Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Nippon Express Holdings, Inc. (‘Nippon Express’) on the acquisition of the global logistics group Cargo-Partner, headquartered in Austria and consisting of 63 target companies around the world, for a total consideration of up to €1.4bn. The deal was signed on 12 May 2023.

Nippon Express is a Japan-based logistics company with a global reputation. The company began working as a logistics provider more than 80 years ago and its global network, today comprising over 739 locations, allows it to smoothly connect the world through advanced logistics.

Cargo-Partner has a strong logistics business platform in the Central and Eastern European region, which has attracted attention as an industrial base for Europe. The company operates its air and sea forwarding business across Europe, Asia and North America in the automotive, electric and electronic pharmaceutical and medical industries. This transaction marks a significant step towards Nippon Express’ objective of becoming a global logistics company that supports its customers’ global expansion plans by providing supply chain solutions across the world. It is the latest in a number of cross-border M&A transactions that Nippon Express has executed as part of this vision.

The Freshfields team advising on the transaction is led by Global Transactions partners Tomoko Nakajima, Jochen Ellrott, Takeshi Nakao and Konrad Groeller and includes Hugh Goodwin and Stephan Roedler, both as joint lead associates. Partner Kaori Yamada is advising on antitrust issues. Partner Katharina Kubik and senior associate Anna Binder-Gutwinski are advising on tax matters. Partner Karin Buzanich-Sommeregger is advising on employment matters. The transaction leads are supported by a large, multidisciplinary team spanning Freshfields offices in Asia, Europe and the U.S.