VTG

VTG GmbH, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, is an international rail logistics and wagon leasing company focused primarily on Europe. Founded in 1951 as the state-owned VTG Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH, the company has grown into one of the leading players in European rail freight transport. Its core business is the leasing of freight wagons — with a fleet of over 75,000 wagons, VTG operates Europe's largest private wagon fleet. The company also provides rail logistics services, tank container leasing, and maintenance and repair services through its own workshops and new-build facility. VTG serves customers across a wide range of industries, including the chemical and mineral oil industries, as well as the automotive, paper, and consumer goods sectors. Its fleet covers liquid, bulk, and intermodal transport needs. The company operates in 27 countries and employs over 2,100 people, with about 900 of them abroad. VTG's purpose is "Innovating Together for a Green and Connected Europe," reflecting its commitment to decarbonization and the shift of freight transport to rail. VTG's history spans more than seven decades. It originated from parts of the Reich-owned Wirtschaftliche Forschungsgesellschaft (WiFo), founded in 1934, and was established in 1951 to take over tank storage, tank wagon, and tanker shipping operations. It was privatized in 1961 through a sale to Preussag. During nearly 45 years under Preussag (later TUI), VTG focused on wagon leasing and expanded through acquisitions. In 2005, TUI sold VTG to Compagnie Européenne de Wagons (CEW), backed by investors including Wilbur Ross's El Vedado LLC. Subsequent years saw further acquisitions, including the European rail logistics activities of Brambles, the Swiss AAE with 30,000 wagons in 2015, and expansion into the US and China. Ownership changed significantly in the 2010s. Andreas Goer, founder of AAE, became the largest shareholder in 2015, then sold his 29% stake to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure in 2016. By 2018, Morgan Stanley held about 70.6% of VTG's capital. In 2019, the Canadian pension fund OMERS acquired a stake, eventually reaching 27.5%. VTG was delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange following the takeover. Today, VTG continues to pursue its FOCUS strategy, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040 and driving innovation in rail logistics through digital platforms like traigo and New Energies initiatives.

VTG's origins trace back to the Wirtschaftliche Forschungsgesellschaft (WiFo), a Reich-owned company founded in 1934 to establish production and storage facilities for raw materials. In 1951, at the initiative of federal authorities, VTG Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH was founded as a state-owned enterprise, taking over the tank storage, tank wagon, and tanker shipping operations previously run under the WiFo name. The company was privatized in 1961 through a sale to Preussag. During nearly 45 years under the Preussag group, VTG concentrated on wagon leasing but also operated in inland shipping and tank storage after the logistics activities of Lehnkering were merged and the company was renamed VTG-Lehnkering AG in 1998. There was also involvement in the management of offshore supply vessels. Through acquisitions and divestitures, the business was later focused on three divisions: wagon leasing, rail logistics, and tank container logistics. In 2002, Preussag renamed itself TUI, and VTG's activities continued to be expanded. That same year, VTG acquired the European rail logistics activities of the Australian Brambles group, adding around 23,000 wagons to its fleet. In 2004, VTG increased its stake in Transpetrol to 75% (the remainder held by Kühne + Nagel). Also in 2004, the bulk and specialty logistics business was sold and the company was renamed VTG Aktiengesellschaft. In June 2005, TUI sold VTG to Compagnie Européenne de Wagons (CEW), whose shares were majority-held by funds managed by an international investment group around Wilbur Ross's El Vedado LLC. By 2006, VTG had acquired the rail freight wagon and tank container fleets of French Algeco, OMV, Swiss Rexwal Finance, Otto Wolff Railtrans, and the former Swedish Nordwaggon. In 2007, VTG increased its stake in VOTG Tanktainer from 58.4% to 100%. It also acquired the Swiss branch of the former Groupe Caib Auxifer, ETRA Eisenbahn-Transportmittel. In mid-2008, VTG expanded into the Chinese tank container logistics market through a joint venture of its subsidiary VOTG, with COSCO Logistics Beijing acquiring half of the shares in logistics service provider COSCO-Vopak Logistics Shanghai. At the end of July 2008, VTG took over the wagon construction division of the insolvent Graaff Group in Elze. In April 2010, VTG acquired the Rexwal Group with 720 freight wagons, and in July 2010 it acquired an additional 1,100 grain wagons from French rail logistics company TMF, in which it also took a stake. In April 2011, another 300 wagons were acquired from Italian competitor Sogerent. VTG was responding to the improving economic situation after the 2008/9 financial crisis and diversifying its wagon types. In early June 2011, VTG expanded onto the Russian broad-gauge network by acquiring the Finnish Railcraft Oy group with 560 tank wagons. At the end of 2011, VTG doubled its wagon fleet in the US by acquiring SC Rail Leasing America (SCRL) of Collinsville, Illinois, with more than 2,000 wagons. After the acquisition of Texas Railcar Leasing Company (TRLX) with 1,000 wagons in early 2008, the fleet had already doubled by 2010. In 2013, VTG further expanded its rail logistics business in Europe by founding the joint venture VTG Rail Logistics with Kühne+Nagel (K+N), aimed at expanding business toward Russia and the Balkans. K+N sold its 30% stake in VTG effective January 2016. In September 2014, it was announced that VTG would acquire the Swiss AAE with 30,000 freight wagons. The acquisition, financed by a 34% capital increase, was completed in early January 2015. The new shares were taken over by AAE founder Andreas Goer, who thus became the largest shareholder with 29%. Goer sold this 29% stake in VTG's share capital to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure in 2016, making it the largest shareholder ahead of Kühne Holding (20%) and Joachim Herz Stiftung (10%). By acquiring Kühne's shares in July 2018, Morgan Stanley's stake reached nearly 50%. The subsequent takeover offer by Warwick Holding, a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, at 53 euros per share in July 2018 was not recommended for acceptance by VTG's management due to insufficient value. Nevertheless, after the offer and the end of the additional acceptance period in December 2018, Morgan Stanley held a total of 70.6% of the capital. In 2019, the Canadian pension fund Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) acquired an initial 25% stake in VTG from Morgan Stanley, increased to 27.5% by 2022. At the end of June 2022, it was announced that the shares previously held by Joachim Herz Stiftung (last 15%) as well as all shares held by the Morgan Stanley subsidiary were to be sold. VTG continues to operate as a private company, focusing on its FOCUS strategy and aiming for climate neutrality by 2040.

• 2022

  OMERS stake increased to 27.5%; Joachim Herz Stiftung and Morgan Stanley subsidiary shares to be sold.

• 2019

  OMERS acquires initial 25% stake from Morgan Stanley.

• 2018

  Morgan Stanley's stake reaches ~70.6% after acquiring Kühne shares and takeover offer.

• 2016

  Andreas Goer sells 29% stake to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure; K+N sells 30% stake in VTG Rail Logistics.

• 2015

  Acquisition of Swiss AAE with 30,000 freight wagons completed.

• 2013

  Joint venture VTG Rail Logistics founded with Kühne+Nagel.

• 2011

  Acquisition of 300 wagons from Sogerent; expansion onto Russian broad-gauge network via Railcraft Oy; US fleet doubled via SCRL.

• 2010

  Acquisition of Rexwal Group (720 wagons) and 1,100 grain wagons from TMF.

• 2008

  Expansion into Chinese tank container logistics; acquisition of Graaff Group's wagon construction division.

• 2007

  Stake in VOTG Tanktainer increased from 58.4% to 100%; ETRA acquired.

• 2006

  Acquisitions of rail freight wagon and tank container fleets from Algeco, OMV, Rexwal Finance, Otto Wolff Railtrans, and Nordwaggon.

• 2005

  TUI sells VTG to Compagnie Européenne de Wagons (CEW).

• 2004

  VTG increases stake in Transpetrol to 75%; bulk and specialty logistics sold; renamed VTG Aktiengesellschaft.

• 2002

  Preussag renamed TUI; VTG acquires European rail logistics activities of Brambles, adding ~23,000 wagons.

• 1998

  Logistics activities of Lehnkering merged; company renamed VTG-Lehnkering AG.

• 1961

  VTG privatized through sale to Preussag.

• 1951

  VTG Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH founded as a state-owned enterprise.

• 1934

  Wirtschaftliche Forschungsgesellschaft (WiFo) founded as a Reich-owned company.

Europe's leading rail logistics company, focused on sustainability, innovation, and customer-centric solutions.

• Freight wagon leasing

  Leasing of liquid, bulk, and intermodal freight wagons across Europe.

• Rail logistics

  Comprehensive rail logistics services ensuring and optimizing fleet utilization.

• Tank container leasing

  Leasing of tank containers for chemical and mineral oil industries.

• Maintenance and workshops

  Own workshops and new-build facility to increase wagon availability and quality.

• traigo

  Digital platform for fleet tracking, information, and documents.

• New Energies

  Modular, immediately available CO2 solutions for rail.

• 2021-08-25

  VTG acquires ASSETT[7]VTG收购ASSETTprnewswire.com

  Reported: 2021-08-25

  VTG announced its acquisition of ASSETT, adding ASSETT's undersea warfare and unmanned systems capabilities to VTG's portfolio.

• 2021-01-14

  VTG announces acquisition of Intelligent Shift[8]VTG宣布收购Intelligent Shiftprnewswire.com

  Reported: 2021-01-14

  VTG announced its acquisition of Intelligent Shift LLC, a firm providing technology and digital solutions to the U.S. Intelligence Community. VTG said the combination would bolster its capabilities and expand its presence in the national security market.

1. 1VTG – Führend im europäischen Schienengüterverkehrvtg.de
2. 2Über VTG – Seit 75 Jahren führend auf der Schienevtg.de
3. 3Zertifizierungen bei VTG | Qualität, Sicherheit & Nachhaltigkeitvtg.de
4. 4Unternehmensstrategie FOCUS | VTGvtg.de
5. 5VTG (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6VTG – Wikidatawikidata.org
7. 7VTG收购ASSETTprnewswire.com
8. 8VTG宣布收购Intelligent Shiftprnewswire.com