Europe’s largest rental company, France-based Loxam entered the Scandinavian rental market for the first time last week with the acquisition of DNE Materieludlejning and JJ Maskinudlejning, Denmark’s largest equipment rental company. Formerly two separate companies, DNE/JJ combined operations earlier this year.
DNE/JJ has a network of 17 locations and a fleet of more than 15,000 machines. Pro forma volume in 2006 of the companies was about €58 million (about U.S. $80 million).
“After having consolidated its domestic market, Loxam currently develops a European platform, which includes Scandinavia,” said Gerard Deprez, president and general director of the Loxam Group. “DNE/JJ will fit easily in our network and our organization, being given its geographical position and its range of equipment. We are delighted by the prospect of working with a management team in place.”
Deprez said after the acquisition of DNE/JJ, Loxam will have more than 4,000 employees and 550 locations.
“The [acquisition] of DNE/JJ by Loxam brings many advantages at the same time for our customers and our employees,” said DNE chairman Ole Staxen. “Synergies between DNE/JJ and Loxam will reinforce our competitive advantage and our capacity to develop our national network, and, in the future, abroad. By choosing Loxam, we wished to belong to the biggest equipment rental company in Europe.”
Loxam currently has locations in Spain, France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Denmark.
