ECS continues recent acquisition spree in Morocco
23 / 01 / 2024
Image source: Shutterstock
GSSA ECS has continued its recent acquisition spree with the purchase of its Morocco-based partner.
The ECS Group today announced it had acquired its partner of more than two decades EFIS MAROC.
EFIS MAROC offers GSSA, air cargo, road and logistics services from its headquarters in Casablanca.
“Their expertise includes supervising the handling of special products such as outsize cargo, dangerous goods, perishables, and live animals,” ECS said.
The GSA Group added that the company is “strategically positioned” at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN).
“[EFIS MAROC] provides extensive commercial coverage for the country’s major cargo gateways, including Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA), and Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport (TNG),” ECS added.
“EFIS MAROC has emerged as the market leader in commercial air cargo services, uniquely positioned as the region’s sole GSA with substantial air freight experience and a loyal client base,” said Adrien Thominet, executive chairman of ECS Group.
“Morocco’s strategic location holds the potential to become a key African Hub, aligning with ECS Group’s established air cargo hubs in East and South Africa.”
Pierre Fougerouse, founder of EFIS MAROC, added: “Our journey began with ECS Group’s support in 2001, and after becoming self-owned in 2003, merging into ECS Group now feels like a fitting evolution of our partnership.”
The company has appointed Bouazza El Hantiti as managing director with the task of enhancing network synergies between Morocco and ECS Group’s European representation.
ECS said that following integration, EFIS MAROC’s staff and clients will benefit from its suite of digital solutions.
The deal is the latest announced by ECS in recent months.
In December, ECS Group announced the expansion of its presence in Latin America with the purchase of Americas GSA.
Americas GSA employs 42 members of staff across 13 offices and has contracts with LATAM Airlines, MAS, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Korean Air, and Ethiopian Airlines, pushing the group’s airline portfolio up to more than 40 airlines.
The deal expands ECS’ presence in the Americas to Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panamá alongside its existing network covering Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the US.
And in November, the company announced that it had acquired GSSA International Airline Marketing (IAM) to expand its market share in Ireland to 30%.
