Mon 17 Dec 2012, 15:33 GMT

WFS to acquire Multi Service Corp. assets


World Fuel Services in agreement to buy assets for around $137 million.



World Fuel Services Corporation announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire select assets of Multi Service Corporation for a purchase price of approximately $137 million.

Multi Service is a global transaction management company specializing in fleet, government and commercial payment programmes primarily through closed-loop networks. The purchase price will be principally funded through the company’s existing credit facilities.

Multi Service is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas and has 360 employees. The company processes more than eight million transactions annually and has offices in the Netherlands and Australia.

The Multi Service product offering includes the Multi Service Fuel Card, accepted at more than 3,500 truck stops in the United States and Canada, Multi Service Tolls, payment solutions for tolls, bridges and tunnels across Europe, government payment systems for global fuel procurement, and commercial payment programs in the transportation and retail industries.

"We look forward to welcoming the Multi Service team to World Fuel,” stated Michael J. Kasbar, president and chief executive officer of World Fuel Services Corporation. “Multi Service will significantly expand our existing payment processing business and will further help us leverage technology across our global platform."

"We are excited to be joining a company with the reputation and financial strength of World Fuel. The ability to leverage World Fuel’s global capabilities and presence should accelerate our growth opportunities throughout the world," stated Mark O’Connell, president of Multi Service.

The transaction is expected to be $0.12 to $0.16 accretive to earnings on a GAAP basis in the first twelve months. Non-GAAP accretion, which excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets of approximately $0.04 per share, is expected to be $0.16 to $0.20 in the first twelve months. In conjunction with this acquisition, the company will record one-time transaction-related expenses of approximately $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

"Multi Service is expected to produce positive cash flow of $15 to $20 million in 2013,” said Ira M. Birns, executive vice president and chief financial officer of World Fuel Services Corporation. “The addition of the Multi Service platform, which will principally be reported as part of our land segment, will create expanded growth opportunities across all of our businesses."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed within the next thirty days.


Illustration of balance scale with cargo ship and penalty block. FuelEU penalties spark contract disputes as first-year compliance costs emerge  

Shipowners and charterers negotiate biofuel handling, payment timing, and multiplier penalties under new regulations.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Singapore tops first global container port ranking by DNV and Menon Economics  

The port leads across all five assessment pillars in inaugural industry report.

Jack Spyros Pringle, Lloyd’s Register. Marine fuel procurement becomes strategic imperative as regulatory pressures mount: LR  

Operators must adopt comprehensive fuel strategies amid supply constraints and compliance costs, says Lloyd's Register.

Xinfu124 ultra-large LNG carrier. Private Chinese shipbuilder plans to deliver eight dual-fuel boxships  

Yangzi Xinfu is fully booked until May 2029 and expected to post annual sales revenue exceeding $1.4 billion.

Østensjø Rederi newbuild tug render. Østensjø Rederi orders methanol-ready tug from Spanish shipyard  

Norwegian operator contracts Astilleros Gondán for vessel with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system.

Bound4blue worker in safety gear. Bound4blue establishes China production base for wind propulsion systems  

Spanish wind propulsion firm targets Asian shipbuilding market with outsourced manufacturing network.

Alfa Laval and Hanwha Ocean Ecotech sign MoU. Alfa Laval and Hanwha Ocean Ecotech partner on ammonia fuel systems  

Collaboration aims to develop ammonia fuel technology for dual-fuel vessels in the Asian market.

Meg Dowling, Lloyd's Register. Nuclear-powered boxships could deliver $68m annual savings: Lloyd's Register  

Small modular reactors could eliminate fuel costs and carbon penalties while boosting cargo capacity, says report.

Minerva Bunkering and Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas (APLP) signing ceremony. Minerva Bunkering extends Las Palmas terminal concession by 15 years  

Bunker supplier adds barge capacity and explores new terminal for energy transition fuels.

Liam Blackmore, Lloyd's Register. Ammonia Energy Association releases gas detection whitepaper with Lloyd's Register input  

Lloyd's Register contributed expertise to new guidance on ammonia detection systems for the maritime sector.





 Recommended