Van Elle Holdings has transferred its heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fleet to a specialist logistics partner in a move to cut overheads and redeploy capital to growth.
The UK’s largest ground engineering contractor has entered into a five-year agreement with WS Specialist Logistics Limited, which will take on the management and operation of Van Elle’s heavy haulage activities.
The deal, effective from 1 May, includes the disposal of Van Elle’s in-house fleet and the transfer of its transport management team and directly employed drivers.
The new staff have joined a division of WS Specialist Logistics that will focus solely on heavy plant haulage.
WS Specialist Logistics paid £2.9m for the fleet and related assets. Van Elle said the transaction would reduce its funding facility with ABN AMRO from £11m to £8m, with £6.5m remaining undrawn following completion.
Chief executive Mark Cutler said the move would allow Van Elle to redirect planned investment in the fleet into higher-yielding areas. He said the company expected improved utilisation of its transport operations and lower corporate administrative costs.
The new arrangement will see haulage operations managed from a WS Specialist Logistics facility located near Van Elle’s Nottinghamshire headquarters.
Van Elle did not specify how many vehicles were included in the sale or detail the value of future capital redeployment, which should be clarified in any future reporting.
Source: London Stock Exchange announcement