SACO CFR has added another deal-clincher to its commitment in the field of skills development for the logistics industry.
News this morning is that the NVOCC, which used to be known as CFR Freight but rebranded on January 1 following a majority shareholder agreement with its long-term equity partner, SACO Shipping GmbH, has acquired a lion’s share stake in Metro Minds.
A statement issued by the academy for the freight industry said the majority shareholdership demonstrated SACO CFR’s “commitment to neutrality and a long-term strategy to partner with clients to facilitate mutual growth, but never to compete with them”.
Metro Minds founder, Juliette Fourie, said: “We are so excited to be able to implement more practical and simulated sessions in our current curriculums.
“We aim to become the trade and logistics academy for an industry that is still not on the best level of skills development success. This is such an exciting time for our business, and we cannot wait to be part of this well-aligned partnership.”
Dave Graham, joint CEO of the SACO CFR Group, said: “This investment fits perfectly with our growth strategy and commitment to provide our many clients with an extended service offering, whilst preserving our assurance to remain neutral.
“Metro Minds is a leading provider of training to the industry and there are many synergies in the client bases of both companies.
“SACO CFR and Metro Minds share common values with aligned principles.
“We view this as a unique and viable investment opportunity and are proud to be associated with Juliette and her team.”
Martin Keck, joint CEO of SACO CFR, said: “This is a partnership opportunity for both companies.
“We will not be absorbing Metro Minds, nor diluting the identity or independence of the company.
“Rather, our intention is to facilitate the continued autonomous operation of the company under the leadership of Juliette and the existing team, and to assist where possible in the mutual growth of both Metro Minds and the SACO CFR Group.
“With this partnership, we are adding more meaning to our passion of investing into much-needed education of our industry and our society as a whole.”
Last year, in the run-up to its rebrand, SACO CFR nailed its colours to the mast of mastering future growth through investing in human capital when one of its protégés, Justin Goedhart, scooped a prestigious international award.
This after the Federation of International Freight Forwarders Associations announced the junior trade lane coordinator as the regional winner for Africa and the Middle East of the ‘Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year’ title.
