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Pentalver joins Freightliner in the Genesee & Wyoming fold

[ December 13, 2016   //   ]

APM Terminals is to sell its UK-based container logistics company Pentalver to Genesee & Wyoming, a US and international railroad and already the parent company of UK-based intermodal operator, Freightliner. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, which are expected to be fulfilled in the first quarter of 2017.

Headquartered in Southampton, Pentalver operates off-dock container terminals there and in Felixstowe, London Gateway and Tilbury, as well as an inland site at Cannock in the Midlands.

As well as providing storage for loaded and empty containers on over 100 acres of land, Pentalver also operates haulage services with more than 150 trucks, primarily daily services between all the seaports in the UK, along with container maintenance and repair services. It is also one of the largest sellers of new and used containers in the UK.

Pentalver believes that its operations are complementary to those of Freightliner, the largest provider of maritime container transportation by rail in the UK. Joining G&W will allow Pentalver to provide rail and road transport,and storage options at the ports and inland, as well as unlock efficiencies from shared services and enhanced asset utilisation of both the Pentalver trucking fleet and Freightliner’s existing fleet of approximately 250 trucks that currently provide local collection and delivery haulage from Freightliner’s inland terminals.

With approximately 600 employees, Pentalver will continue to be run by its current managing director, Chris Lawrenson.

G&W president and chief executive, Jack Hellmann, said: “ With larger container ships and the growth of distribution centres in the Midlands and throughout the UK, our maritime intermodal customers are seeking…not only rail and road transportation but also the ability to store, maintain and position containers. Amidst the dramatic changes that are structurally altering the global shipping industry, we are pleased to be enhancing our service capabilities to meet the long term needs of our intermodal customers in the UK.”

Chris Lawrenson, added: “I am delighted that we have a shareholder such as G&W to continue the growth plans of the Pentalver business. Joining the G&W group is a massive opportunity to enhance the services, capabilities and overall capacity of Pentalver and along with subsidiaries such as Freightliner together we will have the ability to offer great services to all customers in the UK. The future is extremely exciting and will be a major step change in the UK container intermodal market.”

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