Schenker, the transport and logistics unit of Deutsche Bahn,which last year took over Romtrans shipping company for around 90meuros, has finalised the first stage of the merger throughabsorption of the Romanian company and set up Schenker Romtransfirm, due to manage a business of above 100m euros inRomania.
"I can effectively say we've merged. The people of the twocompanies are now working together, and departments have beenunified. This integration needs now to also be concluded from alegal point of view. We must follow some bureaucratic steps and byJanuary 2010 the merger will be legally finalised," stated AlbinBudinsky, who is going to take over the position of CEO at the timeintegration operations are concluded.
In the following period, Romtrans will be absorbed by SchenkerRomtrans and will legally disappear, according to him.
Thus, Albin Budinsky, 44, who arrived in Romania in 1997 and hasbeen general manager of Schenker's domestic unit starting 2001,will run a business worth above 100m euros.
Schenker Romania last year generated turnover worth almost 35meuros, while Romtrans registered 76.2m euros, according to thecompany's representatives. More than 99% in Romtrans, previously inthe hands of the management and employees, more than 1,000shareholders in all, were bought by Schenker last year. "This yearis more difficult for freight transportation and I expect turnoverto drop by 31-32% for both companies by yearend," Budinskysaid.
One of the steps he has taken this year was to restructurepersonnel. In the first quarter, Romtrans had 1,197 employees,compared with 1,372 in the same period of last year, according tocompany data.
"The crisis has forced us, like any other company, to also look atpersonnel. We started a restructuring process that will probablycontinue next year. I cannot say how many employees were maderedundant. We're trying to fight the crisis and layoffs were areaction to it," Budinsky specified.
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