Partner search of SBB Cargo enters crucial stage
The search of SBB AG (Swiss railway company) for a strategic partner for the cargo division (SBB Cargo) enters into the crucial stage. Before the end of this year a decision shall be made, as the Management Board announced at the presentation of the annual report 2008. The circle of candidates for a strategic partnership was limited to 7 interested parties and two solution options. The first model offers the option for a tight partnership combined with a minority-holding in SBB Cargo to the two big railway enterprises DB and SNCF. In the framework of such a holding model the possibility for additional cooperations with five more potential partners is being examined. “Because of the tight connection of international and national traffics and the logistics demands of the market, a holding-partnership at the integrated SSB Cargo connected to a European network is recommendable from an entrepreneurial point of view.“ This was the statement of the SBB headquarters. SBB does not consider a holding solution unless it assures a more successful future on the long term than the individual independent operation of the SBB Cargo division. Therefore this option will also be further pursued. Also in the framework of the independent continuation of the cargo business possible selective cooperation solutions with partners in national and international operations are being examined. SBB Cargo is currently being restructured. In the financial year 2008 the enterprise showed a turnover of CHF 1.01 billion and a result of minus CHF 29.9 million. Transport performance dropped 6.3 per cent to 12.5 billion ton kilometres due to the withdrawal from profitless national and international business activities. Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung |