Founded 1976 | Revenue 67.75 billion DKK (2016) | |
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Type Publicly traded Aktieselskab (Nasdaq Copenhagen: DSV) Industry Transport and logistics Key people Jens Bjørn Andersen (CEO), Kurt K. Larsen (Chairman of the supervisory board) Services Road transport, freight forwarding, contract logistics Operating income Headquarters Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark Stock price DSV (CPH) DKK 345.00 +0.50 (+0.15%)8 Mar, 2:43 PM GMT+1 - Disclaimer CEO Jens Bjørn Andersen (Aug 2008–) Subsidiaries UTI Worldwide Inc, DSV Road, DSV FINCO A/S Profiles | ||
DSV A/S is a Danish transport and logistics company offering transport services worldwide by road, air, sea and train. Since its foundation in 1976 by nine independent Danish hauliers, the company has achieved rapid expansion and international presence, predominantly through a series of strategic competitor acquisitions, some of the most important ones being Samson Transport (1997), DFDS Dan Transport Group (2000), J.H.Bachmann (2004), Frans Maas (2006), ABX LOGISTICS 2008). In October 2015 DSV signed an agreement to acquire UTi Worldwide, Inc. (2015). The deal was closed in January 2016.
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With headquarters in Hedehusene (near Copenhagen), Denmark, and offices in more than 80 countries, DSV employs more than 40,000 people and collaborates with partners and agents worldwide. DSV is listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Copenhagen Stock Exchange) and included in the OMXC20 index as one of the 20 most traded stocks.
The company is structured in three divisions, DSV Road, DSV Air & Sea and DSV Solutions. Its main activities lie within the European road transport (trucking) network, and its global air and sea freight forwarding business. The group also has a growing contract logistics business. As part of an asset-light financial strategy to maintain fixed costs at a minimum and be able to quickly respond to market fluctuations, DSV does not own any ships or aeroplanes and only a relatively small number of trucks and trailers.
Jens Bjørn Andersen became CEO in August 2008. In 2016 DSV reported a net revenue of Euro 9,094 million.
History
In 1976 Leif Tullberg and nine independent haulers established DSV, an acronym for “De Sammensluttede Vognmænd af 13-7 1976 A/S” (The Joint Hauliers of 13-7 1976). Leif Tullberg remained CEO until his retirement in 2005. During the first decade the company mainly functioned as a cartage department for the owners, handling contracting haulage and deliveries.
Seeking a foothold on the international market, DSV bought two competing export companies in 1989, Borup Autotransport A/S and Hammerbro A/S-Bech Trans. Next acquisitions on the road to European operations were Samson Transport Co. A/S in 1997 and Svex Group A/S in 1999.
The purchase of the DFDS Dan Transport Group in 2000 provided DSV with important road transport services in Scandinavia, the UK, the Baltics and Europe plus a global network and logistics set-up with a key position within airfreight and overseas transport to the US and Asia Pacific markets. The purchase of J.H. Bachmann in 2005 reinforced the position within international air and sea transport.
The acquisition of the Dutch Frans Maas Group in 2006 placed DSV as a Pan-European road transport and logistics supplier – and one of the three largest in Europe. With the acquisition of ABX LOGISTICS in 2008, DSV has also gained presence in South America and is now represented on all continents. With the most recent acquisition of UTi Worldwide, Inc., DSV is now the world's fourth largest transport and logistics company).
Company name
When in 2000 DSV A/S acquired DFDS Dan Transport Group A/S, the new joint company’s activities continued under the name DFDS Transport, while the parent company remained De Sammensluttede Vognmænd af 13-7 1976 A/S, in 2003 formally shortened to DSV A/S.
Following the purchase of Frans Maas in 2006, the transport activities changed name from DFDS Transport to DSV, in order to create a unified global brand as well as to minimize confusion.