IMPERIAL Logistics takes top honours as Best Managed Company of the Year

Johannesburg, 31 May 2010 – Global logistics and supply chain leader, IMPERIAL Logistics has been acknowledged as the Best Managed Company of the Year at the prestigious African Access National Business Awards, held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 27th May 2010. The Topco Media award recognises management excellence and highlights outstanding performance with regard to people, planet, profit and corporate governance, and acknowledges the Group's significant contribution to the broader southern African business community.

IMPERIAL Logistics, focusing on moving business and industry through innovation, inspiration and foresight, was selected as the winner of this headline award from a large number of finalists across multiple categories. The finalists in the thirteen Top Performing Company categories included blue-chip brands across all major industries.

"What a great honour to receive this award. It's about team work and collaboration – a form of 'Ubuntu' through which we help each other because together we can achieve more," said Abrie de Swardt, IMPERIAL Logistics Marketing Director.

Accepting the award on behalf of the IMPERIAL Logistics brand, de Swardt said, "This award acknowledges IMPERIAL Logistics' vision to succeed, but most significantly, our forward thinking and inclusive management approach. IMPERIAL Logistics is on a significant growth path, both organically and through acquisitions, while expanding internationally. From a service offering perspective, IMPERIAL Logistics aims to consistently innovate to deliver in a dynamic and value adding manner."

Marius Swanepoel, Chief Executive Officer IMPERIAL Logistics says: "The accolade recognises the Group's integrity-driven and dynamic leadership. Through its nine business principles, IMPERIAL Logistics is a brand that is committed to people development and excellence, demonstrates a performance-driven culture, communicates transparently, exhibits a strong heritage of social responsibility, is financially responsible and capital efficient and lives by an entrepreneurial code of behaviour."

Winning this category is significant in light of the Group structure, which comprises more than 70 Operating Companies in its southern African operations and offers an extensive global reach that includes Europe, India, the Far East and USA. In Africa, IMPERIAL Logistics operates in various countries, including Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.

Considered the Oscars of South African business, the African Access National Business Awards are presented in association with the annual business publication, SA's Top Performing Companies. The awards were launched in 2002 by Topco Media to recognise and honour the top performers in business and industry, for individuals, companies and government, with the vision to provide an assessment of best practice, strategic innovations and compliance to true intention.

According to Topco Media Chairman, Richard Fletcher, the annual awards have grown from strength to strength in participation and attendance, becoming South Africa's most prestigious business event. Entry criteria and judging processes are strictly regulated, with this year's judging panel of eight business leaders including Bekithemba Sibanda, Marketing & Business, Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Dawie Roodt, Economist, Efficient Group and Dr Neil Eccles, Corporate Sustainability & ESG, UNISA.

Fletcher said, "South African business is a significant contributor within the global economy. By hosting and improving on the African Access National Business Awards platform each year, we are committed to nation building. By recognising excellence in business, we are all reminded that South Africa produces the best in success. The winners are the best in South Africa and that's a fact."

"Ultimately, it is our goal through the provision of tangible logistics and end-to-end supply chain solutions to drive business and industry growth worldwide, through process efficiency and effectiveness, technology enablement, as well as people capability and alignment," concluded Swanepoel.

About IMPERIAL Logistics
IMPERIAL Logistics is a global logistics and supply chain leader that moves business and industry through innovation, inspiration and foresight. Through its established Southern African and International divisions, IMPERIAL Logistics' service delivery comprises fundamental logistics and end-to-end supply chain management solutions to blue chip customers in almost every industry. As a preferred logistics outsource provider, IMPERIAL Logistics positions itself as an extension of its customer's business, building its customer's brand alongside its own. IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa is a multi branded business, categorised into four key divisions, namely Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight and Integration Services. IMPERIAL Logistics International comprises four operating units, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, IMPERIAL Reederei and Brouwer Shipping. For further information, please visit www.imperiallogistics.co.za.