NEWS
Construction equipment rental company and
distributorMtandt used thebC Indiaexhibition
in December to introduce a range of materials
handling equipment to the Indian market. Its
stand at the show featured aMagni telescopic
handler, Unic straight-boom crane and PM
knuckle-boom crane.
The company, which has focussed on the
access sector, feels there is potential for
more sophisticated lifting and materials
handling equipment in India, a country where
domesticallymanufacturedpick&carrycranes
have traditionallydominated the lighter endof
the lifting and handling sector.
Mtandt managing director, Rakesh Modi
said, “People are looking for safety more and
more, plus labour costs are not as low as they
oncewere.”
2015
EXECUTIVEHIRE SHOW
11-12 February, 2015, Coventry, UK
THERENTAL SHOW
22-25February, 2015, NewOrleans, US
IAPAAWARDS2015
26March, 2015, WashingtonDC, US
INTERMAT
20-25April, 2015, Paris, France
HRIACONVENTION
28-30April, 2015, Adelaide, Australia
ERACONVENTION
3-4June, 2015, Rome, Italy
ERAAWARDS
3June, 2015, Rome, Italy
PLANTWORX2015
2-4June, 2015, Bruntingthorpe, UK
INTERNATIONAL RENTAL
CONFERENCE (IRC)
21 September, Beijing, China
ICEF
2-3November,Amsterdam,Netherlands
6
DIARYDATES
HSS to launch IPO
IRN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015
HSS Hire Group, based in the UK, has
announced it will proceedwith an IPO
(initial public offering).
The company said it intended
to raise £103 million (€133 million)
from its listing on the London Stock
Exchange, providing greater working
capital todrivegrowth in thebusiness.
Admission to the stock exchange
is set to take place in February 2015.
Following that the company will be
eligible for inclusion in the FTSE UK
indices.
There is then expected to be a free
float of at least 25%of the company’s
share capital. An over-allotment
option will allow 15% more shares
than originally planned to be made
available by the main shareholders
andStandard Life.
■
Non-voting chair of themeeting:
Michel Petitjean (SecretaryGeneral,
ERA)
Theawardsareopen toanycompany
operating in Europe, and companies
do not have to bemembers of ERA to
enter.
For more information, including
award criteria and entry forms, please
go to:
During the group’s last financial
year, ending 27 September, revenues
grew 17%year-on-year, whileadjusted
EBITDA was up 19% compared to the
same period. HSS’s market share in
the UK increased from 3.6% to 4.7%
during that time, said the company.
In connection with the IPO, HSS
also announces the appointment of
Neil Sachdev as deputy independent
non-executive chairman, and Amanda
Burton and Douglas Robertson as
independent non-executivedirectors.
Chris Davies, HSS chief executive
officer, said “A public listing will put
the business on the best footing to
maximiseourpotentialas therecovery
in our markets gains momentum,
enabling us to scale our model faster
andaccelerateour growth.”
IronPlanet and
CatAuction
Servicesmerge
Online used heavy equipment
marketplace IronPlanet is tomerge
with Cat Auction Services – an
alliance of Caterpillar and several
of its independent Cat dealers.
IronPlanet said it had over a
million registered users, while
Cat Auction Services – which
was started in 2008 to give Cat
dealers another distribution
channel for used equipment sales
– had a strong customer base. The
companies would offer live and
online auctions.
Ironplanet chairman and CEO
Mr Owens will be chairman and
CEO of the combined entity, and
the company will continue to be
headquartered in Pleasanton,
California, US.
■
Expansive US-based portable
storage rental companyMobileMini
has acquired an unnamed portable
storage business with a fleet of
approximately 550 units in Buffalo,
New York, US, for an undisclosed
price. This deal followed a string of
investments including the US$450
million (€361 million) purchase of
Texas-based specialty containment
provider Evergreen Tank Solutions.
■
Ashtead’s US operation Sunbelt
Rentals has expanded into Canada
with the acquisition of general tool
businessGWGRentals for£16million
(€20million), plus up to £4m (€17.6
million) payableover thenext three
years depending on profitability.
Based in western Canada, GWG has
sixoutletsofferingaerial platforms;
compaction, material handling
and earthmoving equipment;
generators and heaters, and lawn
andgarden rentals.
■
AFI has strengthened its
presence in the UK with the
acquisition of Altitude Access, an
East Midlands-based company
with a turnover of £1.6 million
(€2.1 million), a rental fleet of 180
powered access machines and a
depot. The Altitude Access brand
will be incorporated into the AFI
brand.
■
Contractor Balfour Beatty has
announced three-year rental
equipment agreements with
A-Plant, Speedy Hire, Nationwide
Platforms and VP. Andy Ormerod,
managingdirectorofBalfourBeatty
Plant and Fleet Services said, “By
working in close partnership with
these industry leading providers
of plant and equipment, Balfour
Beatty will experience a step
change in service.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Deadline for 2015
EuropeanRental Awards
The deadline to enter this year’s
European Rental Awards is Friday 20
February. The 2015 event will be held
on Wednesday 3 June in Rome, Italy,
andentries arenowbeingaccepted.
As well as a Lifetime Achievement
award, thereare four categories:
■
Large Rental Company of the Year
(turnover over €15million)
■
Small/Mid-sizedRental Company of
theYear (turnover under €15million)
■
Most Sustainable Rental Product
(product launched in late 2013 or
during 2014)
■
ERA/
IRN
Rental Personof theYear
Theawards ceremonywill takeplace
on the evening of the first day of the
European Rental Association (ERA)
annual convention. The convention is
being held on 3 and 4 June at Hotel
MeliaRomaAureliaAntica.
The judgingpanel for theprestigious
awards includesseniorrepresentatives
from rental companies,manufacturers
and rental associations in Europe,
plus two members from the award
organisers – the ERA and KHL
Group, which is the publisher of I
RN
.
The judges, whowill meet in Brussels,
Belgium, on 18 March, 2015, to
determine the shortlisted companies
andwinners, are:
■
Xavier du Boÿs (CEO, Kiloutou,
France)
■
Marzia Giusto (CEO, Nacanco&
President, Assonolo, Italy)
■
Nicolas Guigon (Rental &
UsedEquipmentManager – EAME,
Caterpillar)
■
Vesa Koivula (ERAPresident &
CEO, Cramo, Finland)
■
MurrayPollok (ManagingEditor,
IRN)
