Kerry Logistics Network (KLN) has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Business By Air SAS (BBA), a French international freight forwarding company, to strengthen its position in the EMEA region and international freight forwarding capabilities across the globe.

The Hong Kong-headquartered Kerry Logistics said an upstream supply chain specialist in air freight services for diverse industrial clients in verticals including automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical, as well as an established player in the African market, BBA has been acting as KLN's agent in France since 2016.

In addition to multimodal freight forwarding, customs clearance and nationwide trucking, BBA also offers a complete suite of supply chain solutions covering express, onboard couriers, project cargo, as well as logistics for fine arts, perishables and personal effects.

"We are pleased to welcome BBA to KLN's global network. The acquisition is a natural progression in our strategic pursuit of enhancing our IFF service offerings in the EMEA region," said Vic Cheung, group managing director of Kerry Logistics Network, noting that with France's position as one of the world's top exporting countries, the addition of BBA will significantly strengthen KLN's foothold in the country.

"We are looking forward to the synergies created between KLN's ocean freight capabilities and BBA's air freight expertise and the extension of our service into the niche verticals of fine arts and perishables, which will further boost our global coverage and competency," he added.

BBA was founded in 1978 and headquartered in Roissy-en-France, with four other offices in Orly, Nice & Le Havre, as well as an office in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.