Strategic business consulting for the railway and logistics industry

SCI Verkehr is a medium-sized, sustainability-oriented consultancy focussing on strategic issues in the international rail and logistics business. We support our business partners in optimising their processes and evaluating their assets. We help to analyse markets and develop sustainable and tailor-made strategies for the future. This includes, among other things: Accompanying M&A activities, realising climate targets, optimising the portfolio or existing processes, and opening up new markets and business areas.

Strategic Management Consultancy Examples

VDD Support Rolling Stock Lessor

Customer:

SCI Verkehr supported the sales process of a rail vehicle leasing company, and prepared a comprehensive market and valuation report. For this purpose, SCI Verkehr forecasted the development of future transport markets and the demand for rail vehicle leasing. In addition, the DCF valuation method was applied.

Supporting outsourcing planning

Customer: Luxury foods manufacturer

A leading company in the luxury foods industry is planning to reorganise its distribution process, which it has performed itself with its own sites and vehicles up to now. The company now intends to contract these services to a logistics service provider (outsourcing). SCI Verkehr is checking the concept put together by the customer internally for plausibility and is giving useful advice for the further negotiations with the service provider.

Market Analyses Examples

eLogistics Study

Customer: eLogistics company network

Compilation of a study regarding current developments and characteristics of eLogistics in Germany and Europe.

Market analysis of fare management and dynamic passenger information

Customer: Private sector

Modern fare management and passenger information systems are becoming ever more important as a result of increasing competition between public transport operators, rising passenger demands and substitution pressure from individual transport. SCI Verkehr examined the technologies of the future as well as the future development and drivers of the market.

Strategical analysis of the freight wagon market in Ukraine

Customer: Leasing company

In order to prepare the decision of an investor, SCI Verkehr analysed advantages as well as disadvantages of two main opportunities in the Ukrainian market: Selling a freight wagon fleet or, on the other hand, continuing operations of a leasing company. For this analysis, SCI Verkehr applies a tried and tested methodology for calculating market value of the fleet as well as a forecast for the perspective development of rail freight transport in Ukraine.

Asset Valuations Examples

Valuation of used shunting locomotives

Customer: Leasing company

For a leasing company, SCI Verkehr valued a fleet of used shunting locomotives to be included in the leasing portfolio. SCI Verkehr valued the locomotives using the income-based DCF methodology.

Vehicle evaluation: electric locomotives in Germany

Customer:

SCI Verkehr supported a private investor with the valuation of modern electric locomotives in the German market. The valuation was carried out using the replacement costs method.

Valuation of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) fleets

Customer: Leasing company

In the context of funding rolling stock, SCI Verkehr assesses the fair value of two electric multiple unit (EMU) fleets in Europe. The DCF method, which includes assessing current and expected future revenues, is applied here. Therefore, options of redeployment are analysed in detail, taking into consideration expected tenders and vehicle requirements.

Public Consulting Examples

Development of employment statistics in the logistics sector 2001-2003

Customer: last mile logistik netzwerk gmbh

Study of the development of logistics employment statistics in the network region of last-mile-logistik in comparison with the surrounding area, the Ruhr area, North Rhine Westphalia and Germany. The study looked at the employment levels both in the core sector of the logistics industry (transport, handling, warehousing) and also at the development of manning statistics in other industry and trade companies with logistic activities.

Profitability audit LRV procurement

Customer: Transport authority

SCI Verkehr evaluated the economic feasibility of the selected bids for a transport authority in the context of a procurement of new light rail vehicles (LRV). To this end, SCI Verkehr evaluated the tender documents and carried out a price benchmark to determine market prices for LRV.

Logistics Report NEW.S

Customer: Social partner project NEW.S

Compilation of a logistics report for the food industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. Analysis and weaknesses assessment of the logistics chains in the food industry. Compilation of measures for optimizing the supply chain ability of the sector and individual companies.

Profitability Analyses Examples

Price analysis of locomotives on the basis of indexing

Customer: Lessor

SCI Verkehr has analyzed the development of locomotive prices from order to delivery. In particular, existing contractual provisions on the indexation of purchase prices were taken into account.

Market value analysis freight wagons

Customer: Freight wagon manufacturer

SCI Verkehr advises a manufacturer of innovative freight wagons on the acquisition of financing models with the analysis of potential market value trends.

Commercial due diligence of an European Rail Freight Operator

Customer: Infrastructure fund

SCI Verkehr supported a potential investor with the analysis of a rail freight operator active in the intermodal segment. SCI Verkehr developed an outside-in business plan based on public information as well as in-house expertise about this business. SCI Verkehr provided detailed assumptions and parameters for three business divisions: container transport (rail and road), intermodal terminal operations (internal and external) as well as fleet management (locomotive and freight wagons)

Process optimisations Examples

Circle Line / Public-Private-Partnership in public rail transport

Customer: Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr AöR (Transportation authority)

"Circle Line" is the first rail transport project in Germany to be realised primarily as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). In a consortium comprising DEPFA BANK, the law firm Kapellmann und Partner and the engineering office Vössing GmbH, SCI Verkehr is subjecting the plans to a "PPP suitability test" and preparing the realisation of the first construction phase up to the tendering procedure. SCI Verkehr is carrying out the project management and market research as well as addressing potential interested parties.

Supporting the restructuring of a leading European rail freight company

Customer: European rail freight company

A leading European rail freight company has to reorganize itself completely in terms of profitability, efficiency and reliability. SCI Verkehr was commissioned to support the restructuring process actively and to bring in expertise in railway operation, processes and strategy. Focus is also put on close involvement in terms of co-determination.

Coordination of offer drafting for an SPNV- tender

Customer: Transport company

SCI is accompanying the drafting of an offer in the context of an SPNV-route tender for an expanding transport company. Consultation on project coordination and support for the development of a general organizational, structural and operational model for future tenders are a part of the project. In addition, SCI Verkehr has elaborated the marketing and personnel structures as well as elements of the business concept.