Netherlands-based Cycloon, a company that offers logistics, cargo, freight, transportation, and delivery services, announced that it has strategically partnered with Bol.com, a Dutch online retailer focussed on non-food items.
The deal is expected to be closed in the first half of 2022 and will result in Bol.com acquiring a majority stake in Cycloon. The companies jointly want to accelerate Cycloon’s growth and make delivery more sustainable and social.
Cycloon’s current management and existing shareholders will remain involved.
“The green and social delivery expert”
Born out of a passion for cycling and the environment, Cycloon’s mission is to make the delivery market greener and more social. Based on this mission, the company set up a national bicycle courier platform in 2016 and now delivers to more than 60 cities.
Cycloon sends mail and parcels throughout the Netherlands with its national network of bicycle couriers and postal deliverers. As per the company, 1600 tons of CO2 are saved annually as a result of their initiative and 600 people with a distance from the labour market are working at the company.
Speaking on the acquisition, Marieke Snoek, General Director of Cycloon, says, “The collaboration with Bol.com gives us the opportunity to make an impact on an even larger scale. We continue to invest in our people, the network and our partners, which enables us to improve and further expand the services for our current and new customers. We discussed extensively the principles that we stand for and will continue to stand for as organisations.”
Aim of this acquisition
By collaborating with Bol.com, Cycloon can accelerate its mission to provide green and social services, and create a future-proof position with growth opportunities in a competitive market. For Bol.com, the collaboration means that a larger part of their packages can be delivered by bicycle and the online retail platform can offer customers better service in delivery.
Vincent Weijers, COO at bol.com, says, “We strongly believe in Cycloon’s sustainable and social mission. At the same time, it is a unique opportunity for Bol.com and its sales partners to accelerate the sustainability of our growing parcel delivery and expand our delivery capacity. We can also further improve convenience and service for our customers with flexible and smart delivery. Working towards a sustainable and socially responsible last mile is critical to the future of e-commerce and we will continue to work with all our delivery partners to make this a reality.”
According to a statement, Bol.com will acquire the remaining shares four years after the transaction, butCycloon will continue to exist as an independent brand.
About Bol.com
Utrecht-based Bol.com was launched in 1999 and claims to be the largest online retail platform in the Benelux providing books, entertainment, electronic devices, and toys for its clients. The company has partnered with over 47,000 local entrepreneurs and has over 12 million active customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Currently, the company has more than 2,500 employees who work at their head office in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Since 2012, Bol.com has been part of Ahold Delhaize.
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