News 2-2008 E NEU:News 2/05.2 - Panopa

2 E D I T O R I A L
Dear employees,
dear customers,
the turbulences on the financial markets
and rising energy and raw mater -
ial prices are undergoing a global ex -
pansion which our group also cannot
completely ignore. In Europe, these turbulences
have been compensated better
as a result of the robust economy. But
here too, rising interest rates and a
drop in domestic demand are notice -
able. On the global market of logistic
services, we are outstandingly prepar -
ed, with the result that we shall continue
to stay on a growth course with our
customers.
All in all, we have completed a fiscal
year 2007/2008 full of incidents and
marked by numerous efforts. The
restructuring of Imperial Holdings,
which had been planned for a long time,
as well as the sale and the closure of
some activities have been implemen ted.
On the other hand, rising energy prices
and the devaluation of the South
African Rand had a very negative influence
on consumers' behaviour.
Imperial Holdings Limited has gained
strength for the future from this situ -
ation. Now, three central areas will
make up the activities of our group:
logistics and transport, car rental and
car and financial services as well. For
the logistics activities in South Africa
and Europe, this is a forward-looking
decision, as it expresses a clear commitment
to the extension of the logis -
tics and transport area at both loca -
Imperial News 2/2008
tions. The logistics and transport section
in South Africa and Europe contributes
about one third to the turnover and
income of Imperial Holdings. Logistic
business developed very positively in
the past fiscal year in South Africa and
in particular in Europe.
A number of new investments and
numerous acquisitions contributed to
the outstanding result of Imperial
Logistics International. For example,
the Imperial Reederei Group further
extended its strategic position between
western seaports and the Danube
down to South-East Europe as a result
of the acquisitions of the Rijn aarde,
Beuningen/NL, Maxx Thie baut, Aukamp/
BE, Amadeus, Duisburg, and Multinaut,
Vienna, chartering companies.
At the same time, the neska Group has
extended its terminal activities in the
hinterland. The existing terminals in
Cologne, Dormagen, Düsseldorf and
Duisburg are being joined by the “Log -
port II” container and short sea terminal
in Duisburg and the Krefelder Container
Terminal. This ensures that the enor -
mous quantities of containers in the
western ports can be transported to the
central European region of industry via
the Rhine links. The annual growth
rates for containers continue to be very
high. And from the current figure of
one million TEU, the handling volume
of our group is to be doubled in the
coming years as a result of these
strategic extensions.
We have already reported on the strategic
alliance in Brouwer Shipping &
Chartering with ThyssenKrupp Services
and Alfred C. Töpfer International.
With the acquisitions of Laabs in
Germany and Foodtankers in Sweden,
the Imperial Group has built up its own
tank logistics fleet with around 250 trucks
for the transport of liquid chemicals
and foodstuffs. This new market
segment is to be extended further in
the coming fiscal years.
With the completion of a new ware -
house for world-wide distribution of spare
parts from various manufacturers,
Panopa Logistik has almost doubled its
capacities. For the new fiscal year of
2008/2009, automotive logistics has
been extended by the acquisition of the
Hansmann Group in Wolfsburg. More
than 300 employees carry out not only
transport services, but also complex
logistic services for the German automotive
industry.
At this point, I would like to welcome
our new employees from the companies
mentioned here in our group. I would
like to express my gratitude to all
employees for their commitment, as it
is only thanks to them that this out -
standing result of the Imperial Group
has become possible.
On behalf of the management, I would
like to thank our customers and
suppliers for the trust extended to us
and assure them that we are looking
forward to the continued good cooper -
ation with them. In this fiscal year too,
the Imperial Group will consistently
continue its growth strategy by acquisitions
and investments, in order to be
able to offer our customers an even
more extensive service as a reliable
logistics service provider.
Gerhard Riemann
Executive Director of Imperial Holdings
and Chief Executive Officer of
Imperial Logistics International GmbH