Russia’s Severstaltrans changing name to N-Trans

Russia’s Severstaltrans changing name to N-Trans Private Russian transport group Severstaltrans is rebranding and from the start of next year will trade under the name N-Trans.
   Founded in 1996 as a freight forwarder, Severstaltrans expanded to other transport sectors in 2000 to include rail, container and stevedore businesses. In 2004, the company completed the process of consolidating into a group, the makeup of which included more than 20 subsidiary firms engaged in various shipping segments.
   The rebranding process will last until the end of 2008 but does not involve the group's subsidiary enterprises, each of which will retain their independent brands.
   “The development of the business extended outside the framework of the potential capabilities of the former name, which did not reflect the scale of the group's growth, business diversification, and new thrusts in investment activities,” said Konstantin Nikolayev, Severstaltrans’ chief executive officer.
   The group operates in the Russia, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and Baltic markets. Turnover in 2006 exceeded $1.5 billion.