The Egyptian Transport and Commercial Services Company (Egytrans) announced in a press conference on Tuesday that its extraordinary general assembly unanimously approved the acquisition of 99.9% of the National Transport and Overseas Services Company (NOSCO) through a share swap, during its meeting on 9 July. Aafter the merger, the capital of the company – to be named "Egytrans NOSCO" – will reach EGP 224.9m. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Egytrans as it fortifies its market position and expands its operational platform to tap into the growing logistics market. The acquisition will take place through a share swap exchanging one share of Egytrans' capital for 0.0447 shares of NOSCO's capital, while increasing overall capital to around EGP 224.9m. Existing Egytrans shareholders will own 70.17% of the combined company, while NOSCO shareholders will own the remaining 29.83%. The deal was earlier approved at the fair value of EGP 58.033 EGP per share for NOSCO, and EGP 2.594 per share for Egytrans, in accordance with an independent valuation by Archer Financial Advisors. The transaction is expected to close in 4Q 2023. Gamal Moharam will be the Chairperson of Egytrans NOSCO, while Abir Leheta will assume the post of CEO for Shared Services, and Mohamed Nadim will be the CEO for Commercial & Operations. This seamless leadership transition ensures continuity and a cohesive approach in steering the company towards growth and success. Commenting on the transaction, Abir Leheta said: "The acquisition of NOSCO is a transformative opportunity for Egytrans," adding that "NOSCO is a leading player in the project logistics and land transport sectors, and their expertise and capabilities will complement our own. Together, we will be able to offer our customers a wider range of services and solutions, and we will be well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities in the Egyptian market and beyond." She added: "The acquisition of NOSCO is based strategically on several key factors, including a complementary joint customer footprint that minimizes cross-cannibalization, establishing leadership positions in well-diversified end markets to expand our customer base, increase penetration and spread risk while building leadership scale to gain a competitive edge. Measures aimed at preparing the combined company for future expansion into new markets are planned, including full integration of digital and operational processes and platforms." Egytrans NOSCO is poised to reap exceptional strategic value from the acquisition, driving operational and financial growth. According to Mohamed Nadim, CEO of NOSCO, "The combination of Egytrans and NOSCO brings together two strong entities with complementary strengths. As a unit, we are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the market and deliver unparalleled logistics solutions to our clients. The combination of Egytrans' existing capabilities and NOSCO's highly scalable operational platform creates an asset-right operating model, ensuring consistency in service levels, exceptional technical capabilities, and a higher-margin business. Additionally, the merger aligns with evolving market demands in transport and project logistics, enabling the combined entity to cater to changing customer needs and industry trends, resulting in strong commercial cross-selling synergies and allowing us to serve a larger customer base simultaneously, enhancing overall performance. Our balanced multi-sector offering will improve our competitiveness and reduce the impact of cyclicality on our business volumes." Looking ahead, the combined synergistic effect of this strategic union assumes a steady growth trajectory above market "We believe that this acquisition marks a pivotal moment in our company's journey, fortifying our position in the market and driving sustained value creation for our shareholders and stakeholders alike," remarks Leheta. The acquisition represents a turning point for Egytrans NOSCO, enabling the company to expand its presence in the projects and land transport markets, bolster warehousing and fleet capacities, and tap into a large joint customer base. The consolidation of resources and capabilities paves the way for accelerated growth and continued success in the dynamic Egyptian logistics landscape. The transaction comes at a time of robust growth in Egypt's logistics and transportation market, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from 2022 to 2027. The acquisition positions Egytrans NOSCO to leverage market drivers, capitalize on Egypt's role as a major trading hub, and seize opportunities arising from regional infrastructure growth and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
