Union-Transport Acquires Commerce Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Ltd. in Canada
Issue: Feb 23, 2000
Business Editors
RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 23, 2000
Union-Transport (UTi), one of the world’s leading supply chain services providers, air and ocean freight forwarders and customs brokers, has acquired Commerce Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Ltd., it was announced today by Roger MacFarlane, UTi chief executive for the Americas.
Commerce Group is a prominent 42-year-old customs clearance and freight forwarding business in Canada.
“This is an important North American addition to the UTi worldwide family,” MacFarlane said. “This is a stable, well managed family business that has earned a strong reputation for quality and customer service over the years. Commerce customers will have the direct power of our global network for an array of value-added supply chain management services, while UTi’s customers exporting to Canada will benefit from their long-standing forwarding and customs capabilities.”
The two Commerce Group principals, Gilbert and Steve Duviner have joined the UTi management team as joint presidents of the Commerce Group. “Their personal hands-on leadership in all aspects of the business has led to their growth and reputation for top-quality customer service,” said Louis R. Girard, UTi managing director for Canada. “Their team of professionals bring superior reputations and expertise to our operations in Canada and for our UTi customers throughout the world who do business here.”
With a team of more than 100 professionals, the Commerce Group is located primarily in Ontario with an agent network throughout Canada and border services at more than 20 customs portals between the United States and Canada. Commerce Group’s primary offices are located in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Sarnia and Windsor, Ontario; and also Bondy Customs Brokers, based in Leamington, Ontario. The Commerce Group also has an interest in Ambassador Customs Brokerage Ltd., based in Windsor, one of the largest border brokerage operations in Canada.
Commerce Group’s seasoned professional staff throughout Canada is experienced in all aspects of freight forwarding and customs clearance, with an arsenal of services that includes: freight forwarding (air freight, ocean freight and trucking), customs clearance, refunds and drawbacks, tariff remissions, customs rulings, customs consulting and logistics.
Union-Transport is a global air and ocean freight forwarding company, providing customized supply chain solutions to customers worldwide, with annual revenues in excess of $600 million. The company now has 175 company-owned offices in 41 countries, staffed by more than 5,000 experienced and skilled people. The entire UTi global network, including exclusive agents operating as network partners, covers the globe with 400 offices in more than 135 countries.
Union-Transport’s six primary business lines are transportation (air and ocean freight forwarding), documentation, brokerage, information, logistics and consulting. The common and preferred shares of Union-Transport Inc. are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information on UTi is available on its Web page at www.uniontrans.com.
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