Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Press releases are provided by companies as is and have not been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the company issuing the release.

Ontario Teachers’ reaches agreement to sell equity stake in SeaCube Container Leasing to Wren House

Ontario Teachers’ Reaches Agreement to Sell Equity Stake in SeaCube Container Leasing Ltd. to Wren House

Ontario Teachers’ reaches agreement to sell equity stake in SeaCube Container Leasing to Wren House

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers’) today announced that Wren House Infrastructure Management Limited (Wren House), a global infrastructure investment manager, has agreed to purchase an equity stake in SeaCube Container Leasing Ltd. Ontario Teachers’ took the company private in 2013. Under the terms of the deal, Ontario Teachers’ and Wren House will operate under a co-control structure of the container leasing company.

SeaCube Container Leasing is one of the largest operating lessors of intermodal containers in the world. The company provides best-in-class equipment solutions and has taken a forward-looking approach by investing in sustainable solutions to help customers reduce their carbon footprints. Additionally, SeaCube has played a leading role in driving growth across the global containerized trade industry.


Philippe Busslinger, CEO of Wren House, said: “We are excited to partner with SeaCube’s exceptional management team and Ontario Teachers’ to accelerate the Company’s growth plans. As SeaCube’s global clients seek to increase efficiency, reliability and reduce their carbon footprint, SeaCube is best positioned as their partner of choice to meet their growing demand and expectations for intermodal transport. This investment fits Wren House’s strategy of building a global and resilient infrastructure portfolio with outstanding management teams and aligned partners.”

Bob Sappio, Chief Executive Officer, SeaCube Container Leasing, said: “We’ve had the privilege of having Ontario Teachers’ as an extension of our internal team and are grateful for how they’ve supported our strategic growth ambitions. Over the past few years, SeaCube has been the largest purchaser of refrigerated containers for the industry. We see tremendous upside potential for our industry and look forward to continuing to partner with Ontario Teachers’ and having the opportunity to work alongside the Wren House team as well – a company with deep expertise in the container leasing sector.”

Jeff Markusson, Senior Managing Director, Financial Services, Ontario Teachers’, said: “SeaCube is an attractive business with a strong, proven management team. Over the past decade, we have been delighted to support Bob Sappio and his team as they have re-focused the strategic direction of the company towards refrigerated equipment and the cold chain among other strategic initiatives. We see strong demand in the business – driven, largely, by increased trade volumes for perishable goods – and are excited at this opportunity to partner with Wren House and leverage their global expertise and fresh perspectives to help accelerate SeaCube’s growth.”

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and TD Securities served as financial advisors to Wren House in connection with the transaction, and Latham & Watkins LLP and Sidley Austin LLP served as its legal advisors.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Ontario Teachers’, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, and Linklaters LLP served as its legal advisors.

About Ontario Teachers’

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (Ontario Teachers’) is a global investor with net assets of $249.8 billion as at June 30, 2023. We invest in more than 50 countries in a broad array of assets including public and private equities, fixed income, credit, commodities, natural resources, infrastructure, real estate and venture growth to deliver retirement income for 336,000 working members and pensioners.

With offices in Toronto, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai and San Francisco, our more than 400 investment professionals bring deep expertise in a broad range of sectors and industries. We are a fully funded defined benefit pension plan and have earned an annual total-fund net return of 9.4% since the plan’s founding in 1990. At Ontario Teachers’, we don’t just invest to make a return, we invest to shape a better future for the teachers we serve, the businesses we back, and the world we live in. For more information, visit otpp.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Wren House

Wren House is a global infrastructure investment manager, with a core and core plus mandate and a strong focus on North America and Europe. We focus on delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns across private equity and structured solutions through a disciplined investment approach over a long-term horizon, and responsible active asset management. We believe in partnership and alignment between our team, our co-investors, and our management teams. We work closely with these partners to bring a differentiated, innovative investment approach and to drive value creation. Our portfolio has included investments in airports, ports, water, energy generation (conventional and renewables), electricity distribution and transmission, social and digital infrastructure across the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Central and South America. Wren House is based in London, with an office in New York.

Further information on Wren House and its portfolio is available at: https://whinfra.com

About SeaCube Container Leasing

SeaCube is one of the largest purchasers and lessors of refrigerated containers in the world and is committed to investing in technologically advanced and innovative equipment solutions that safeguard cargo, improve service reliability, and help its clients reduce their carbon footprints while increasing profitability. SeaCube pairs its differentiated offering with an experienced team of industry professionals to create customized financing programs, provide premier customer support, and deliver added value. For more information, visit https://seacubecontainers.com

The Latest

More Stories

KUKA to Showcase Cobots for Medical Applications at AAOS Meeting

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich., Jan. 28, 2025 – Targeting the reduction of work-related injury for healthcare workers and shortening time-to-market for medical device OEMs, KUKA Robotics will bring two advanced medical innovations featuring cobot automation to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in booth #540. The event takes place in San Diego, California, March 10-14, and attendees will see how KUKA’s LBR iisy cobot solution helps reduce the incidence of arm and shoulder injury to ultrasound technicians and sonographers. A second cobot demonstration will feature a KUKA Robot Development Kit using a LBR MED 14 R820 cobot that helps slash development time for unique medical device solutions.

Because of the repetitive nature of their work, sonographers and ultrasound technicians commonly experience musculoskeletal disorders such as tendonitis and rotator cuff injury from their work that requires them to apply pressure with abnormal arm and shoulder positioning. Using robot technology such as KUKA’s LBR iisy cobot, however, can take the strain off these technicians by precisely conducting these repetitive exams autonomously. Equipped with a Haply Inverse3 Hapatic Feedback Teleop Device and an OptoForce FT Sensor, the LBR iisy robotic arm can be controlled and manipulated to apply the proper amount of force to the imaging head for a proper reading.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Parsec Achieves Transformative Growth in 2024 with Double-Digit ARR Increases and Global Expansion

ANAHEIM, Calif. (28 January 2025) – Parsec Automation, LLC (Parsec), a leading innovator in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), today announced exceptional performance and transformative milestones achieved in 2024. With very strong, double-digit growth in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), significant increases in bookings, and continued global expansion, Parsec solidified its leadership in delivering solutions that redefine operational excellence for manufacturers worldwide.2024 Highlights: A Year of Transformation

  • Exceptional Growth: Parsec experienced very strong, double-digit year-over-year growth in ARR, driven by the rapid adoption of TrakSYS across industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and chemicals. TrakSYS now powers thousands of manufacturing plants globally, enabling customers to reduce downtime, optimize efficiency, and improve profitability.
  • Leadership Expansion: Strengthened the executive leadership team with key additions, including:
    • Ryan Johnson, Chief Financial Officer,
    • Susana Cabrera, Vice President of Global Alliances, and
    • Cody Boardman, Vice President of Global Sales.
      Their combined expertise positions Parsec for ongoing global growth and deeper strategic partnerships.
  • Industry Recognition: Secured notable awards, underscoring Parsec’s leadership in innovation and customer success:
    • American Business Awards: Recognized for customer focus and manufacturing expertise.
    • Data Breakthrough Award: Celebrated advancements in data technology, cementing Parsec as a digital transformation leader.
    • BIG 2024 Small Business Executive of the Year Award: Honored Founder Eddy Azad for visionary leadership in advancing manufacturing solutions.
  • Industry Insights: Published the second annual State of Manufacturing Survey in partnership with Wakefield Research, highlighting optimism and challenges manufacturers face in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies. The report reflects perspectives from 1,200 manufacturers across North America and Europe.
  • Commitment to Quality: Maintained ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications, reinforcing Parsec’s dedication to secure, high-quality solutions for manufacturers worldwide.
Redefining Manufacturing Innovation
Eddy Azad, CEO of Parsec, reflected on the year’s achievements: "2024 was a transformative year for Parsec, showcasing how innovation, customer focus, and strategic vision drive extraordinary results. As leaders in the MES industry, we are not just addressing today’s challenges—we’re reshaping the future of manufacturing. The upcoming launch of TrakSYS 13 marks the next chapter in our journey, equipping manufacturers with powerful tools to streamline operations, embrace digital transformation, and achieve measurable success. Our commitment to delivering exceptional value remains unwavering as we empower customers to unlock their potential and drive meaningful change."

Looking Ahead: TrakSYS 13 and Beyond
Parsec is preparing to launch TrakSYS 13, the next generation of its flagship platform. The new release will incorporate meaningful advancements, including AI-driven innovations, designed to significantly enhance outcomes and deliver a more intuitive, scalable user experience. By streamlining complex manufacturing operations and empowering manufacturers to achieve ambitious goals, TrakSYS 13 reaffirms Parsec’s mission to provide transformative, impactful solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the industry.Building on its foundation of innovation and customer success, Parsec will continue to expand TrakSYS capabilities in 2025, enabling manufacturers to adapt, thrive, and achieve sustainable success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

About ParsecParsec is driven by a clear mission: simplifying the management of complex manufacturing operations. To achieve this, the company has leveraged over 30 years of manufacturing software development experience to create TrakSYS™, a best-in-class operations management software platform deployed in thousands of factories across more than 140 countries.TrakSYS is designed to provide actionable intelligence that helps manufacturers reduce production costs, optimize resources, improve quality, and increase profitability. From enhancing operational efficiency to ensuring regulatory compliance, TrakSYS transforms data into a strategic advantage, enabling facilities to thrive in the digital era. With TrakSYS, manufacturers can confidently adapt to change, embrace innovation, and achieve lasting success. Parsec is shaping the future of manufacturing.

Freespace Robotics announces strategic partnership and investment from industry leader Matthews Automation Solutions

PITTSBURGH, PA / CINCINNATI, OH – January 23, 2025 – Freespace Robotics, an innovator in autonomous robotics for material handling and logistics, today announced a strategic partnership and investment from the Automation Solutions business of Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ:MATW), a leading provider of warehouse automation software, controls, and order fulfillment systems. This partnership combines Freespace Robotics’ groundbreaking high-density, dynamic storage cube with Matthews’ industry-leading software, unlocking transformative capabilities for warehouse and last-mile operations.

Freespace Robotics’ pioneering solution leverages advanced robotics to deliver high-turnover, small-footprint, high-rise AS/RS (Automate Storage and Retrieval System) technologies. These innovations incorporate traditionally external conveyor functions – such as sortation, sequencing, each-picking, order buffering and pre-staging – into a seamless end to end operation. Combined with Matthews robust software suite and dashboard, which unify product information and inbound and outbound material flows, the Freespace solution offers unmatched versatility across diverse industries and specialized workflows. Together the companies are poised to strengthen core processes and improve KPIs for efficiency, scalability, throughput and cost-effectiveness.

Keep ReadingShow less
Creform stationary lineside flow rack provides for an organized flow of materials

Creform stationary lineside flow rack.

Photo courtesy of Creform

Creform stationary lineside flow rack provides for an organized flow of materials

Greer, SC—Creform Corporation, a manufacturer of unique products for material handling structures has designed and built a stationary flow rack to be used lineside for an assembly line. The flow rack can be virtually used in any industry and for most application and is particular useful holding an optimal amount of inventory at the point of assembly which maximizes floor space. It also can prevent excessive inventory which is one of the seven waste considerations in lean manufacturing. This flow rack contains an “L shaped” slide pipe and skate wheel conveyor.

Creform sales engineers worked closely with the customer to design this customized solution to meet their specific needs. The result is an optimized flow rack where parts and materials are strategically organized at the point of use. This setup enables workers to quickly locate the components they need, reducing downtime and saving time. Creform offers multiple flow lane options and can create virtually any hybrid solution.

Keep ReadingShow less
Toyota Material Handling's Core Electric Forklift

Toyota Material Handling's Core Electric Forklift

Photo courtesy of Toyota Material Handling

Toyota Material Handling expands portfolio with high-performance, eco-friendly forklifts

COLUMBUS, Ind.,Jan. 16, 2025 – Toyota Material Handling, the North American leader in material handling products and solutions, is expanding its innovative product portfolio with two new offerings: the Integrated Mid & Large Electric Pneumatic Forklifts and a refreshed Core Electric Forklift series. These models deliver superior operational efficiency while enhancing environmental sustainability, reinforcing Toyota’s commitment to its Vision 2030 and its goal to become a carbon-neutral company.

“Our two newest products reinforce Toyota’s commitment to environmental stewardship without compromising the efficiency and power of our reliable products,” said Bill Finerty, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling. “These two new models are impactful in many different applications, meeting the needs of all our customers and harnessing the innovation and power of our electric products.”

Keep ReadingShow less