Lineage Logistics in Novi Acquiring European Freight Agent

Novi-based Lineage Logistics, the world’s largest temperature controlled industrial real estate investment trust and logistics provider, is acquiring UTI Forwarding, a freight forwarder in the Netherlands. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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Lineage Logistics in Novi is planning to acquire freight forwarder UTI Forwarding in the Netherlands. // Image courtesy of UTI Forwarding

Novi-based Lineage Logistics, the world’s largest temperature controlled industrial real estate investment trust and logistics provider, is acquiring UTI Forwarding, a freight forwarder in the Netherlands. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Freight forwarding is the organization of shipments from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer, or final point of distribution. Forwarders contract with a carrier or often multiple carriers to move the goods.

The acquisition marks Lineage’s entry into the freight-forwarding industry in Europe, strengthening its end-to-end supply chain offering. The transaction will close on clearance from the appropriate authorities.

“We are thrilled about our acquisition of UTI,” says Mike McClendon, president of international operations and executive vice president of network optimization at Lineage. “Together we will offer a one-stop solution to our shared customers that creates new efficiencies between import- and export-based container movements and our warehouses that will help us reduce waste in the supply chain.”

Founded in 1961, UTI Forwarding is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a new office in Gdansk, Poland. It specializes in the exporting and importing of full container load cargo, handling both temperature-controlled and other containerized goods. With more than 400 clients, UTI manages container shipments to and from any port worldwide.

“From the moment we started talking with Lineage, it was clear to us that our companies were a great match,” says Peter de Kramer, CEO of UTI Forwarding. “We share a similar no-nonsense culture, while our customer bases and services perfectly complement each other.”