CMS advises Abellio on acquisition of WestfalenBahn

Berlin – Abellio GmbH, a leading private provider of public rail services in Germany, has increased its stake in WestfalenBahn from 25% to 100% by acquiring the shares of its previous co-shareholders, moBiel (Bielefeld), Mindener Kreisbahnen and Verkehrsbetriebe Extertal. WestfalenBahn operates local public transport networks in the Teutoburger Wald and Emsland/Mittelland regions. The acquisition is currently awaiting approval from Germany’s Federal Cartel Office. The purchase price was not disclosed.

An interdisciplinary CMS team headed by Berlin-based partner Dr Gerd Leutner advised Abellio on all legal aspects of the transaction.

Abellio GmbH operates rail networks throughout Germany and holds stakes in other transport services firms and service companies. It was established in 2004 in Essen and acquired by state-owned Netherlands Railways in 2008. Abellio GmbH is a subsidiary of Dutch company Abellio Transport Holding B.V., and has been based in Berlin since 2015. The company currently operates 18 lines in Germany with a total track length of 1,168 kilometres. It carries around 29 million passengers a year.

CMS Hasche Sigle

Dr Gerd Leutner, Lead Partner
Dr Florian Lörsch, Senior Associate, both Corporate/M&A
Dr Benjamin Schirmer, Counsel, Procurement Law
Dr Michael Bauer, Partner
Dr Björn Herbers, Counsel
Marta Vejseli, Associate, all Merger Control

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