Untitled Document

Johannesburg, South Africa, 9 November 2009 – IMPERIAL Logistics today announced that it has acquired a 36% stake in Pragma Holdings, with various professionals who are members of Pragma’s management owning the balance. The acquisition strengthens the industrial services capabilities in physical asset management services of IMPERIAL.

“Pragma will form part of the recently established Integration Services division. The division is extending IMPERIAL Logistics’ service offering beyond the traditional transport and warehousing services to include procurement, operations planning and international logistics management.” says Cobus Rossouw, Chief Executive Officer of the IMPERIAL Logistics Integration Services. “The division also houses Megafreight providing forwarding and clearing services, Volition offering supply chain consulting, Paltrack with specialised services in fruit export tracking and management and IMPERIAL Logistics Air Cargo focused on express overnight services. The asset care services that Pragma provides will further complement the development of our Business Process Outsourcing services, concludes Rossouw.”

One of IMPERIAL Logistics’ core competencies is the management of complex operations with its own high-value physical assets or those of its customers. Supply chain and logistics assets are applied to support customer-centred service excellence. IMPERIAL Logistics is continuously pursuing opportunities to enhance its demonstrated position as southern Africa’s largest logistics and supply chain management service provider. By partnering with Pragma IMPERIAL Logistics obtains access to a world-class physical asset management service, i.e. the Asset Care Centre Service.

“Pragma has recently embarked on an international growth strategy with the aim to increase market share through the establishment of global networks and partnerships,” says Adriaan Scheeres, Chief Executive Officer, Pragma Holdings. ”IMPERIAL Logistics is well-known for its continuous improvement and value creating investments.Being a dominant player in the African physical asset management industry, our partnership with IMPERIAL Logistics is an exciting and strategic development. With significant synergies between ourselves, the deal brings numerous opportunities to strengthen our local presence across a number of industries, whilst it enables us to invest in various international projects currently underway.”

IMPERIAL Logistics is the leading logistics and supply chain management company in southern Africa with an international footprint in Europe. IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa provides customised value-added logistics services and supply chain solutions to blue chip customers in almost every industry. IMPERIAL Logistics is a division of the IMPERIAL Group and the southern African division is home to more than 70 operating companies, categorised into four key divisions, namely Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight and Integration Services. IMPERIAL Logistics International focuses on European markets and comprises four operating units, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, Imperial Reederei and Brouwer Shipping.

Pragma Holdings is a fast growing and well managed company, specialising in the management of physical assets. Over the past two decades, Pragma has steadily grown to become the dominant player in the African physical asset management market. The company intends growing locally and internationally through global networks and partners in which Pragma Holdings will have shareholding. These companies will be supported through the provision of proprietary technologies, business processes and methodologies – in brief referred to as ‘The Pragma Way’.