Who wants Ryder UK?
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• Industry analysts are uncertain about who will want to buy Ryder UK after its American parent announced the sale of the business last week. Ryder says bidding is well underway for the UK contract hire, truck rental and distribution operation, but analysts are sceptical that a buyer will be found as quickly as the company hopes.
"The likes of NFC won't be interested," says one. "They're also getting out of assets and into pure logistics. Even TDGalways the last resort if you have something to sell—will steer clear."
Dedicated contract hire/rental coevanies, such as Lex or VolVo's BRS, are being mooted, and other truck manufacturers are "a good bet". However, another analyst says: "A big finance firm like GE Capital might still be attracted to a good lease book, but it's a very flat sector at the moment."
Ryder "anticipates a cash sale, probably in the third quarter of 1998" for the £239mturnover business. A spokesman adds that the company is not turning its back on the UK. It is keeping its UK-based "integrated intercontinental logistics" business, which includes contracts with Hewlett Packard.