Deal News Transportation & Logistics

Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
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15. October 2015
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Deal News
Transportation
& Logistics
What's up in your
market – a focus
on deals activity
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
APZ Direct acquired Swiss Post, the Swiss postal service, has acquired parcel delivery
by Swiss Post
company APZ Direct, a German press release stated. APZ will be
integrated into Swiss Post's Direct Mail Company (DMC) unit. 230
employees will be retained, while a further 50 employees on hourly rates
would not be kept on. Financial terms were not disclosed.
09.10.2015 Company Press Release (Translated)
SIRVA Worldwide
acquires Swiss
Access and MS
Move Management
SIRVA Worldwide Inc., a leading global relocation and moving services
provider, announced the expansion of its European network through the
acquisition of Swiss Access, a relocation service provider focused on
serving the needs of international companies and their employees, and
MS Move Management, a residential moving specialist. Both companies
are based in the Lausanne/Geneva region of Switzerland. Financial
terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Swiss Access and MS Move
Management provide a full range of relocation and moving services to
multinational organizations, corporate Human Resources departments
and employees in Switzerland and around the world. Their services
include relocation management, visa & immigration administration,
destination services, temporary housing, home finding, settling in
services, tenancy management, household goods move management and
intercultural & language training.
08.10.2015 Company Press Release(s)
Versand und
Weiterverarbeitung
Hagen files for
insolvency
Versand und Weiterverarbeitung Hagen, a German provider of business
support services, has filed for insolvency, according to a Germanlanguage press release. The court appointed Christian Kaufmann of
PLUTA Rechtsanwalts as administrator. Versand und
Weiterverarbeitung Hagen has 260 employees and is part of the Stark
Group, Bremen.
02.10.2015 Company Press Release (Translated)
Russian Railways to
withdraw from
privatisation
tenders of
TRAINOSE, Rosco
and Thessaloniki
Port Authority
(translated)
Russian Railways (RDZ) has decided to withdraw from the privatisation
tenders of three Greek companies, TRAINOSE, Rosco and Thessaloniki
Port Authority (OLTH), Euro2day reported, citing RDZ. The company’s
BoD took this decision late on Wednesday, 14 October, and will seek the
approval of the Russian government, the Greek-language report said.
RDZ’s change of strategy is probably attributed to its new CEO, Oleg
Belozerov, the report added.
15.10.2015 euro2day
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Cleveron aims to
raise around EUR
30m – co-owner
Cleveron, a private Estonian automated parcel delivery solutions
company, will be looking to raise around EUR 30m in three to six
months in order to implement its technology of a parcel pick-up service
in Europe, said co-owner Peep Kuld. The company would look for a
financial investor that could acquire around 10% for this sum, he said,
stressing that all these numbers are preliminary. The owners will decide
upon mandating advisers when its business plan and investment
prospect are ready, Kuld added. The raised capital would be used to
produce, install and start operating the network of 1.000-1.200 newly
developed automated parcel terminals called Packrobot, the co-owner
said. Packrobot is a one-size-fits-all solution built to deal with so-called
“last mile” delivery issues, such as failed deliveries, temperature
sensitive packages, security and other, according to the website of the
company. The EUR 4.2m turnover Cleveron has been working on this
technology, targeted for e-commerce companies mostly, during the last
five years, Kuld said. Once the investment is received, the turnover of the
company should jump to EUR 100m to EUR 200m in two to thre years,
whereas EBITDA would stand at EUR 20m to EUR 60m, the co-owner
said. The estimation is based on existing pre-agreements and “other
available information,” he said without specifying.
15.10.2015 Proprietary Intelligence
Mense files for
insolvency
(translated)
Mense Verpackungen Export Logistik, a German logistics company, has
filed for insolvency, according to EUWID. The news item said that the
court appointed Thorsten Klepper of Klepper und Partner as
administrator. Citing managing partner Peter Mense the article said that
the step was necessary after the cancellation of a major order. The
company has 80 employees.
13.10.2015 EUWID
Orey Financial
Holdings 50% stake
could be sold by
Orey Antunes; IPO
also possible report (translated)
Orey Antunes, the listed Portuguese shipping and transport group, is
considering the sale of a 50% stake in Orey Financial Holdings (OFH)
which could also undergo an IPO, reported Diario Economico. Orey is
mulling the sale of the stake in OFH, the business paper said, citing a
report from ARC Rating, as part of a plan to restructure its medium to
long term debts. OFH's opening to new investors could also involve an
IPO, sources close to the process told Diario Economico. Orey is close to
buying a strategic stake in Inversis, the Spanish bank, the item said.
12.10.2015 Diario Economico
Indian and Spanish
groups interested in
bidding for USD
3.8bn North-South
Commuter Railway
Indian and Spanish groups are interested in bidding for the PHP 170bn
(USD 3.8bn) North-South Commuter Railway, the Manila Bulletin
reported. The report cited Cosette Canilao, the executive director of the
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, who said that several unnamed
companies have requested that the government push back the 15
October deadline for the railway project's submission of pre-
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
qualification documents. Other interested bidders include an Indian
conglomerate and an unnamed Spanish company. Additionally, Aboitz
Equity Ventures [PSE:AEV] is said to be interested in bidding, according
to the article. So far, only Metro Pacific Investments [PSE:MPI] and San
Miguel Corp [PSE:SMC], the two listed diversified Philippine
companies, have purchased bid documents for the auction. A report in
the Philippine Daily Inquirer added that Ayala Corp [PSE:AC] is still
interested in the deal, citing the group's managing director, John
Francia. North-South Commuter Railway is the Philippine project that
seeks to link Calamba in Laguna with Malolos in Bulacan.
11.10.2015 Manila Bulletin
DSV agrees to
acquire UTi
Worldwide at an EV
of around USD
1.35bn
The DSV Group ("DSV") today signed an agreement to acquire US based
UTi Worldwide Inc. (”UTi”), according to a stock exchange
announcement. UTi is a global, supply chain services and logistics
company with revenue of USD 3.9bn and 21,000 employees in 58
countries. The combined company will be one of the world's strongest
transport and logistics networks. DSV today entered an agreement to
acquire UTi at the price of USD 7.10 in cash per ordinary share. The total
transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately USD 1.35bn.
The per-share consideration represents a premium to the ordinary
shareholders of approximately 50% compared to the closing price of UTi
on 8 October 2015, and a premium of approximately 34% compared to
the 30-day volume-weighted average closing price. The Boards of
Directors of DSV and UTi have unanimously approved the transaction.
Kurt K. Larsen, Chairman of the Board of DSV, comments: "It is a great
pleasure for me to announce the first step towards the combination of
UTi and DSV. We complement each other perfectly, both in terms of
business activities and geography. Together, we will be even stronger
and able to capitalise on business synergies as well as a greater global
reach to the benefit of shareholders, customers and employees. We look
forward to joining forces and welcoming our new colleagues from UTi to
DSV." Roger MacFarlane, Chairman of the Board of UTi, comments:
"We are operating in an industry where increasingly scale is critical.
Joining forces with DSV delivers substantially greater client value and
many future opportunities for our people while it is financially very
attractive for our shareholders. As a result, the Board of Directors of UTi
has unanimously approved the agreement with DSV and strongly
recommends that our shareholders accept the offer." Holders of ordinary
shares of UTi will receive cash consideration of USD 7.10 per ordinary
share upon closing of the acquisition by way of merger. Following the
merger, UTi will become an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DSV.
The total transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately USD
1.35bn.
09.10.2015 Stock Exchange Announcement(s)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Log-In to decide on
PE entry or spin-off
– report
(translated)
Log-In Logistica Intermodal [LOGN3:BZ], a Brazilian-listed shipping
firm, will decide in the coming weeks the format of its corporate
restructuring process, Valor Economico reported. Citing sources familiar
with the matter, the business daily said the company considers either the
entry of a foreign private equity fund or a spin-off for its port and
shipping assets. According to the Portuguese-language newspaper,
Terminal de Vila Velha (TVV), a port specialized in containers located in
Espirito Santo state, has attracted the interest of several foreign
companies, including Denmark’s Maersk. Log-In has annual sales of
about BRL 1bn (USD 259.6m).
08.10.2015 Valor Economico
Deutsche Bahn
hires Lazard to
advise on options
for Arriva and DB
Schenker
The state-owned German transport group Deutsche Bahn has confirmed
that it has appointed the investment bank Lazard to examine options for
its DB Arriva and DB Schenker subsidiaries, The Times reported. The
newspaper quoted a spokesperson who said last night, 6 October that
Deutsche Bahn is looking for investors for its international subsidiaries
Arriva and DB Schenker. Arriva is a UK-based bus and train operator,
while DB Schenker is a rail freight operator. The appointment of Lazard
could lead to Arriva being floated, the item said, without citing a source
for the claim. The newspaper estimated a potential GBP 2.5bn (EUR
3.38bn) flotation value for Arriva, which Deutsche Bahn acquired in
2010 for approximately GBP 1.5bn. Arriva reported an underlying
operating profit of EUR 498m on EUR 4.5bn sales in 2014, the article
said. Background: Deutsche Bahn announced on 28 July that it would
consider partially privatising DB Arriva and DBB Schenker Logistics.
07.10.2015 The Times (London)
CFR Calatori should
launch IPO for a
15% stake, watchdog
official says
(translated)
CFR Calatori, the Romanian state-owned passenger railways company,
could sell a stake of up to 15% stake on the bourse, the Romanian
language daily Bursa reported. The item quoted Vasile Seclaman,
director of the Competition Council’s Railway Supervisory Division.
Seclaman went on to explain that CFR Calatori accounts for 79% of the
Romanian passenger railway market and that the government should
put an end to this quasi monopoly. Seclaman suggested that the
government should sell between 10% and 15% of CFR Calatori’s share
capital via an initial public offering, so as to avoid allowing a privately
owned company to control the market. Last year CFR Calatori generated
a net profit of RON 69m (EUR 15.6m) on a turnover of RON 2bn (EUR
452.7m), from losses of RON 408m and a turnover of RON 1.64bn in
2013, as per a separate report by the Romanian language daily Ziarul
Financiar.
07.10.2015 Bursa
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Wabtec to buy
Faiveley Transport
51% stake for USD
1.8bn
Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) has signed a definitive share
purchase agreement to acquire from members of the Faiveley family
approximately 51% of Faiveley Transport S.A. (euronext paris:LEY), a
leading global provider of value-added, integrated systems and services
for the railway industry with annual sales of about USD 1.2bn. On 27
July, Wabtec announced that it had made an irrevocable offer to acquire
these shares. Faiveley Transport has now completed required labor
group consultations and the majority shareholders have accepted the
Wabtec purchase offer. Wabtec has also entered into a definitive tender
offer agreement with Faiveley Transport and a definitive shareholders
agreement with the majority shareholders of Faiveley Transport. Closing
of the transactions is subject to various customary conditions, including
completion of remaining regulatory requirements. Under the share
purchase agreement, Wabtec plans to purchase the shares for USD
112.72 (EUR 100) per share, payable 25% in cash and 75% in Wabtec
preferred stock, mandatorily convertible after three years into a total of
approximately 6.5 million Wabtec common shares. Upon completing the
share purchase, Wabtec will commence a tender offer for the remaining
publicly traded Faiveley Transport shares. The public shareholders will
have the option to elect to receive USD 112.72 (EUR 100) per share in
cash or Wabtec preferred stock. As is the case in the purchase of the
Faiveley family block, no more than 75% of the consideration payable to
the public shareholders can be in Wabtec preferred stock. The total
purchase price is about USD 1.8bn, including assumed debt. Wabtec
plans to fund the cash portion of the transaction with cash on hand,
existing credit facilities and potentially other debt financing. The
strategic combination of Wabtec and Faiveley Transport will create one
of the world's largest public rail equipment companies, with revenues of
about USD 4.5bn and a presence in all key freight rail and passenger
transit geographies worldwide.
06.10.2015 Company press release.
Imperial Holdings
to sell Neska stake
for EUR 75m
Imperial Holdings, the JSE-listed logistics group, today announced that
it plans to dispose of its 65% stake in Neska Schiffahrts Und
Speditsionskontor (Neska) to Hafen und Guterverkehr Koln (HGK) for
EUR 75m: Shareholders are advised that Imperial has signed an
agreement to dispose of the group’s 65% stake in Neska to Häfen und
Güterverkehr Köln (‘HGK’), the Port Authority in Cologne, Germany,
and the current 35% minority shareholder in Neska (“the Proposed
Transaction”). HGK is headquartered in Cologne and is controlled by
Stadtwerke Köln GmbH, which in turn is 100 percent owned by the City
of Cologne. Neska is a subsidiary of Imperial Logistics International B.V.
& Co. KG, the group’s holding company for its non-African international
logistics operations. Neska offers solutions in intermodal container
shipping as well as in conventional break bulk and bulk freight market.
With its 23 sites, Neska group handles trans-shipment, storage and
transportation for a wide variety of goods (bulk, paper, metals) moving
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
them across an international transport network comprising roadways,
railways and waterways. Neska is facing growing competition from
established players with more scale, a better market positioning and
pricing power. As a result, Neska’s growth prospects under Imperial’s
ownership are limited and the value of Neska will be better advanced by
owners with established capability and scale such as HGK. Therefore,
and consistent with its espoused strategy to invest in its core capabilities,
Imperial has decided to dispose of Neska. HGK will acquire 65% of the
ordinary shares of Neska for a total net purchase consideration of EUR
75m (“the Purchase Consideration”), which includes the discharge of
shareholder loans of EUR 24m. The effective date of the Proposed
Transaction is 1 July 2015. The proceeds from the proposed transaction
will be invested in due course in the expansion of the group’s core
businesses while initially reducing short term debt. HGK’s major
shareholders are the City of Cologne and other municipal enterprises.
Due to this shareholder structure, the potential transaction is subject to
public approval procedures.
05.10.2015 Stock Exchange Announcement(s)
PKP looks to
privatise PKP
Intercity in 2018
with treasury
retaining
controlling stake
(translated)
PKP Intercity, a passenger transport subsidiary of Polish state-owned
railway group PKP, will be privatised in 2018, a Polish newswire
reported, citing PKP President Jakub Karnowski. The Polish Treasury
will retain the controlling stake in the company, Karnowski told PAP on
2 October. The privatisation will be through a stock exchange listing, he
noted. In 2014, PKP Intercity posted more than PLN 54m (USD 14.2m)
net loss, as reported.
05.10.2015 news wire round up
PostNL continues
strategic review of
German activities,
to maintain
investment in
Italian operations
Following the strategic review of the international activities that was
announced in the beginning of May, PostNL has decided to continue to
invest in the development of its Italian operations (Nexive). Nexive
contributes positively to PostNL’s results and has growth potential in the
Italian market for mail and parcels with its own last mile delivery
network. PostNL supports local management and expects that they will
be able to grow Nexive’s market share by expanding its customer base,
increasing the geographical spread of the Formula Certa network as well
as offering additional value added services to its customers. Also
Nexive’s parcels network shows good prospects for profitable growth.
The strategic review of the activities in the United Kingdom resulted at
the end of July in an agreement on the main conditions of an intended
management buy out of Whistl. The strategic review of the German
activities is ongoing. Nexive has been operating in Italy since 1998. Its
more than 5,500 employees and partners currently handle about 500m
items a year, reaching about 80% of Italian homes.
02.10.2015 Company Press Release(s) (Edited)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Helsingin
Bussiliikenne could
be sold to Koiviston
Auto (translated)
Helsingin Bussiliikenne, the Finnish transport company owned by the
city of Helsinki, could be sold to Koiviston Auto, the Finnish transport
business, according to Kauppalehti Online. The Finnish language piece
cited a city councilors’ meeting as a source for its story and wrote that
the deal is dependent on the city’s decision which could be made by the
year end. Helsingin Bussiliikenne is set to have a turnover of EUR 75m
this year.
02.10.2015 Kauppalehti Online
VR could privatize
passenger
operations - report
(translated)
VR, the Finnish state-owned railway, could privatize its passenger traffic
business, according to Tekniikka ja Talous. The Finnish language piece
cited a news item published by Demari, a political paper, featuring an
interview with transport minister Anne Berner. Berner said said the
government's intention is to open up VR’s passenger business to
competition. In 2007, VR planned to privatize its cargo business, but
saw scant interest due to heavy investments required, the piece said. VR
made revenues of EUR 1.37bn in 2014.
02.10.2015 Tekniikka ja Talous
BDZ Cargo: Give
Consult mandated
to assist with
privatization
Sofia-based Give Consult has been mandated by the government as
adviser for the sale of national rail cargo company BDZ Cargo, according
to a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Privatisation Agency. The 100%
stake in the company will be offered, the spokesperson noted. The sale is
expected to be launched in March or April, with the aim of selecting a
buyer by the end of next year, the spokesperson told Mergermarket. A
Russian investment fund has expressed interest in the asset, the
spokesperson said without identifying the fund. According to a news
report, the State Fund of Development of North-West Russian
Federation is interested in BDZ Cargo. Other interested parties include
rail cargo operators from Romania and Austria, an adviser who follows
the process said. The asset is likely to draw interest from European rail
cargo operators as it is an attractive target for strategics looking to
expand their presence in southeast Europe, the adviser added. The
valuation of BDZ Cargo was estimated by experts as USD 60m,
according to a report in July. The company has 65% market share in
Bulgaria and handled 8.7m tonnes of freight. A previous privatisation
attempt was canceled in 2013.
01.10.2015 Proprietary Intelligence
Sporty Transport og
Budservice to be
acquired by Best
Transport
Sporty Transport og Budservice, the Norwegian transportation
company, is to be acquired by its Swedish peer, Best Transport,
according to a company press release. Best's Managing Director, Peter
Lennartsson, commented that Sporty is a strong market player with a
good relationship with its clients, so it will make an excellent addition to
Best. Sporty expects a 2015 turnover of NOK 65m (EUR 6.8m).
01.10.2015 Company Press Release (Translated)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Mladinska knjiga
Slovenia’s top publishing house Mladinska knjiga has sold its logistic
sells logistic arm to division to the state-owned mail service company Posta Slovenije for
Posta Slovenije
roughly EUR 13m, Slovenia Times reported. The Slovenian daily cited
Boris Novac, Posta’s general manager, who added that the company’s
newly acquired logistic business would generate annual revenues worth
EUR 5m.
01.10.2015 The Slovenia Times
Contrail 16% stake
acquired by
Eurogate
(translated)
Eurogate, a German container operator, has entered the Brazilian
market after acquiring a 16% stake in logistics company Contrail
Logistica, Valor Economico reported. Terms of the deal were not
disclosed. Citing Eurogate President Thomas Eckelmann, the business
daily said the German group has the option to purchase a further 16%
stake in Contrail by 2018. Eurogate purchased 10% stake in Contrail
from holding company EDLP, and 6% stake from Banco BTG Pactual,
the item said. Contrail transports containers to Santos port, the most
important in Brazil, through MRS Logistica’s rail network. The project is
valued at BRL 1.1bn (USD 274.7m), the Portuguese-language newspaper
noted.
29.09.2015 Valor Economico
Coca-Cola Iberian
Partners acquires
remaining 30%
stake in Madrid Eco
Platform – report
(translated)
Coca-Cola Iberian Partners has acquired the 30% stake in Madrid Eco
Platform it did not already own, Alimarket reported on 28 September.
Madrid Eco Platform was created two years ago to handle the transport
and logistics of Coca-Cola in Spain, the Spanish-language report said,
citing people close to the beverage multinational. Prior to this recent
transaction, Madrid Eco Platform was owned by a company called
Famema 78, the report said. Despite a recent fall in its equity capital that
led to the need for a EUR 1.4m capital increase, the company managed
to double its sales from EUR 17.9m in 2013 to EUR 38.38m in 2014, the
report said.
29.09.2015 Alimarket
MSC hires
Cuatrecasas for
EUR 53m CP Carga
acquisition; deal
awaits anti-trust
green light - report
(translated)
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) mandated Cuatrecasas as
lawyer in its EUR 53m acquisition of CP Carga, the Portuguese state rail
freight group, which still awaits clearance from the Adc Competition
Authority, reported Diario Economico. Sources familiar with the process
told the Lisbon business paper that MSC inked purchase agreement with
the Portuguese government on 21 September and the privatization of CP
Carga now needs approval from the AdC.
29.09.2015 Diario Economico
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
TransContainer
opts to hold its
interest in JSC
Kedentransservice
Public Joint Stock Company TransContainer ("TransContainer" or the
"Company") (LSE: TRCN) announces that, on 25 September 2015, its
Board of Directors cancelled its decision to dispose of the Company's
50% equity stake in Logistic System Management B.V. to JSC National
Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy ("KTZ"). This reverses a decision
taken on 18 February 2015 when it approved the disposal of the equity
stake. Logistic System Management B.V. controls 100% of the share
capital of JSC Kedentransservice, a leading Kazakhstan rail container
and terminal operator. Last week it was reported that the stake had been
earlier valued at USD 60m.
28.09.2015 Stock Exchange Announcement(s)
Eurotrans Group
seeks investors for
up to a 50% stake
sale
The Eurotrans Group, a Russian railway-based transportation and
logistics services provider, plans to sell up to a 50% stake to generate
additional growth capital, CEO Alexander Doroshenko said. The
privately held group is ready to finalize a deal at any time this year.
Doroshenko could not put a price tag on the equity that could be on sale
or on the whole group, as it has not undergone any official valuation.
However, the Eurotrans Group's key business indicators include its
annual revenue that averages over USD 100m, a workforce of over 60
employees and operation hubs across Russia. These hubs include the
group's corporate headquarters in Chelyabinsk and representative
offices in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, Doroshenko said. The equity
capital will be used to buy new rail wagons to boost the group's
transportation and logistics services.
27.09.2015 Proprietary Intelligence
Omniva to form
joint venture with
SF Express
Eesti Post (Omniva), a state-owned Estonian postal services and logistics
company, will form a joint venture with China's SF Express, according to
the following press release on September 24: International logistics
company Omniva will establish a joint enterprise with China's largest
private-capital-based courier company SF Express in order to mediate
goods between China and Europe in a faster and more efficient manner.
While the joint enterprise called Post11 is registered in Estonia, the plan
is to expand its activities all over the world. “The goal is to expand the
business model all over the world, to forward shipments between
different countries and to expand in the value-chain of e-commerce with
new solutions,” explained Aavo Kärmas, Chairman of the Management
Board of Omniva. For Estonian consumers, the establishment of the
joint enterprise and a direct connection with China is primarily
providing faster shipments of goods from Chinese e-stores to the client.
According to Kärmas, Omniva has been cooperating with SF Express for
over a year and the establishment of the joint enterprise is a logical
continuation of the cooperation so far.
25.09.2015 Company Press Release(s)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Rail Cargo Group
acquires EBM Cargo
for an undisclosed
fee
Rail Cargo Group [RCG], the cargo subsidiary of state-owned Austrian
railway group Oesterreichische Bundesbahnen [OBB], has taken over
German rival EBM Cargo. RCG issued the following statement: The Rail
Cargo Group [RCG] continues to expand in-house production in its
target markets between the North Sea, the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
The takeover of the private German rail operator EBM Cargo further
enlarges RCG's carrier portfolio, enabling the group to now also offer a
one-stop-shop for end-to-end production in Germany. Buying EBM
Cargo, now rebranded into Rail Cargo Carrier - Germany, will further
strengthen Rail Cargo Group's position on the European rail freight
market. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Gummersbach near
Cologne, EBM Cargo is a profitable railway undertaking with an annual
turnover of approx. EUR 5m and extensive knowledge of the Rhein-Ruhr
area. Rebranded into Rail Cargo Carrier - Germany, EBM Cargo is now
part of the Rail Cargo Group carrier portfolio, which covers freight
operators running under the "Rail Cargo Carrier" umbrella brand in
RCG's core markets of Austria and Hungary, plus eight other European
countries. Rail Cargo Carrier - Germany will managed by Frank Zelinski,
one of EBM Cargo's two founders, alongside Anton Forstner of Rail
Cargo Group's Production Management Division.
25.09.2015 Company Press Release*
Belgian road
haulier Group
Joosen for sale;
eyed by De Vreese
Logistic
Belgian road transportation company Group Joosen is looking for a
buyer or merger partner, director and owner Kurt Joosen said. A
logistics company with a similar organizational structure could help the
entity to achieve synergetic benefits. Such a buyer could provide shortterm savings for the company, the director of the Antwerp-based firm
said. Whilst a partnership or merger would be ideal, a takeover is
negotiable, said Joosen. The main goal of Joosen is to create a long-term
perspective for his company. Joosen has not hired advisors yet, but is
willing to do so. Oudenaarde-based De Vreese Logistic could be
interested in the target, its managing director, Filip de Vreese, told
Mergermarket. It is not actively looking for acquisitions at the moment
but sees the target as a good opportunistic buy, the CEO said, declining
to comment further. Group Joosen owns one hundred trucks and has a
turnover of over EUR 20m. Last year the firm suffered a net loss of EUR
600k, as a result of the high costs of recent investments. So far in 2015,
the loss is limited to EUR 60k, Joosen said. The 20-year old company
employs 120 workers and specializes in container transportation from
the harbours of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. At present, Joosen
is busy almost doubling its company site in Antwerp from 35.000 m2 to
63.000 m2, to increase the capacity for short-term storage of containers.
Kurt Joosen, 44, took over the company from his father. He has held all
the shares since 2012. In the past three years, the Joosen Group has
expanded from 35 to 100 trucks.
24.09.2015 Proprietary Intelligence
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Keolis to buy
minority stake in
Masabi - execs
French public transportation group Keolis will acquire a minority in
London-based mobile ticketing services company Masabi, Keolis CEO
Jean Pierre Farandou and Head of Marketing Innovation and Services
Laurent Kocher told this news service. The move is part of Keolis’
strategy of buying up minority stakes in mature start-ups that develop
mobile transportation services, Farandou and Kocher said on the
sidelines of an event showcasing the group’s new digital strategy. Masabi
and Keolis on 23 September announced a partnership to offer mobile
ticketing software. Keolis will initially incorporate Masabi’s mobile
ticketing technology into a mobile application for passengers as part of
Keolis’ PlanBookTicket strategy. Masabi offers mobile ticketing and fare
collection services. With a turnover of EUR 5.6bn, Keolis will not launch
a full takeover of Masabi as it intends instead to strengthen the
companies’ collaboration for developing new mobile solutions, Farandou
said.
23.09.2015 Proprietary Intelligence
GEFCO to acquire
IJS Global from
Nimbus
The GEFCO Group, a global player in logistics for manufacturers and the
European leader in automotive logistics, has signed an agreement with
the private equity fund Nimbus to acquire the Dutch company IJS
Global, specialised in air and sea freight operations. The complementary
nature of the GEFCO and IJS Global businesses – with regard to
expertise, geographic networks and customer portfolios – will create
value for all of the stakeholders: customers, partners, suppliers and
employees. This acquisition, which is fully in line with GEFCO’s and IJS
Global’s growth strategy, will position this new entity as the preferred
partner of international manufacturers in their search for growth and
competitiveness. It will result into a broader range of global logistics
services, dedicated to the optimisation of complex supply chains.
Founded in 2004, IJS Global is a freight forwarding company
specialised in the fields of air and sea. Its head office is located in
Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. The company currently has around 500
employees and generated turnover of EUR 160m in 2014.
23.09.2015 Company Press Release(s) (Edited)
Transcontainer BoD
to examine sale of
50% stake in
Kedentransservice
to KTZ on 25
September
(translated)
TransContainer, a Russian freight transport company controlled by
RZD, will examine on 25 September the sale of a 50% stake in Kazakh
rail container and terminal operator Kedentransservice to the state
railway operator National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ).
This was according to a report in the Russian- language daily Vedomosti
that cited a Transcontainer press spokesman. Transcontainer holds the
stake via Netherlands-registered vehicle Logistic System Management,
the report noted. The stake is worth USD 60m, according to a previous
report. The sale of the stake had been suspended indefinitely, a previous
report on 31 August claimed.
22.09.2015 Vedomosti
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
UK government’s
train tsar confirms
Network Rail
privatisation under
consideration
The UK government is open to all options for Network Rail, including
privatisation, state-appointed train tsar Nicola Shaw has confirmed. The
Sunday Times reported that Shaw, who has been tasked with drawing up
a new plan for the funding and structure of the UK’s rail network, will
look at ways to cut the company’s GBP 38bn (USD 59bn) debt. Shaw will
consider whether Network Rail should be completely privatised or
continue to receive direct government funding, or whether other
companies should be given concessions to operate areas of track, the
item reported. Shaw has been in post since July and is expected to report
back to the Department for Transport and the Treasury by the autumn,
with a full report scheduled before the next national budget in March,
the report said.
20.09.2015 Sunday Times
Transports Jean
Devay bought by
Groupe Chatel
(translated)
Transports Jean Devay, a transportation company located in Carquefou,
France, has been sold by its directors to its local competitor Chatel, WK
Transport Logistique reported citing the bidder's PR manager
Frederique Chatel. Transports Jean Devay has a workforce of 70 and
generates EUR 8m turnover, the French-language piece mentioned.
18.09.2015 WK Transport Logistique
Give Svaergods
Give Svaergods Transport, the Scottish wind turbine transportation
Transport acquired company, has been acquired by its Danish peer, Give Goodwind,
by Give Goodwind according to Borsen. The Danish business daily cited Give Goodwind's
(translated)
Managing Director, Hans Ove Dahl, who said that the company expects
a significant growth in turnover for the financial year 2015/2016
compared to its record year of 2013/2014 when it reported a turnover
DKK 220m (EUR 29.5m) thanks to the fact that it now operates in seven
markets. The item noted that Give Goodwind was created a few years
ago from the reconstruction of the Danish company, Give Svaergods.
The paper wrote that Give Svaergods' Scottish subsidiary was acquired
by its manager in conjunction to the reconstruction and the company
has now become Danish-owned again..
18.09.2015 Borsen
Moscow Metro to
acquire 50% of
Moscow Railway
Ring Road
(translated)
The Moscow Metro is set to acquire a 50% stake in Moscow Railway
Ring Road (MKZhD), Kommersant reported. The item cited a statement
by FAS, the Russian antitrust regulator. The Russian-language daily
noted that the vendor is RZD, the Russian railway network, which
wished to sell the stake because it does not have the resources to invest
in the company. The item noted that RZD took the decision when it was
asked to take part part in a RUB 13.5bn recapitalisation. The item added
that the deal value will be RUB 2.5bn (USD 38m), equal to the amount
that RZD has already put into MKZhD.
18.09.2015 Kommersant
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Jardel takeover
Jardel, a French family-owned refrigerated transportation company, has
backed by Bpifrance been taken over by Director Dimitri Goineau. This was announced by
and Multicroissance investment group Bpifrance, which backed the transaction alongside its
peer Multicroissance through a EUR 1.6m investment. Jardel generates
EUR 100m turnover with 1,100 staff members.
18.09.2015 Company Press Release (Translated)
Acos files for
insolvency
(translated)
Acos, the Bremen, Germany-based logistics group, has filed for
insolvency, DVZ reported. The news report cited for the information the
insolvency administrators Axel Gerbers of Johlke, Niethammer &
Partner as well as Ralph Bünning and Tim Beyer of Schultze & Braun.
The proceedings involve Acos Holding, Allround Container Service
Helmut Frank, Acos Transport Helmut Frank and HWS-Holtkemper
Werkstattservice. Acos business units inland waterways and rail
transport are not affected, the German-language report said, adding that
the Acos group consists of eight companies in which Acos holds various
stakes. Company founder Helmut Frank passed away last month,
according to the report. His family as well as some employees own
49.9% of Acos with the same stake held by Eurogate Intermodal since
2009. The group has 185 employees.
17.09.2015 DVZ
National Express
named preferred
bidder for Porto bus
contract
National Express Group PLC is pleased to announce it has been named
preferred bidder for a contract to operate buses in Porto, Portugal. The
bid was led, and the services will be run, by National Express' Spanish
business, ALSA. The contract will run for 10 years and is expected to
generate revenues of around EUR 500m over the life of the contract.
National Express' services will carry more than 75m passengers a year,
on approximately 420 buses. National Express will now enter into
standard further discussions with the relevant authorities to conclude
the contract. The contract is expected to start in the first quarter of 2016.
Dean Finch, National Express Group Chief Executive, said: "National
Express is delighted to have been named preferred bidder for the Porto
bus contract. This success is further evidence of our strong international
credentials opening up new market opportunities. "We will continue to
assess other opportunities that meet our strict returns criteria. As in this
Porto bid, our focus will remain on delivering excellent services for
passengers alongside good returns for shareholders and taxpayers alike."
National Express has been named preferred bidder by the Board of
Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto, S.A. (STCP). National
Express Group is a leading international public transport group,
operating bus, coach, rail and tram services across the UK, continental
Europe, North Africa, North America and Bahrain.
17.09.2015 Company Press Release(s) (Edited)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Theodor Wille
Intertrade to be
acquired by ADS
ADS, Inc., a leading provider of value-added logistics and supply chain
solutions, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with
the shareholders of Theodor Wille Intertrade (TWI) to acquire all of the
outstanding shares of TWI. TWI, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland,
with operating subsidiaries in Germany and the United Arab Emirates,
is a global provider of integrated supply chain solutions to customers
primarily operating in the United States European Command (EUCOM)
and the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) regions. TWI
delivers construction materials, equipment, hardware, food and food
services as well as provides logistics and transportation management
services to the US military and other large government contractors.. The
transaction will close, following satisfaction of certain conditions and
approvals, which is currently projected to occur in the fourth quarter of
2015.
16.09.2015 Company Press Release(s)
Posta Romana’s sale
strategy should
focus on IPO
(translated)
Posta Romana, the Romanian mail service company, will have to change
its sale strategy and opt for an IPO, the Romanian language news agency
Hotnews.ro reported. The item quoted Alexandru Petrescu, Posta’s
general manager, shortly after bpost, Belgium’s mail service company,
decided not to submit a final offer for a 51% stake in the Romanian
company. Petrescu went on to explain that bpost’s offer failed to match
Posta’s financial revival which last year led to a EUR 5m net profit after
five consecutive years of losses. The Ministry for Information Society
which holds a 75% stake in Posta asked the government to revise the
company’s sale strategy, considering its much improved situation, as per
a press release issued on Tuesday. In the first seven months of 2015
Posta Romana generated a net profit of RON 18.3m (EUR 4.1m) on
revenues of RON 655m (EUR 147m), according to a separate report by
the Romanian language daily Wall-Street.
16.09.2015 HotNews.ro
Alpetour’s majority Arriva Dolenjska, the Slovenian subsidiary of bus operator Arriva, will
stake goes to Arriva acquire a 59.21% stake in Alpetour, the Slovenian bus and tour operator,
according to an announcement by the Slovenian Competition Protection
Agency (SCPA), which has approved the takeover agreement. The
SCPA’s announcement stated that the deal had to also be approved by
the German anti-trust authority. A separate report by Slovenian Times
said that Arriva had put Alpetour’s overall value at roughly EUR 25m, by
offering EUR 55 per share. The Slovenian subsidiary of Arriva, part of
Deutsche Bahn, would have to launch a mandatory takeover offer for the
rest of Alpetour’s listed shares, the report noted. Alpetour generated net
profits of EUR 2.6m on sales of EUR 17m in 2014, the report said.
16.09.2015 Regulatory Authority Press Release (Translated)
Deal News – Transportation & Logistics
What's up in your market – a focus on deals activity, October 2015
Contact
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Tel.: (0211) 981 2852
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60327 Frankfurt am Main
[email protected]
Tel.: (069) 95 85-5704
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