS was advised on the sale by Rothschild & Co and Travers Smith.