GeoLogistics (Acquired by PWC Logistics 2005, renamed Agility in 2006)

Note: This company is no longer trading as a separate enterprise.

GeoLogistics is a non-asset owning international freight forwarder, outsourcing the majority of its transportation and logistic services. Globally, the company provides air and ocean freight forwarding as well as logistics, value added services and customs brokerage services.  Overland transport services are also provided but these are predominantly operated within Europe.

Geologistics' global coverage is provided through 248 company owned branches in 26 countries.  This network is supported by 146 independent agents in a further 59 countries. The company employs in excess of 5,600 logistics staff, backed by a single, global, multimodal freight management IT platform called GeoVista. 

GeoLogistics has its roots in a UK forwarding company, LEP International Worldwide Ltd, which was established in 1851. It grew globally until 1997, having spent a period of time as a publicly quoted company, when it was purchased by the Bekins Company, and subsequently delisted.  The company was then re-branded in 1998 as GeoLogistics and transferred its head-office from London to California.  Since then the company has concentrated on consolidating its position as a major global freight forwarding and logistics specialist. 

In July 2005 GeoLogistics entered into an agreement to be acquired by Middle Eastern based logistics company, PWC Logistics. For the months prior to this deal the company had been groomed for a debut on the Nasdaq but the major shareholders, including lead investor Questor Partners Fund II, L.P, instead opted for a private sale for approximately US$454m on a debt-free basis.  GeoLogistics' senior management team will remain in place under PWC Logistics' ownership and no material organizational changes are expected as a result of the acquisition.  The combined group will generate revenues in excess of US$3bn with over 10,000 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide.

GeoLogistics will significantly increase PWC Logistics' global forwarding capabilities, especially within, to, and from the Middle East. This is presently one of the fastest growing markets anywhere in the world, driven by investment in the oil industry, growing levels of domestic demand, and re-construction in Iraq.

GeoLogistics has had a difficult time over the last 10 years. Since the takeover in 1997, the company moved into areas outside of its traditional freight forwarding operations. This led them into large debt, with a number of takeover bids rumoured in 1998 / 1999, particularly by FedEx. The company managed to avoid this by restructuring its finances and arranging several credit facilities to avert a takeover. Management also managed to reduce a number of its creditors, largely due to the sale of the GLAS (GeoLogistics Air Services) subsidiary to FedEx. During this period, the company has undertaken two restructuring programmes, the first in 1999 and more successfully in 2002.