South African logistics group enters heavy equipment rentals

South African logistics, vehicle rental and car dealership business Super Group has acquired 70% the DIG Group for R448 million (€23.5 million).

DIG, founded in Johannesburg in 2002, is a plant and equipment rental business in South Africa operating in 19 mining sites and comprising DIG Earthmoving, DIG Plant Hire, DIG Mining and DIG Civils.

DIG’s owner, Dugald Watson, will retain a 30% share of the business and its management team will remain in the businesses.

Super group is adding construction and mining equipment to its existing car and vehicle rental and leasing business.

Super Group said the deal would expand its Fleet Solutions business, giving it a new market area, with established OEM relationships, a modern leet and strategically located facilities.

Super is a R44.5 billion (€2.3 billion) revenue business active in logistics in southern Africa, the UK and Europe, car dealerships in the UK and Africa, and also vehicle rentals and leasing in southern Africa.

DIG’s rental fleet includes 20 to 120 tonne excavators, Cat dozers from the D6 to D11, graders, articulated and rigid dump trucks, water tankers and wheeled loaders.

Super Group’s business is dominated by supply chain transport services in South Africa, while its Ford car dealerships in the UK is its second largest activity. It owns the AMCO and Ader transport and logistics businesses in the UK and Spain.

Its Fleet Africa business rents and manages trucks and other vehicles in South Africa, Botswana and Kenya.