Japanese retailer buys U.S. logistics firm

   The Japanese online retailer Rakuten is set to acquire Las Vegas-based online fulfillment firm Webgistix for an undisclosed amount.
   Rakuten Chief Executive Officer Hiroshi Mikitani unveiled the deal at an e-commerce event in Chicago.
   Webgistix’s five facilities located throughout the U.S. will give the Japanese retailer a large footprint in the country.
   According to new reports from the conference, Mikitani hopes to expand Rakuten to 27 countries in the near term, growing the company’s revenues from $14 billion in 2012 to $125 billion in 2020.
   The company purchased French e-commerce logistics company Alpha Direct Services last November, marking its sixth acquisition since 2010. Other significant deals include the purchase of the UK’s Play.com and Buy.com in the U.S.
   When he purchased ADS last year, Mikitani explained the reasoning behind buying the French company, a goal that is enhanced by today’s announcement.
   “Speed and quality of delivery is at the heart of any solid e-commerce proposition, and ADS will give us a logistics stronghold in Europe, which will further empower merchants using Rakuten’s marketplaces, as well as supporting future marketplaces,” he said in a statement.
   In his announcement in Chicago, Mikitani referenced competing against other online retailers in a statement that reports took as an open challenge to Amazon. – Jon Ross