Metro chaîne d’approvisionnement, a major Canadian logistics provider founded in 1974 and headquartered in Montreal, is set to come under foreign control as it prepares to be acquired by Nippon Express Holdings, a Japanese multinational with approximately 78,000 employees across nearly 60 countries.
The transaction values the Quebec-based firm at $2.2 billion. Metro chaîne d’approvisionnement operates 190 sites and employs around 9,000 people across North America and the United Kingdom, providing services such as consultation, order fulfillment, transportation, and packaging solutions for clients in sectors including retail, health and wellness, and personal care.
Founder Chiko Nanji stated in a press release that the deal will enable the company to strengthen its presence in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom while expanding into new markets, thanks to enhanced resources and a global network.
The acquisition comes just two years after Metro chaîne d’approvisionnement secured $225 million in funding from the Quebec government and La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to purchase Groupe SCI, a subsidiary of Canada Post. At the time, the company said the purchase allowed it to operate what it described as “the largest Canadian network of warehouses and distribution centers.”
Nippon Express Holdings, the acquiring entity, is a global logistics leader with a significant international footprint, and the deal underscores ongoing consolidation in the North American supply chain services sector.
