MERMEC and Hitachi Rail seal deal on signaling systems sale in France, Germany, and the UK

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Hitachi Rail and MERMEC SpA have entered into a put option agreement concerning the divestiture of mainline signaling operations in France and signaling firms in Germany and the United Kingdom. In October of the previous year, the acquisition of Thales GTS by Hitachi Rail received approval from both the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). However, the approval was contingent on Hitachi Rail’s commitment to divest its mainline signaling activities in France, Germany, and the UK. The recently established put option agreement with MERMEC represents a significant step forward in fulfilling the antitrust compliance requirements necessary for the completion of the Thales GTS acquisition by Hitachi Rail.

“Today, we have reached a crucial milestone towards the final acquisition of Thales GTS, a cornerstone of our growth strategy,” stated Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail. “This agreement is aimed at fulfilling a key requirement from European and British regulatory authorities and represents a decisive step towards the acquisition of Thales GTS. This solution will ensure a long-term future for the entities involved,” Marino added.

“We are pleased to have entered into this agreement, which represents a significant step towards acquiring a historic signaling company,” commented Vito Pertosa, Chairman of the MERMEC Group and Angel Holding. He then added: “We are confident that the synergies with the MERMEC Group, led by CEO Luca Necchi Ghiri, will further enhance our competitive advantage, strengthening MERMEC’s global presence.”

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