Local private equity firm Norbrook Capital Management (NCM) has acquired island-wide package delivery operator Airpak Express for an undisclosed sum.

The move follows NCM’s acquisition of local Internet shopping company Mailpac Services and car rental company Compact last year and represents the final step in creating a full service logistics company, according to NCM director Khary Robinson said it .

“We have maintained a goal of building an integrated logistics provider for Jamaican companies and individuals, and we are finally there. Whether you are electronically moving money across the island or packages next door, we will provide the most efficient way to do so,” stated Robinson in a press release.

Robinson also stated that they “will be introducing cutting edge technology to improve the customer experience as well as the efficiency of Airpak.”

He said the company will now boasts such features as online order entry, online package tracking, bulk address uploads, automatic label printing and electronic signature capture.

Airpak Express, founded by Chris Read in 1991, is a major player in the provision of island-wide, door-to-door, same day delivery service for documents and packages.

A privately held company, Airpak’s business offerings include a comprehensive range of distribution services through a well-established network across Jamaica. More specifically, the company offers services through seven island wide offices, three aircrafts and a broad fleet of vehicles. The company is also international shipping company, United Parcel Service’s (UPS) exclusive distributor to Jamaica.

Read expressed his support of the acquisition, saying that “We are excited to see Airpak move to a new era of technology and service. We will continue to be involved as we work with the new owners to ensure that our customers realize the benefits of this promising platform.”

After the acquisition closes, Read will assume the role of executive advisor to Norbrook’s Logistics Division.

Robinson said that, in addition to increasing its operating efficiency, Airpak Express will be revising its delivery rates to better meet the demands of the market. Other changes, he said, will include a relocation of Airpak’s headquarters to 109 Old Hope Road, a revision of the branding, and an upgrade of the fleet. However, the company’s contact numbers and locations will remain the same for the time being.

With the acquisition of Airpak, Norbrook’s Logistics Division is now best positioned to meet the “growing demands” of the local economy, said Robinson.

“We saw an opportunity to create a company that solved the logistics needs of a diverse base of businesses in Jamaica. Now a car rental company located in Negril

can use our payment platform to pay for a spare part available in Kingston and have that item delivered to them same day through our courier platform. That kind of ‘just-in-time’ logistics used to take days to process and weeks to reconcile. We have used our proprietary technology and resources to get that down to a matter of minutes”, stated Robinson.