Linklaters has advised the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a Quebec-based institutional investment fund, on the exclusive negotiations with SNCF and DWS on the proposed sale of Akiem, a leading provider of freight locomotive leasing services in France and Europe.
With revenues of nearly €220 million, EBITDA of around €150 million in 2021, a fleet of over 600 locomotives, 46 passenger trains and some 250 employees, Akiem is a European leader in locomotive leasing and maintenance. Headquartered in France with 7 international offices, Akiem provides local expertise to over 80 customers in 21 countries. The company has the largest fleet on the continent, of which 75% is electric, a share that is expected to increase in the coming years. CDPQ’s offer is subject to the customary consultation with employee representative bodies within the SNCF Group and Akiem. In addition, this transaction is subject to the approvals of certain competition authorities.
Our team supported Anna Cross, Senior Legal Counsel, and Si Xuan Cai, Director, Legal at CDPQ.
The Linklaters team was led from Paris by Florent Mazeron, partner, Louis Prades, managing associate, Diana Dancea and Zaid Bensebaa, associates, on Corporate/M&A matters. Géric Clomes, partner, Valentine Charrier, and Netanel Taid Kashani, associates, oversaw employment law aspects. Pierre Guillot, partner, and Thibaud Troublaïewitch, managing associate, advised on regulatory aspects. Cyril Abtan, partner and Lauren Hanley, counsel, intervened on financing aspects. Pauline Debré, partner, Jean-François Merdrignac, managing associate, and Marion Delvallet, associate, were in charge of intellectual property matters. Sonia Cissé, partner, Faustine Piéchaud and Julia Loiseau, associates, advised on technology law and personal data protection. Jean-Charles Jaïs, partner, and Martin Diwo, associate, oversaw compliance aspects. Françoise Maigrot, partner, Virginie Guerineau, and Camille Lapeyre Sabatié de Chavardes, associates, dealt with real estate aspects. Linklaters’ offices in Amsterdam, London and Germany were also involved in this transaction.
