Aves One AG (Aves) has acquired a portfolio of as-new containers for USD 59.0 million. The purchase contract provides for the containers to be taken over in several tranches
up to the end of June 2018. The portfolio comprises 20,400 containers, corresponding to 29,400 TEU
(Twenty Foot Equivalent Units). ABN AMRO Lease is assisting the financing of this transaction.
The vendor of the assets is the UES International leasing company, which will also manage the
portfolio for Aves in future. All the containers are on long-term leases to reputable shipping
companies such as MSC or CMA CMG, the average term of lease being around 6 years. Based on
contractually fixed rental charges the entire newly-acquired portfolio will make a middle seven-digit
contribution to EBITDA. After concluding the purchase contract, Aves will have at its disposal a
container portfolio of around 200,000 TEU.
In addition to a further improvement in capacity utilisation, the transaction will also reduce the
entire container fleet’s average age. At the same time, taking up the loan in USD further optimises
the company’s financing structure and thus currency conversion effects.
Explaining the move, Aves One AG’s Management Board member Jürgen Bauer says “Now that Aves
has completed the turnaround in the first quarter of 2018, as recently reported, the further portfolio
enlargement will make an additional sustainable positive contribution to the Aves Group’s
consolidated income. The conclusion of this deal shows that we are consistently maintaining the
announced growth course, and are also seizing opportunities in the Container segment as well as in
Rail and Real Estate.”