Patina Rail, a consortium comprising Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Hermes Infrastructure, is to acquire a 40% shareholding in Eurostar International Limited from the UK Government.
CDPQ and Hermes Infrastructure intend to own 30% and 10% of Eurostar respectively. Eurostar’s other shareholders will comprise Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF) (55%) and Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belges (SNCB) (5%).
Completion of the transaction remains conditional upon SNCF receiving clearance from the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation and the transaction receiving clearance from the German Federal Cartel Office. SNCF and SNCB have the option to acquire the UK Government’s 40% shareholding for a 15% premium to the agreed price. Closing of the transaction is conditional on SNCF and SNCB not exercising this right. It is anticipated that the transaction will close during the second quarter of 2015.
Eurostar is a provider of high speed passenger train services, primarily between London – Paris and London – Brussels, running through the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar carries over 150 million passengers since services began in 1994, with over 10.4 million in 2014 alone. Eurostar has circa 1,600 employees and is headquartered in London near St Pancras International station.
Macky Tall, Senior Vice-President, Private Equity and Infrastructure, CDPQ, says: “Today we are investing in one of Europe's most efficient intercity transport systems. Alongside leading industry players, we are becoming partners of a highly strategic asset that will generate stable and predictable returns for our clients. This major investment is another opportunity for us to further build on our expertise in the transport sector, while broadening our footprint in the global marketplace. In terms of reliability and satisfaction, Eurostar is state-of-the-art and among the most enviable worldwide. It serves as a model for operational efficiency and we intend to be a partner in its growth for many years to come.”
Peter Hofbauer, Head of Hermes Infrastructure, says: “Eurostar is a high quality asset providing a direct link between the UK and Europe that has historically offered attractive investment characteristics, including long-term stable and predictable cash flows. We look forward to creating a long-term partnership with SNCF and SNCB and other key stakeholders in relation to this important investment.”
