SHV Holdings

SHV Holdings is a privately owned Dutch trading company, regarded as one of the world's largest private trading groups. SHV is a highly diversified company, with interests in transport, retail, oil, food and financial services. It currently employs more than 50,000 people. History 1896–1939 On 1 April 1896, eight Dutch coal wholesalers merged to found the Steenkolen Handels-Vereniging (Coal-trading company), as a response to the formation of the German Rhenish-Westphalian Coal Syndicate (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Kohlen-Syndikat). By 1904, the company had secured exclusive rights to trade Westphalian coal in the Netherlands. Under the guidance of director Frits "FH" Fentener van Vlissingen, SHV's stature in the Netherlands went from strength to strength. Under his direction, SHV moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to Utrecht, to take advantage of the city's position as the hub of the Dutch railway network. By 1910, SHV had positioned itself as one of the foremost trading forces in the Netherlands.