Rivus owner Aurelius has announced it is to acquire Pullman Fleet Services from Wincanton Plc, expanding the group’s focus on commercial vehicle management.
The announcement comes exactly 15 months after Aurelius revealed it was buying BT Fleet Solutions – later rebranded as Rivus Fleet Solutions – and will see the asset management group work with Pullman to develop further commercial and growth opportunities through potential collaboration with Rivus.
This includes expanding Pullman’s work into related services, including accident management and vehicle leasing, while keeping it as a standalone business.
Headquartered in Doncaster, Pullman Fleet Services is said to be the UK’s largest independent provider of commercial fleet management and maintenance. It has a focus on HGVs but also includes a full suite of services for LCV fleet management outsourcing, repair and maintenance, including pay-as-you-go services. Its portfolio includes 27 service centres, over 70 mobile service vehicles, and more than 430 employees and technicians.
Aurelius said it would capitalise on Pullman’s position as the only multi-marque operator of scale for HGVs in the UK, including by drawing on the expertise and market potential developed through its ownership of Rivus.
Pullman will also continue in partnership with Wincanton as its preferred supplier for fleet management, repairs and maintenance following completion.
Dr Dirk Markus, CEO of Aurelius, said: “Aurelius will empower Pullman to capitalise on the strong market growth potential and develop an expanded service offering, for example in leasing and accident management in the months ahead, alongside our portfolio company Rivus Fleet Solutions.”
Tristan Nagler, UK managing director of Aurelius, said: “I would like to welcome Pullman to the AURELIUS Group, and look forward to partnering with the management team on the next stage of its journey with us. We have confidence that our operational experts, and deep experience in fleet services with Rivus Fleet Solutions, working alongside management will ensure the standalone Pullman business has a solid platform from which to capture the significant growth opportunity available in the UK market.”
The deal comes hot on the heels of the Aurelius acquisition of GKN Wheels & Structures from GKN and Dr Markus said further acquisitions are on the cards too.
