Austrian Post has acquired a 74.9% stake in the Austrian firm Scherübl Transport GmbH whichspecialises in temperature-controlled transport of pharmaceuticals. The price for the acquisition,
effective from end-April 2007, was not disclosed.Through its acquisition of a majority shareholding of Scherübl, and the takeover of Thermomedby the trans-o-flex group, Austrian Post said that it is now represented in the specialisedpharmaceutical logistics market in Germany, Austria and the Benelux countries, a niche market withhigh growth potential. With the international expansion of major pharmaceutical companies,pharmaceutical logistics providers serving these firms also need to expand operations, it pointedout.
Scherübl, with annual revenues of about EUR 3.5 million, has earned an excellent reputationas a specialist for the temperature-controlled delivery of pharmaceutical products, featuringadvanced technical know-how and the highest standards. Its customers include almost all prominentpharmaceutical companies, Austrian Post added.
Austrian Post plans to strengthen the market position of Scherübl by establishing a networkof four pharmaceutical distribution centres in Austria featuring the required infrastructure (e.g.temperature-controlled storage, special cooled containers and temperature documentation). Thedistribution centres will be set up in Regau (Upper Austria), Hall (Tyrol), Kalsdorf (Styria) andin Vienna by the end of this year.
