In a move that will create a leading player in transload and warehouse operations in North America, MAERSK Logistics, the integrated logistics arm of the A.P. Moller Group of Copenhagen, announced Oct. 15 the completion of its acquisition of "certain assets" of Distribution Services Limited. At the same time, the company announced the acquisition of Finnish forwarder and customs broker Oy Area, Ltd.

The Distribution Services Limited acquisition will see MAERSK taking over the transload and warehouse operations, ocean transport intermediary activities and consolidation business of DSL. The company says the DSL acquisition will "significantly increase" its cargo volumes from Asia Pacific to North America in the supply chain management segment, making it a major player in transload and warehousing operations in North America.

On the Oy Area front, MAERSK says the acquisition of the 7-year-old forwarder and customs broker will strengthen the company's position in Finland, owing to Oy Area's extensive experience in sea, air, road and transit services along with its customs brokerage experience.

"We expect major synergies to arise from the acquisition which will translate into into advantages for clients of both companies thanks to our merged service portfolio and the larger scale of business," says Pekka Stenqvist, MAERSK's Finland managing director, who adds the two companies will "complement each other well."-J.S.