Supply chain services, infrastructure, and innovation company Agility have finalized its acquisition of UK-based John Menzies.
Agility will combine the business with its National Aviation Services (NAS) business which, once integrated, will operate as Menzies Aviation. It will be the world’s largest aviation services company by a number of countries and the second largest by the number of airports served.
The combined company will provide air cargo services, fuel services, and ground services at airports on six continents. The combined revenues of Menzies and NAS exceeded US$1.5 billion in 2021. The new company will have approximately 35,000 employees and operations at 254 airports in 58 countries, handling 600k aircraft turns, two million tonnes of air cargo, and 2.5 million fuelling turns per year.
“Menzies and NAS will create the world leader in aviation services,” proclaimed Hassan El-Houry, who becomes chairman of the combined company, having previously held the role of NAS CEO. “We will have the scale and resources to expand and grow as the industry recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Commercial aviation is a key engine of global economic growth, and our customers need partners they can count on as flight volumes return.”
The company’s customers will include Air Canada, Air China, Air France-KLM, America Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, EasyJet, Emirates, Ethiopian, FlyDubai, Frontier Airlines, IAG, Jazeera, Qantas Group, Qatar Airways, Southwest, Turkish, United Airlines, WestJet and Wizz Air.
Menzies Aviation’s CEO Philipp Joeinig commented: “With the combination of Menzies and NAS, our customers will receive world-class service, expanded product offerings, and the industry’s best safety practices at airports on six continents. Agility’s backing gives us the resources to provide innovative solutions for growing and forward-thinking customers and to develop our talent, technology, and sustainability; critical factors for our future success. It also means we are well-positioned to support our customers in tackling supply chain challenges and labour shortages.”
Agility’s vice chairman Tarek Sultan said: “This is a new chapter for Agility, Menzies, and NAS. By acquiring Menzies and combining it with NAS, Agility has the opportunity to unlock greater value in both. Agility has a strong track record of sustainable and responsible growth over the last two decades, driven both organically and through mergers and acquisitions, and this latest deal is part of our strategy to further accelerate that growth. For Agility, this deal creates the largest owned and operated – ‘controlled’ – business in Agility’s portfolio by revenue, headcount, and global presence. We’re looking forward to seeing the new Menzies soar with Agility’s backing.”
The boards of Agility and Menzies reached an agreement on 30 March on Agility’s cash offer to acquire 100 percent of Menzies ordinary shares, which traded on the London Stock Exchange, for 608 pence a share. The deal values Menzies at approximately £571 million on a fully diluted basis and approximately £763 million on an enterprise value basis.
