Luther advises Captrain Deutschland GmbH on the consolidation of their company portfolio

With the assistance of Luther, Captrain Deutschland GmbH sold Teutoburger Wald Eisenbahn GmbH (Gütersloh) and Farge-Vegesacker Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft mbH (Bremen) to the RDC Deutschland Group, which belongs to the US-based Railroad Development Corporation, on November 1st, 2024.

The sale of the two companies by the Captrain Deutschland group is part of the strategy of its shareholder Rail Logistics Europe, which aims to focus on the core business of rail logistics. A team from Luther led by Dr. Gregor Wecker accompanied the transaction for Captrain Deutschland. Thomas Kratzer, CEO of Captrain Deutschland GmbH, said: "Thanks to the profound M&A expertise of the Luther team, we were professionally supported in the process and can continue to focus more strongly on our core business of rail freight transport". Captrain Deutschland is part of the international Captrain group, which belongs to the French state-owned company SNCF, one of the leading rail logistics companies in Europe.

The RDC Deutschland group expands its infrastructure activities in northern Germany and becomes one of the largest private owners and operators of railway infrastructure with a route length of approximately 100 km.

About Captrain Deutschland GmbH:

Captrain is one of the leading rail logistics companies in Germany and Europe. Whether for international traction services, industrial railway operation, or transport solutions tailored to the processes of their customers, Captrain Deutschland offers innovative, customized, and efficient logistics solutions. With operating locations in Germany and Poland, licenses in Austria and the Czech Republic, and with sister companies in Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain, Captrain Deutschland is present throughout the country and always close to its customers. In 2023, the Captrain Deutschland group generated a turnover of 357.8 million euros with 1,331 employees.

About RDC:

RDC stands for Railroad Development Corporation. The company name literally reflects its mission. As a railway development company, RDC shapes everything related to the rail industry for the best connections, both locally and internationally. Whether as an infrastructure operator, workshop partner, provider of regional and freight rail transport, or offering services of car travel and international night trains - around 320 trained experts at RDC Germany are in use for a sustainable mobility in the future.

On behalf of Captrain:

Luther, M&A: Dr Gregor Wecker (Partner), Dr Cedric Müller, LL.M. (Partner), Alexander Masson, LL.B. (Senior Associate), Leon Schmitter, LL.M. (Associate), Alina Kühn (Associate)

Luther, Tax: Nicole Fröhlich (Partner), Felix Schill (Counsel)

Luther, Antitrust: Competition & Regulatory: Dr Sebastian Janka, LL.M. (Partner), Alexandra Gebauer (Associate)

Luther, Real Estate: Michael Kunkel, LL.M. (Partner), Nurolhaq Rostamzada (Senior Associate)