NS has completed the definitive transfer of its subsidiary Abellio Germany to BeNEX. This makes the sale final. The decision to sell Abellio stems from the strategy to terminate foreign activities in order to focus on core activities within the Netherlands. The transfer has been completed now that all clients involved have agreed.
BeNEX is the new owner of Abellio Deutschland. After completion of the competition law review and approval by all responsible authorities, ATH Rail Transport Beteiligungsgesellschaft Deutschland GmbH now belongs to the mobility service provider BeNEX, which specializes in regional rail transport. The transaction includes the railway companies Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland GmbH, Halle (Saale) and WestfalenBahn GmbH, Bielefeld, as well as the service company PTS GmbH, Neuss. BeNEX is taking over 100% of the shares in Abellio Deutschland from the Dutch state railway NS with effect from October 15, 2024.
“With the takeover of Abellio Deutschland, BeNEX underlines its motivation to help shape local rail passenger transport (SPNV) in Germany in the long term,” says Johann von Georg, Managing Director of BeNEX. He emphasizes: “Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland and WestfalenBahn fit perfectly into our existing route networks. Our investment portfolio is thus growing to seven railway transport companies, which, with around 3,700 employees, will provide a transport performance of 65 million train kilometers annually from 2025. By taking over Abellio Deutschland, BeNEX will become one of the largest providers of local rail passenger transport in Germany.”
“Our goal is to provide Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland and WestfalenBahn with the best possible support in their growth. At BeNEX, we offer an excellent platform for this and want to make a significant, high-quality contribution to a successful transport turnaround,” added Michael von Mallinckrodt, Managing Director of BeNEX.
Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland and WestfalenBahn will continue to provide the services agreed in their transport contracts. The takeover will not change the current offers and timetables for passengers.
“For Abellio Deutschland, the takeover represents an important step towards a successful future. BeNEX is a long-term oriented shareholder that gives Abellio Rail Mitteldeutschland and WestfalenBahn a new growth perspective,” says Rolf Schafferath, CEO of Abellio Deutschland.
“The takeover of Abellio Germany represents another milestone for BeNEX in its development into one of the largest and most successful private rail operators in Germany. The transaction is in line with our investment strategy of contributing as an active investor to the successful further development of BeNEX in German local rail passenger transport,” says Tim Schlicht, Managing Director of the German subsidiary of International Public Partnerships.
In April, NS announced the intended sale its subsidiary. Angelique Magielse, financial director at NS, emphasized at that announcement: “When NS took its first steps across the border some 20 years ago, the starting point was that we wanted to prepare for the changing European rail market. In recent years, that need has disappeared and we have reconsidered our activities. Due to various developments, including corona, we also had to conclude that our remaining foreign activities do not contribute sufficiently. That is why we have decided to sell Abellio Germany as well. With this decision, NS is opting for the Netherlands.”
NS will continue to operate connections for travellers who want to travel between the Netherlands and abroad, to destinations such as Berlin, Brussels, Paris and London.
Abellio Germany currently operates three rail concessions in eight states and has recently generated a turnover of more than EUR 400 million, with a workforce of around 1,600 employees. The transfer to BeNEX marks the end of NS’s foreign involvement, a process that was initiated with the sale of Abellio UK last year.
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