Forwarding firms Caspol and Trans-Paged plan to merge

Freight and forwarding company Caspol, part of the Yawal financial group, is to acquire its rival Trans-Paged in an effort to raise its book value prior to an imminent takeover by a strategic foreign investor. Three companies are on the shortlist to bid for a strategic stake, including one German and one U.S. company. Although the U.S. company has made the best financial offer, because it specializes in all areas of the business except for land freight and forwarding, it is not viewed as an attractive partner for Caspol in terms of strategy. According to Caspol president Mariusz Spyra, the combination of the sea forwarder Trans-Paged and the logistical sophistication of Caspol, coupled with the financial muscle of a western investor, would make the new entity even more robust on the Nordic-Polish route on which it serves paper imports. Caspol envisages revenues of zl. 43.94 million at the end of the year, zl. 2.97 million of which would be net earnings. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 13) S.M.