Corporate News

First Structured Finance Solution by Institutional Investors of a German Passenger Rail Concession

Berenberg, MEAG and Talanx have jointly structured the first financing by institutional investors of a German regional passenger rail franchise (SPNV) through a leasing structure with Deutsche Anlagen Leasing (DAL). Affiliates of MEAG and Talanx acted as debt investors to fund new rolling stock for the Ulm area SPNV franchise. Berenberg Private Bank was Coordinator and Arranger of the transaction, utilising its extensive experience in the infrastructure market.

Operation of the Ulm area network was tendered via a competitive European public procurement process, led by Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft (BEG). DB Regio, which currently operates the franchise, was granted the continued operation of the network on February 2018 for an additional twelve years.

The new rolling stock will be financed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by Deutsche Anlagen Leasing (DAL). The Alstom Coradia Lint 41 and 54 trains will benefit from redeployment guarantees by the public transport authorities to ensure usage of the new fleet beyond the concession’s twelve-year-term. Alstom Transport Deutschland will produce the trains at its plant in Salzgitter.

The public will benefit from efficient and competitive regional passenger rail services over the next few decades, while the rolling stock renewal will reduce emissions over the same time span compared with the trains currently in use.

“This investment emphasises our appetite to fund long-term core infrastructure projects, enables mobility solutions for communities and supports local industry. I am delighted to see institutional investors’ contribution to the infrastructure sector gaining in importance”, commented Dr Thomas Mann, Chief Investment Officer at Talanx Asset Management.


Disclaimer

This news release contains forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions, expectations and opinions of the Talanx AG management. These statements are, therefore, subject to certain known or unknown risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors, many of which are beyond Talanx AG’s control, affect Talanx AG’s business activities, business strategy, results, performance and achievements. Should one or more of these factors or risks or uncertainties materialise, actual results, performance or achievements of Talanx AG may vary materially from those expressed or implied in the relevant forward-looking statement. Talanx AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does Talanx AG accept any responsibility for the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. Talanx AG neither intends, nor assumes any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated.