In 2019, these operations generated a total revenue of circa £500m for Kuehne + Nagel, from a client base in the beverage, technology and e-commerce, and food service sectors. This acquisition will see XPO’s UK contracts logistics offering expand, both in terms of expertise and infrastructure, with 75 additional facilities and access to a larger customer base. 

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2020.

The Macfarlanes team for this matter was led by Senior Partner Charles Martin and corporate and M&A partners Harry Coghill and Tom Rose, with assistance from senior solicitor Eniga de Montfort and solicitor Olivia MacLellan. Further expertise was provided by a number of practices across the firm including partner Malcolm Walton and solicitors Rosie Duckworth, Mark Cusack and Alastair Monty (commercial), partner Tom Usher, senior solicitor Michael Reiss and solicitors Tilly Henderson and Eleni Papadopoulos (competition), partner Seán Lavin and New Zealand qualified lawyer Ashleigh Inder (employment), consultant Nigel Price (environmental) and partner Matt McCahearty and solicitor Christopher Charlton (litigation). Real estate advice came from partner Tom Pedder, senior counsels Cate Taylor and Margaret Rhodes. Partner Jeremy Moncrieff and solicitor Ed Lundy advised on the tax elements of the deal with partner Kirstie Hutchinson and solicitor Sophie Treanor providing financial advice. Pensions expertise came from senior counsel Sheamal Samarasekera.

Harry Coghill comments: “We are pleased to have assisted XPO on this important deal, which will see the business expand its UK operations and continue to grow its global customer base.”