Our Korean joint venture WSL Join Shipping Co. Ltd. has been formerly inaugurated on Thursday, 13th November 2008. Mr. M. K. Lee, M.D. of WSL Join Shipping Co. Ltd. hosted a inauguration Dinner Party for the customers and service providers along with our Korea staff members at Hotel Lotte, Seoul, Korea. Mr. R. S. Sandhu & Mr. M. K. Lee together with Mr. K. Subramanyam did the honour of cutting the ribbon on the occassion. The WSL Join Shipping Co. Ltd. is now operating in an office in the downtown business district of Seoul.

Wilson Sandhu-Scan Global combination targets 30% business growth

THE strategic alliance entered into by India's leading freight forwarder Wilson Sandhu Logistics and Scandinavia's largest logistics player Scan Global Logistics is aimed at a 30-per cent business push-up for Wilson Sandhu to achieve. With a huge network of 35 offices spanning India, the company has a lion's share in Indian freight market. Scan Global has a global network comprising 43 locations in 16 countries.
Announcing the WSL-SGL strategic business alliance at a huge gathering comprising airlines' representatives, shipping agents, service users, corporates and media in Mumbai on August 20, Raghbir Singh Sandhu, Chairman and Managing Director, Wilson Sandhu Logistics (India) Limited, said that the emerging partnership alliance between WSL and SGL will soon lead them to a market leader within India, in Europe, besides Scandinavia wherein SGL rules the market. "Both Wilson Sandhu and Scan Global are financially sound, have accumulated deep knowledge in freight transport logistics and have created excellent infrastructure in their respective countries of operations", said Sandhu. Wilson Sandhu, one of the earliest brands in India, maintains its strong foothold among its customers. "Our client list goes longer, thanks to WSL's customer-oriented service, dedication of our personnel and staff and our solid investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure."
Sandhu added, "We offer total integrated logistics solutions, which the world calls "high-end logistics". Over the years, Wilson Sandhu Logistics has grown to achieve a status that reflects dependability and cost-efficiency. Our business partner Scan Global Logistics which has global presence offers simple, independent, reliable transport and logistics service. SGL's global transportation network has at its disposal 43 offices in 16 countries. Both put together, the WSL-SGL combination makes a perfect partnership extending extraordinary benefits to customers". To a question of CARGOTALK on the modality of tie-up between WSL and SGL, Sandhu replied, "Our partnership arrangement is based on agency model. In India, Wilson Sandhu Logistics will be agents for Scan Global Logistics, and Scan Global will be agents for Wilson Sandhu outside India, mainly Europe".
Asked for a reason for his decision to come to India in a big way, Hansen told CARGOTALK, "All transport and logistics organisations keep a watch on India these days and look for possibilities to enter into this rapidly growing market. With world's second highest national growth rate, India is the future market having very high potential and offering increasing growth and opportunities. And, now is the time to establish a good foothold. We are therefore proud to be partnering with Wilson Sandhu Logistics, which has established itself as a meaningful player in the Indian market. We feel great partnering with Wilson Sandhu. We do not want too many agents. Both SGL and WSL are aiming at a wider global presence, better service and better customer satisfaction".

Wilson Sandhu Logistics (I) Ltd Ocean freight division, Mumbai is now shifted within the premises of the Head Office, Mumbai. All Ocean freight activities (including BL / DO issuance etc.) will now happen at the Head Office address.

With the acquisition of TNT Freight Management (formerly known as Wilson) by Geodis S.A., the newly formed group Geodis Wilson (member of the Geodis SA Group) became shareholder of Wilson Sandhu, the Joint Venture partners of the Wilson Group in India. With the intention to streamline the global network, Geodis Wilson sold the shares back to Wilson Sandhu Logistics (India) Ltd., who will keep the brand name "Wilson" in its trade name and will operate as a totally independent, Indian Freight Forwarder. Geodis Wilson maintains it's own subsidiary in India, Geodis Overseas Pvt. Ltd. In the interest and for the benefit of some mutual customers, both organizations agreed to continue to cooperate within India as well as within the global network.

PE firm picks up minority stake in WSL for Rs 40 cr
Private equity firm Blue River Capital has picked up minority stake in Wilson Sandhu Logistics (WSL), a freight management company, for Rs 40 crore.
"Our strategy is to be a niche player offering services in areas like automobiles, machinery and equipment and specialised project forwarding areas that demand highly skilled cargo handling across the supply chain," RS Sandhu, managing director of Wilson Sandhu, said.
"With excellent growth opportunities available in the freight forwarding space today, the investment by Blue River Capital will enable the company to rapidly scale up and establish itself as a premier freight forwarder with a global footprint," he added.
Muneesh Chawla, managing director of Blue River Capital said: "Wilson Sandhu is one of the few large home-grown freight management companies in India and has the opportunity to take leadership in an otherwise fragmented market. With its current initiatives in network building and investments in IT infrastructure, we are positive that WSL shall be able to seize this market opportunity." Mr Chawla has also joined the board of WSL.
WSL has offices in 35 locations across the country and an agent presence in over 70 countries. The company has capabilities in multi-modal transport and also handles specialised cargo for some of its clients. WSL has recently acquired Detraco GmbH, a freight management company based in Germany. (Report by Rajesh Unnikrishnan of Economic Times dated '24.04.08' )