A MAN in red? Cummins and Man Energy Solutions

Cummins and MAN Energy Solutions. A new chapter on the Columbus story?

Cummins and MAN Energy Solutions? A suggestive hypothesis, considering the possibilities of integration of the respective portfolio, despite some partial overlapping. Turbines and segmentation of the offer in the field of commercial marine propulsion and large scale power generation, as well as the strengthening of skills on hybrid and synthetic diesel  and fuels from biomasses: these could be some topics of interest to Cummins and MAN Energy Solutions, former MAN Diesel & Turbo and MAN B&W (acronym of Burmeister & Wain, based in Copenhagen, Denmark). Are these simple rumors or is there something concrete?

CUMMINS AND MAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS: MAN DIESEL & TURBO WAS RENAMED

Quoting Reuters: «Volkswagen announced in May that it is exploring a sale or partnership for its MAN Energy Solutions as part of a restructuring of the German cars, trucks and bus empire. VW has held talks with Cummins, and received an offer from the U.S. company for MAN Energy Solutions, the sources said.

CUMMINS AND VW SAID

A Cummins spokesman said, “We do not comment on rumors or speculation in the marketplace.” VW Chief Executive Herbert Diess has vowed to simplify the group which has 12 brands, trucks, buses, motorbikes, cars and electric bicycles as part of its business. MAN Energy makes large diesel engines used in ships and power stations. A Volkswagen spokesman on Friday reiterated that VW is reviewing all options for the asset, but declined to comment further on Cummins. Although VW has not yet appointed advisory banks for the sale, it has approached several companies to gauge their appetite for the asset, which is expected to fetch about 3 billion euros, the sources said. To maximize price, Volkswagen has also engaged in talks with Advent-owned engine maker Jenbacher, a former General Electric business, as well as at least one Asian peer, they added. Advent decline to comment.

MAN ES and H-Tec Systems 

Peers Mitsubishi Heavy and Wärtsilä have been named as possible bidders in the past. «Volkswagen originally wanted to strike a sweetheart deal with Cummins, but is now opening up holding talks with some other strategic players,» one of the people said, adding that the carmaker is hoping to sign a deal before year-end. The VW unit, formerly known as MAN Diesel & Turbo, which also makes turbochargers used in the oil & gas industry, in 2018 reported operating earnings of 133 million euros on sales of 3.1 billion euros.

Volkswagen has struggled to slim down in the past after the company’s works council, which has veto power over major restructuring moves, blocked efforts to sell motorbike brand Ducati and transmissions maker Renk. MAN Energy Solutions was originally a part of VW’s trucks brand MAN, but some of MAN’s assets were transferred to Volkswagen last year as part of efforts to streamline Traton ahead of its listing.