NYK and ROLF Group to launch a JV in Russia
NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha), a leader in the global logistics market, and the ROLF Group, a leading logistics operator based in Russia, have agreed to terms on the launch of a joint venture that will result in NYK owning 51 percent of ROLF’s logistics business, ROLF SCS, with ROLF maintaining ownership of 49 percent of the shares, the NYK Group's press release said.
The joint venture will embrace all parts of ROLF’s logistics business including ROLF SCS’ (1) terminal in Lobnya, (2) customs terminal and technical service center Elite-Trans, (3) CBU operation in the port of Zarubino, and (4) insurance agent ROLF Insurance. The JV will also use for its operations the rented terminal in Naberezhnye Chelny and the rented terminal Petrolesport, which has become a very important asset for CBU services.
ROLF SCS’ current managers will lead the new joint venture divisions and work in cooperation with NYK representatives. Alexander Larin, who is now CEO of ROLF’s logistics business, will be CEO of the new joint company. Both partners also agreed to maintain the ROLF SCS brand because it has a strong, positive image, representing ROLF as a reliable partner and market expert.
The launch of the joint venture will allow the ROLF Group to provide its existing customers and new clients with a wider variety of services and also implement NYK’s best practices into its business processes. NYK has 127 years of business experience and is very well known around the world as a prominent logistics expert. NYK also has at its disposal a huge network of assets that allows it to maintain logistics operations throughout Europe and around the world.
NYK found ROLF to be an excellent partner with impressive assets and a unique experience in the Russian logistics market, a global thinker accustomed to meeting the needs of its customers through a wide range of services. According to NYK managing corporate officer Shunichi Kusunose, “The key priority of the JV will be maintaining the high level of performance and customer service offered by the ROLF SCS team and developing all the existing directions of the business according to Russian market specifics and best global practices.”
“The launch of the joint venture gives us a wonderful opportunity to take ROLF SCS to a brand new level, says Igor Salita, CEO of the ROLF Group. “This JV will be a symbiosis of NYK’s 127 years of experience and their global network (including ports, terminals and ferries) with ROLF SCS’ expertise in the Russian market and its strong relationship with customers.”
About the companies
NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) is one of the world's leading transportation companies. At the end of March 2012, the NYK Group was operating 838 major ocean vessels, as well as fleets of planes, trains, and trucks. The company's shipping fleet includes 148 containerships, 354 bulk carriers, 56 wood-chip carriers, 121 car carriers, 85 tankers, 28 LNG carriers, three cruise ships, and 43 other ships. NYK's revenue in fiscal 2011 was about $23 billion, and as a group NYK employs about 55,000 people worldwide. NYK is based in Tokyo and has regional headquarters in London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, and Sao Paulo.
ROLF SCS is a leading logistics operator in Russia providing its clients with a wide variety of services such as vehicle transportation, storage, handling & warehousing, port & customs services, technical services, and insurance. The company was founded in 2001, and the first ROLF trucks started offering vehicle transportation services in the mid-1990s. ROLF SCS operates logistics terminals in Lobnya and Naberezhnye Chelny, customs terminal Elite-Trans in St. Petersburg, and port terminal Petrolesport. The company also has a fleet of 280 owned and 300 third-party trucks.
