GADOT Germany GmbH, headquartered in Düsseldorf, acquired all shares in WCL Reederei-Agentur GmbH in Monheim am Rhein at the turn of the year. With this move, the growing company is strengthening its presence in the international logistics sector and now has five locations in Germany.
More than 30 years ago, Susanne Spieth-Fengels and Hans Jürgen Fengels founded what is now WCL Reederei Agentur GmbH as an independent shipping agency specializing in short-sea services to Portugal and Spain. Today, the company—headquartered on the Rhine promenade in Monheim—offers its clients primarily international ocean freight services, as well as air freight services, to destinations around the world. Having started as an agency for shipping lines, WCL Shipping now generates the majority of its revenue through freight forwarding services and by collaborating with a wide range of partners and shipping companies—while also acting as an agency for selected shipowners.
After a long and successful career, Ms. Spieth-Fengels and Mr. Fengels are now implementing a structured succession plan for the company. “As of January 1, 2024, GADOT has become the sole shareholder of WCL Shipping, and we are confident that, in selecting GADOT from among a large number of prospective buyers, we have chosen a company from which both our long-standing customers and our employees will benefit in the long term,” says Hans Jürgen Fengels, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday.
Through WCL Shipping’s activities, the GADOT Group is strengthening and complementing the company’s existing range of services in the international logistics business; at the same time, WCL Shipping can now offer its customers a significantly expanded portfolio of services for complex international supply chains.
“We are pleased that the current managing director, Rainer Fischer, will continue to be available to the company in an advisory capacity, and that Ms. Spieth-Fengels and Mr. Fengels will also continue to support the company during a transitional period,” said Thomas Brakmann, CEO of GADOT Germany, who was appointed to serve alongside the other managing director of the Monheim-based company.
