Etihad and Linfox Armaguard announce joint venture to provide precious cargo and currency management services in the UAE
Dubai The Linfox-owned Armaguard Group and Etihad Airways are to form a joint venture to transport goods around the globe.
The partnership will see Armaguard establish a presence in Abu Dhabi under its ACM brand — used as the international face of Australian Armaguard services — known in Abu Dhabi as ACM UAE.
The announcement was made by Armaguard and Etihad Airways at Armaguard's headquarters at Essendon Fields in Melbourne, Australia.
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said: "This new joint venture allows Etihad to enhance our growing global air freight business by leveraging the ground transport and security expertise of Armaguard to offer a new service for our freight customers across our extensive global network".
"The ability to transport precious cargo including jewellery, precious stones, gold, and artworks is an important next step for our cargo business — particularly given Abu Dhabi's growing reputation as a capital for arts and culture, with world-famous organisations like the Louvre and the Guggenheim in the pipeline," Hogan said.
"Clearly Etihad is building a significant presence in Australia, with several strong partnerships — including our game-changing alliance with the Virgin Blue Group — and bases established across the country, and we are very pleased to be working with another great Australian company on this very important venture."
Armaguard Managing Director, Keith Broadhouse, said the firm was excited about expanding into the UAE. "Armaguard has been in New Zealand for some time under the international brand ACM and to be able to grow the ACM brand further is part of our international growth strategy," he said.
"We have been looking at expanding beyond Australia and New Zealand for some time."
