CMA CGM reaffirms commitment to acquiring CEVA Logistics

Marseille, France-based global container shipping company CMA CGM remains intent on acquiring CEVA Logistics, a global third-party logistics (3PL) services provider based in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands for $1.65 billion, according to various reports and filings. 

CMA CGM already owns 33% of CEVA. In October 2018, CMA CGM officially stated its desire to acquire all of CEVA five months, saying at the time that the “solicitation and offer to buy CEVA securities will only be made pursuant to an offer to purchase and related materials.” This announcement came five months after it announced the company had reached an agreement to acquire a roughly 25% equity stake in CEVA. 

CMA CGM said in October it successfully acquire all of CEVA, the company said that transaction would provide myriad benefits for CEVA to “accelerate its transformation” in various ways, including:

• bringing CMA CGM’s operational expertise and its experience in corporate transformations to help CEVA achieve its recovery plan faster and more efficiently;
• creating new commercial opportunities: as a leader in the sea transport sector with an international commercial network, CMA CGM will generate new opportunities for CEVA Logistics;
• adding value to the commercial complementarities between CEVA Logistics’ and CMA CGM’s freight management activities: CMA CGM will transfer its freight management activities to CEVA Logistics, thus strengthening the company and creating economies of scale; and
• supporting CEVA Logistics’ reorganization and development strategy: CMA CGM will support additional investments aiming - among other things- at implementing CEVA Logistics’ digital and IT transformation which will stimulate its commercial success and operational efficiency

Last week, the European Commission signed off on this deal, following an announcement made late last month by the CEVA board of directors.

And late last month the CEVA board of directors said that CMA CGM’s public tender offer of $30.25 (USD) per share for the remaining 67% of CEVA not owned by CMA CGM is “a fair exit opportunity for shareholders who wish to receive cash for their CEVA shares, adding that this deal aids the growth potential inherent in the CEVA business, the effects of the acquisition of he freight management business of CMA CGM, the strategic partnership between CEVA and CMA CGM, a stronger footprint in Ocean Freight Management, and an intensified business relationship with CMA CGM while keeping an arm’s length relationship.

CMA GGM leadership cited the benefits of this deal.

“By developing a logistics offering to complement our maritime activity, we will be able to propose a full ‘end-to-end’ service to our customers,” said Rodolphe Saade, CMA CGM’s chairman and chief executive. ”The board of Ceva Logistics is fully aligned with this friendly offer.”

CMA previously stated that the objective of its move in April 2018 to acquire 25% of CMA CGM was to “grow its presence in the logistics sector, which is closely related to shipping.”

CEVA is a major presence in the global 3PL market, with revenues north of $7 billion and is ranked fifth in contract logistics. It manages more than 9 million square-feet of warehouses in more than 750 global locations, and is ranked tenth on global freight forwarding, with a strong presence in Asia.

This global container shipping sector continues to find its footing, as it has dealt with myriad issues, including: overcapacity; industry consolidation; rates pressures, due to supply continuing to outpace demand for services, among other factors.

As previously reported, CMA CGM is not the only global container shipping company looking to spread its wings on the on the logistics side.

Last year, Maersk said it intends to “transform” its logistics and supply chain model to compete with package delivery behemoths like UPS and FedEx and recently. But industry analysts maintain that shifting away from its core competency presents a major challenge in that global ocean carriers like Maersk lack the long-established shipper relationships on the same level that the industry’s largest global 3PLs and integrators do.  Part of the impetus for companies like CMA CGM and Maersk to branch out stems from the dynamic growth in e-commerce driving demand for more agile deliveries. 

Evan Armstrong, president of supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates told LM in a previous interview that this interaction could ultimately be more advantageous for CMA CGM.

“I would rate this…as an attempt by CMA CGM to get further upstream in the supply chain management process from tactical ocean shipping ‘to true global supply chain management and tap more strategic relationships with CEVA's customers,” he said. “From a CEVA perspective as a 3PL and the 14th largest ocean freight forwarder in terms of TEUs managed, this new relationship may provide it with better buy-side ocean pricing; however, ocean shipping is still in a overcapacity situation and rates continue to be fairly depressed. All in all, I think this will have more benefit for CMA CGM than CEVA. Apollo Management has been shopping CEVA for some time and this investment allows them to take some money off the table.”