Four years after its acquisition by Hong Kong-based BALtrans Holdings, UK multimodal forwarder JLS Logistics is changing its name to BALtrans Logistics UK Limited on January 22.

JLS UK has offices at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Southampton and Basildon. The company was launched in 1987 as Clover Systems Airfreight until Jardine Pacific acquired a controlling stake in Clover in 1990 and the company was then re-branded, JLS Logistics UK.

In 2003, the JLS Logistics global operation was acquired from parent Jardine Pacific by BALtrans, which saw a doubling of the latter's business and increased its own network, a BALtrans statement explained.

In other news, Eddie Stroud has been promoted to managing director of BALtrans UK, while John Gomes moves up to the new post of UK chairman.

"The change of identity is the final step in a gradual process of integration which has been taking place over the past four years. We feel the time is now right to make our membership of the BALtrans system more obvious and to raise the group's profile here in the UK as we further develop the business," said Mr Stroud.

Founded in 1982, the BALtrans Group is one of the largest Asia-based freight forwarding and logistics organisations, with its own office network spanning China, South East Asia, India, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Canada and the US. Its net profit for 2005/6 was HK$113 million (US$14.47 million), up 36 per cent over the previous financial year.