UPS Inc., the package delivery and logistics giant, paid $1.6 billion to acquire Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG), a Canadian company that provides customized third-party logistics (3PL) and specialized cold chain transportation solutions to the healthcare industry.
According to UPS, the deal underscores its commitment to providing global specialized capabilities as a leading provider of complex healthcare logistics services. With the addition of AHG’s specialized cold chain network and expertise, UPS Healthcare customers will benefit from reduced transit times, enhanced end-to-end visibility, deepened global reach, and assurance of leading quality, the company said.
In a similar move, UPS acquired pharmaceutical logistics company Marken in 2016, saying the move would enhance its ability to ensure 48-hour delivery of precise, temperature-controlled medical samples such as frozen samples of blood, plasma, urine and tissue. More recently, UPS in January also purchased two German healthcare logistics companies, called Frigo-Trans and its sister company BPL. UPS bought California-based logistics company MNX Logistics in 2023 and has also built its capabilities in healthcare industries such as pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products.
Following the recent acquisition, Michael Andlauer, founder and CEO of AHG, will lead UPS Canada Healthcare and AHG to expand the companies’ specialized capabilities and meet the needs of healthcare customers.
