North American, Allied Finish Merger

North American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines completed a $450 million merger to create the world’s largest household goods mover.

A new holding company, known as Allied Worldwide, will operate in 36 countries with more than 1,100 agents and expects to have annual revenue of more than $2 billion. The company will operate North American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines in the United States and Canada; Pickfords in the United Kingdom; and Allied Pickfords in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Jim Rogers, a principal with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in New York, will serve as chairman of Allied Worldwide, and former NAVL President R. Barry Uber will serve as president and chief executive officer. Jeffrey Kaczka, chief financial officer at NAVL, will have the same job at Allied Worldwide, and Michael Fergus, president of Allied Van Lines, will serve as president of the Allied’s worldwide van line network.

"We will bring together the best practices of both organizations to set a new industry standard that will benefit our network of agents and drivers, and of course, our collective customers," Rogers said in a statement.

A fund managed by CD&R purchased NAVL form Norfolk Southern Corp. in March 1998 and will own about 73% of the stock of Allied Worldwide. Allied’s former parent, NFC plc of London, will own about 20%, and management and agents will own the remaining 7%.

Allied Worldwide will be based in Fort Wayne, Ind., and maintain executive offices in Naperville, Ill., London and Melbourne, Australia.