Walden Group has entered negotiations to sell its Walden Health activities to NYK’s forwarding arm, Yusen Logistics.
Since it was founded in 1951, Walden has grown from a French domestic to a pan-European operator itself acquiring Movianto from Owens and Minor in 2020. However, it said that as the healthcare logistics market becomes increasingly global, the sale would allow Walden Health to expand its footprint beyond Europe, while building on Yusen Logistics Group’s global infrastructure and digital capabilities to enhance service quality and resilience.
Walden Group would meanwhile continue to invest in its Mobility division, including and Relais Colis Ciblex express delivery services.
Walden Health has operations in 12 European countries, serving pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, and healthcare providers with some 5,400 employees.
Yusen Logistics Group chairman and chief executive, Hiroki Harada, said the move was: A significant step in our journey to become a leading healthcare logistics player and we look forward to welcoming Walden Health into our group. We have been expanding healthcare logistics for the past years by enhancing our capability worldwide to provide customers with various logistics services. We believe combination between Walden Health’s high professionalism with longstanding reputation and our global network can make our healthcare logistics service truly unique.”
Chairman of Walden Group, Stephane Baudry, added: “Thanks to Yusen Logistics Group, Walden Health will develop into a truly global player, capable of offering end-to-end services to clients, building on a strong innovative DNA focused on improving patient care with an unwavering commitment to quality. I am delighted to see the strong cultural and strategic fit of the two organizations and truly believe that Walden Health is set for continued success.”