Volkswagen Truck & Bus inks strategic alliance with Navistar

Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH and Navistar International Corporation, the US-based commercial vehicle manufacturer, have formed a far-reaching alliance that includes framework agreements for a strategic technology and supply cooperation and a procurement joint venture. Volkswagen Truck & Bus will furthermore acquire a 16.6% equity stake in Navistar through a primary share issuance.

With the completion of this transaction, Volkswagen Truck & Bus, which includes the brands MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, will gain access to the key North American market, where it was not previously represented. Andreas Renschler, CEO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus and member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for commercial vehicles, said: "Closer collaboration among our existing brands was a top priority for our commercial vehicles business and we are well on track in this context. We are now taking the next step on our way to becoming a global champion in the commercial vehicles industry. The strategic alliance with Navistar is an important milestone and will be very beneficial for both sides."

"We are very pleased to partner with a global leader who shares our view of the world, in an alliance that will deliver multiple benefits and is consistent with our open-integration strategy," said Troy Clarke, president and CEO of Navistar. "Starting in the near term, this alliance will benefit our purchasing operations through global scope and scale. Over the longer term, it is intended to expand the technology options we are able to offer our customers by leveraging the best of both companies and enabling Navistar to deliver enhanced uptime. Volkswagen Truck & Bus's equity investment will strengthen our liquidity position and expand our financial flexibility, while aligning us with a valuable strategic partner."

Volkswagen Truck & Bus will purchase from Navistar newly issued common shares representing, pro forma for such issuance, a 16.6% stake in Navistar for a price per share of $15.76 and an aggregate purchase price of approximately $256 million. In connection with this investment, Volkswagen Truck & Bus will be represented on Navistar's Board of Directors. In addition, both companies have agreed to collaborate closely.

Matthias Gründler, CFO of Volkswagen Truck & Bus, said: "Our collaboration, especially with regard to the powertrain, will considerably increase our synergy potential. Navistar will be able to profit from excellent powertrain technologies and we, in turn, will benefit from significantly higher volumes. Initiating this strategic alliance now will enable us to implement the requirements of Navistar into our joint component platforms from the get-go."

With the strategic technology and supply cooperation, Volkswagen Truck & Bus will become one of Navistar's most important technology partners. While the partnership will focus on common powertrain systems, it will also enable collaboration in many aspects of future commercial vehicle development. Additionally, Volkswagen Truck & Bus and Navistar have agreed to establish a procurement joint venture that will pursue joint global sourcing opportunities.