Downer to Sell its Freight Rail Business to Progress Rail
Page 1 of 2
Media/ASX and NZX Release
21 November 2017
DOWNER TO SELL ITS FREIGHT RAIL BUSINESS TO PROGRESS RAIL
Downer EDI Limited (Downer) announced today it had entered an agreement to sell its freight rail
business to Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company and the world's leading manufacturer of diesel-
electric locomotives, for $109 million.
The sale includes:
customer contracts;
facilities located at Malaga, Port Augusta and Clyde as well as other licensed facilities; and
associated assets and liabilities.
Around 360 people currently employed by Downer are expected to transfer to Progress Rail as part
of the transaction.
Downer and Progress Rail have worked together for almost seven decades supplying and
maintaining locomotives in Australia and the two companies will maintain an ongoing relationship
in Australia.
The sale of the freight rail business to Progress Rail is subject to the satisfaction of Conditions
Precedent and is scheduled to be completed in January 2018. As a result of the transaction,
Downer will book a non-cash write down of $40 million relating to Freight Rail goodwill and legacy
assets.
Downer’s Rail division will have more than $8 billion of work-in-hand after the divestment of the
freight rail business and the division remains on track to achieve its underlying full year earnings
target despite no contribution from freight in the second half of the financial year.
The Chief Executive Officer of Downer, Grant Fenn, said Downer’s Rail business is very well
placed to drive reliable and safe services to the fast growing, dynamic public transport sector. New
opportunities include Parramatta Light Rail and a new regional fleet in New South Wales to replace
the ageing XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains.
“Downer is Australia's leading provider of passenger rolling stock asset management services,” Mr
Fenn said.
“The Waratah trains have established themselves as the best performing trains in Australia and we
have formed a valuable strategic relationship with our Chinese partner, CRRC Changchun Railway
Vehicles. We are currently working with CRRC to deliver more high quality passenger trains in
Sydney, through the Sydney Growth Trains project, and Melbourne, through the High Capacity
Metro Trains project.
Downer EDI Limited
ABN 97 003 872 848
Triniti Business Campus
39 Delhi Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
1800 DOWNER
www.downergroup.com
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“Our investment and focus on innovation through digital and data solutions will be the platform for
improved performance for our customers.”
Downer’s passenger rail business comprises:
long term Through Life Support (TLS) maintenance contracts;
project management services;
digital and data solutions; and
public transport operations.
The TLS contracts include maintenance of the Millennium trains for another ten years, the Waratah
trains for another 26 years, the Sydney Growth Trains fleet for 25 years, and the High Capacity
Metro Trains for 30 years. In addition, the Downer Bombardier joint venture will maintain the
Western Australian Public Transport Authority's "A" and "B" fleets until 2026.
Downer’s public transport operations include the Keolis Downer joint venture, which is Australia’s
largest private provider of multi-modal public transport. Keolis Downer is the largest light rail
operator in Australia, operating the Yarra Trams franchise in Melbourne and G:Link on the Gold
Coast. Keolis Downer also operates Newcastle’s integrated transport system and is one of
Australia’s most significant bus operators with operations in Western Australia, New South Wales,
South Australia and Queensland. Overall, Keolis Downer provides more than 210 million
passenger trips each year.
The President and CEO of Progress Rail, and Senior Vice President of Caterpillar Inc., Billy
Ainsworth said: “This acquisition allows Progress Rail to directly serve rail customers in Australia
with best-in-class products and services. It also reinforces Progress Rail’s commitment to the rail
industry.”
Downer has advised previously that it is conducting a review of Spotless’ business planning,
budgeting and target setting process. Downer will provide the market with an update on guidance
for the entire Downer Group, including Spotless, on 27 November.
About Downer
Downer EDI Limited (Downer) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and the New Zealand Stock
Exchange. Downer also owns 88% of Spotless Group Holdings Limited. Downer employs over 56,000
people across more than 300 sites, primarily in Australia and New Zealand but also in the Asia-Pacific
region, South America and Southern Africa. We build strong relationships of trust with our customers, truly
understanding and predicting their needs and bringing them world leading insights and solutions. For more
on Downer, visit: www.downergroup.com.
For further information please contact:
Michael Sharp, Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations +61 439 470 145
Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.
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