DB Schenker plans to purchase Romanian forwarder Romtrans
Takeover bid submitted to shareholders today • DB Schenker wishes to improve its trans-European product range with Romtrans on board
(Berlin, 24 September 2008) DB Schenker is aiming to acquire the entire shares in Romanian forwarder S.C. Romtrans S.A. and submitted a corresponding takeover bid to the Romtrans shareholders today through its Austrian subsidiary Schenker & Co AG. The deadline for acceptance of the bid is the end of October. Subject to the approval of the competent authorities, the transaction should be completed by December of this year. This acquisition is expected to consolidate the leading position of the Deutsche Bahn transportation and logistics division, which operates worldwide under the DB Schenker brand, as one of the top providers of global transportation and logistics services.
DB Schenker Chairman Norbert Bensel, Member of the Deutsche Bahn Management Board for Transportation and Logistics, welcomed this step: “The planned takeover of Romtrans gives us a unique opportunity to strengthen our activities in southeastern Europe substantially and to integrate the local resources of Romtrans in the DB Schenker international network. This closes a further gap in our transportation and logistics network and meets the requirements of our customers, global players who can choose from our constantly expanding range of trans-European products.” At the same time, Bensel stressed the growing economic prospects for the company in the region of southeastern Europe. “Romania is one of the fastest growing economic regions in the European Union. We wish to participate in that market growth and exploit the potential for new custom by being right there on the spot.” DB Schenker has successfully operated through its own national subsidiary in Romania since 1992.
Based in Bucharest, S.C. Romtrans S.A. is Romania’s largest forwarding company with revenues of more than EUR 90 million and approximately 1,500 employees. In the 14 years since it was privatized in 1994, Romtrans has successfully evolved from a state-owned undertaking to a dynamic group of companies, which now has nine branch offices in Romania as well as sales companies in Germany, Austria, the Benelux countries, Hungary, Moldavia and Georgia. The company offers a full range of Intermodal products in the land, air and ocean freight sectors as well as rail forwarding and customs clearance services. It also operates a successful multimodal transportation location at the Black Sea port of Constanţa.