Hitachi Rail Advances Thales GTS Acquisition with Strategic Signaling Business Sale to MERMEC

Hitachi Rail and MERMEC S.p.A. have signed a put option agreement for the sale of Hitachi Rail’s mainline signaling business in France, as well as its signaling business units in Germany and the UK.

In October 2023, the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority approved Hitachi Rail’s acquisition of Thales GTS, provided that Hitachi Rail divested its mainline signaling businesses in France, Germany, and the UK. The put option agreement signed with Mer Mec is a step forward in addressing the conditions set by the antitrust authorities for the closure of Hitachi Rail’s acquisition of Thales GTS.

Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail, said, “Today, we have achieved a major milestone towards the final acquisition of Thales GTS, which is a key part of our growth strategy.

“The agreement follows a key commitment to European and UK regulators and is a step forward in our acquisition of Thales GTS. This solution also will grant the divested business a long-term future.”

“We are delighted to have signed this agreement, which represents an important step towards the acquisition of this historic signaling company. We are confident that the synergies that will be achieved with MERMEC Group, led by our CEO Luca Necchi Ghiri, will further increase our competitive advantages, strengthening our worldwide presence,” said Vito Pertosa, President of MERMEC Group and its parent company ANGEL Holding.

 

Source: Hitachi Rail / MERMEC Press Release