Ryder Acquires Commercial Truck Leasing, Rental and Maintenance Portfolio of B.I.T. Leasing in San Francisco Bay Area

Apr 5, 2011

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in transportation and supply chain management solutions, today announced it has completed the acquisition of the lease, rental and maintenance portfolio of B.I.T. Leasing Inc. (BIT), a privately owned, 58-year-old full service truck leasing and fleet services company headquartered in Hayward, California. The acquisition was completed in two phases; the first phase completed in August 2010 and the final phase completed in March 2011.

The acquisition is expected to add approximately $9 million in annualized operating revenue to Ryder’s Fleet Management Solutions business segment and be accretive to earnings in 2011. Ryder anticipates additional earnings in future years due to synergies and operational improvement within the combined organizations.

Ryder acquired BIT’s fleet of approximately 364 full service lease, 121 rental, and 72 contract maintenance units serving 131 contract customers from BIT’s service locations in Rohnert Park, Hayward, San Jose, and Watsonville. Ryder began operation at BIT’s former Rohnert Park location in December. Customers who were being serviced from BIT’s former locations in Hayward, San Jose, and Watsonville will now be served by one of Ryder’s six existing locations in the Bay area. BIT’s existing dealership business will continue to operate as Bayshore International Trucks, Inc.

“BIT is a well-managed, quality transportation service provider with a very solid reputation in the San Francisco Bay area,” said Ryder Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Greg Swienton. “We are pleased to be able to welcome new quality customers to Ryder’s Fleet Management business in the western U.S. We look forward to providing them with continuing high levels of personalized service, and additional services and solutions for which Ryder is recognized in the industry.”

“Ryder has been a reputable market leader for nearly eight decades supporting more than 15,000 customers,” said Craig Peterson, President and CEO of Bayshore International Trucks. “Since the completion of phase one in August, Ryder has done an outstanding job servicing customers, which gives me great confidence in their ability to continue providing outstanding service to our remaining lease customers. I am also pleased that Ryder will be able to provide BIT’s customers with new resources and increased product offerings, including insurance and fuel, which will help them grow in the competitive marketplace.”

About Ryder

Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions company. Ryder’s stock (NYSE: R) is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Ryder as the top third party logistics provider and Security magazine has named Ryder one of the top companies for security practices in the transportation, logistics, supply chain, and warehousing sector. Ryder is a proud member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. For more information on Ryder System, Inc., visit www.ryder.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements and information included in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to statements concerning the anticipated impact of the acquisition on our business operations, future revenue and earnings and our integration plans relating to services and customers. These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be evaluated with consideration given to the many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including our ability to integrate the acquisition as projected, achieve planned synergies and retain customer levels, as well as those risks set forth in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on our business. Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

Source: Ryder System, Inc.