Two Iconic Names in Logistics Agree Terms for Container Transport Deal

UK – A new deal involving two of the best known names in the field of British road transport has been struck with Maritime Transport Ltd, (Maritime) agreeing terms to acquire the container transport business of Wincanton plc, Wincanton Container Logistics.

In its current iteration Maritime was born less than two decades ago after John Williams took the reins of what was then Maritime haulage. Williams, with a haulage heritage going back through his Welsh roots for around a century (his family still run TDW Distribution) has diversified from a general haulier into a road and rail container transport operation.

Maritime has grown from that traditional haulage profile to a point where it now provides a swathe of intermodal services with nine daily trains from the container ports to five strategic rail terminals, container storage and domestic distribution, as well as container transport. The company, having a large fleet turnover, is also a major reseller of multi-brand, used trucks in the UK.

For its part Wincanton says that Wincanton Container Logistics, formed in 2008 after the acquisition of Hanbury Davies and the CEL Group in the same year, no longer fits its core business profile. The company provides container transport and ancillary services to shipping lines, freight forwarders and cargo owners, services which complement Maritime’s own extensive operational portfolio.

Under the deal, all employees and assets will be transferred to Maritime and Maritime will continue to work with Wincanton as a strategic partner supporting a number of Wincanton’s customers’ international supply chains. The combined business will create a road fleet of 2,000 with 3,000 employees, based throughout the UK. Maritime Chairman John Williams commented:

“We are delighted to have agreed terms with Wincanton to acquire its container transport business, Wincanton Container Logistics. We welcome the staff and drivers and look forward to building our capability in the container transport sector and relationships with its customers.”

The deal ensures Maritime’s position as the largest business of its type in the UK. The Wincanton container arm reportedly has liabilities of around £1 million with a turnover circa £60 million and has presumably suffered the woes traditionally associated with ownership of the expensive fleets required to perform in a tight road haulage operation. Shedding this part of the business for a price said to be in the region of £1.5 million will doubtless suit both parties.