Imperial has expanded its African operations gaining entry into the logistics sector of the fast growing Nigerian FMCG, telecommunications and pharmaceutical industries. This follows the acquisition of a 49% stake in MDS, a leading logistics provider in Nigeria, for a cash consideration of US$26 million. All conditions precedent have been fulfilled and the transaction is therefore unconditional.

MDS, a wholly owned subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria Plc, a company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, offers warehousing and distribution solutions through a network of 50 distribution centres by linking companies with their customers in over 600 cities and villages across Nigeria.

Marius Swanepoel, CEO of Imperial Logistics, said, “Our newest acquisition strengthens Imperial Logistics’ footprint in our continent and is consistent with our strategy of focusing on these consumer opportunities and following our customer base on the continent.  MDS has a quality customer base with a strong new business pipeline. Through the transaction, Imperial has also secured a specialist management team which strengthens and complements the group’s existing skills set in the logistics business.”

Peter Matlare, CEO of Tiger Brands, which owns 49% of UAC Foods Limited, said, “Imperial is a trusted logistics partner to Tiger Brands in South Africa. It is wonderful that they are entering Nigeria in this way. It means that we can rely on their logistics support for our ever-growing business there.”

Larry Ettah, UACN’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, said, “We look forward to working together with Imperial Logistics as our strategic partner to engage the underserved and fast growing logistics market in Nigeria. We believe this transaction creates an outstanding opportunity to drive growth in MDS. The combination of MDS’s vital local experience and the value adding international logistics expertise of Imperial Logistics will lead to efficiencies and raise benchmarks in Nigeria for the benefit of all stakeholders”

This announcement follows Imperial’s acquisition in January 2013 of Imperial Health Sciences formerly RTT Health Sciences, one of Africa’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chain service providers. Imperial Health Sciences specialises in multi-channel solutions for delivering essential medicines and consumer health products in South Africa, and to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

Swanepoel concluded, “The acquisitions of MDS and RTT Health Sciences offer exceptional growth prospects as they strengthen our current exposure to these high growth economies”