Full-steam ahead at Norbert Dentressangle

   After aggressive acquisitions last year — including the purchase of Nova Natie’s logistics and freight forwarding activities — Norbert Dentressangle is looking forward to even more expansion this year.
   This growth will be targeted at value-added transportation activities, further expanding its logistics presence beyond Europe, and bolstering the company’s forwarding reach.
   According to a company press release, Norbert Dentressangle predicts an increasingly active business environment and “will seize any new external growth opportunity which meets its development strategic plan.”
   In 2012, Norbert Dentressangle showed an 8.5-percent gain in revenue, year over year, to 3.8 billion euros ($4.9 billion). Earnings before tax also increased compared to 2011, rising 9.1 percent to 142.3 million euros.
   Net income finished the year up by 18 percent over 2011’s totals at 74.7 million euros. To top it off, the company reduced its debt by 22 percent during the year.
   “Despite a worsening and volatile economic environment, we continued to gain market share in our three divisions,” Norbert Dentressangle CEO Herve Montjotin said in a statement. “Our financial structure has been further strengthened and our activities have continued to grow through international expansion. As a result, we can build upon these key success elements to further execute our strategic plan, through both organic growth and targeted acquisitions.” – Jon Ross