Yama Saha, the owner manager of German based aerial lift distributor Sahalift, has acquired the entire equity of Aichi’s long term European importer and product support businesses Aichi Sales Office B.V. and ASO Parts B.V. in an all-share purchase deal. Both companies are based in the Netherlands and have been managed by Rob van Gent. Aichi Sales Office began operations 28 years ago but has made little impact outside of the Benelux region and parts of Germany. The deal was apparently sealed at the start of the year, but reasons best known to themselves only announced now.
Yama Shaha (L) agrees the acquisition of Aichi Sales Office with owner Rob van Gent
A formal distribution agreement has now been signed at Aichi headquarters in Japan, between Aichi chief executive Toshiya Yamagishi, Yama Saha and Aichi senior managing officer Shun Nakazawa.
(L-R) Toshiya Yamagishi, Yama Saha, Shun Nakazawa
The deal is done
The contracts signed
In February the partners will launch a wider range of Aichi platforms in Europe, including the new 68ft SR21CJM crawler boom lift, which will be highlighted on the company’s stand at Bauma next April. It offers a working height of 22.7 metres, an outreach of 16.7 metres and an unrestricted platform capacity of 250kg. Total weight is 14,200kg.
The Aichi SR21CJM
Going forward, Sahalift, under its new ownership, will continue to represent Aichi in the German speaking regions, while the Aichi Sales Office will continue to cover the rest of Europe.
Aichi and Sahalift managers also met at Sahalift headquarters in Hanover where Toshiya Yamagishi said: "I see great potential in working with Yama Saha. His passion for the business and his open nature deserve my respect. We will work closely together as a team."
(L-R) Rob van Gent, Toshiya Yamagishi, Yama Saha, Shun Nakazawa
Rob van Gent added: “Yama Saha has not only become a long term business partner, but also a good friend. I am therefore all the more pleased to hand over my companies and the Aichi brand into good hands. This acquisition represents a significant step in the development and strengthening of the Aichi brand in the European market.”
Yama Saha said: "The close cooperation with Aichi Japan in recent months was a good first step towards a sustainable future for the Aichi brand in the European market. I would like to thank Toshiya Yamagishi and his team for this cooperative partnership. I would also like to thank Rob van Gent for trusting me to represent the Aichi brand as an importer in Europe. We will use our expansion opportunities in Europe and explore new business areas. I look forward to a successful cooperation with our dealers and customers."
Sahalift and its predecessors have been the dealer for Aichi Sales office since 2015, when its was Team Liftservice & Parts a subsidiary of Ommelift Deutschland of which Yama Saha was managing director. In September 2020, Saha acquired Ommelift Deutschland from its Danish parents and changed the name to Sahalift, merging the two parts of the business the following year.
Vertikal Comment
This looks like a very positive move for all of the parties involved, Yama Saha has now been in the access business for 10 years and proven himself to be a smart operator. The Ommelift Deutschland take over is now well established and settled, while the company has expanded and last year opened a new purpose built Southern German location in Giengen an der Brenz - between Stuttgart and Munich.
The Aichi machines, especially the boom lifts, have always been industry leaders in terms of reliability, low total operating cost and resale value. With the new distribution arrangement and the two parties working together, this new arrangement ought to be a winner.
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