Talgo Acquisition Deal: Skoda Group Enters the Game

In recent months, the European transport sector has been closely watching the negotiations surrounding the potential acquisition of the Spanish railway equipment manufacturer Talgo, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

At the center of the events is Skoda Group, the Czech industrial giant, which may enter the race for control of Talgo as an industrial partner of the Spanish investment fund CriteriaCaixa.

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According to the Spanish business publication El Economista, a meeting was held in April to discuss Skoda Group’s possible involvement in the deal, and this proposal received approval from the Spanish authorities.

In May, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente held reciprocal negotiations in the Czech Republic. However, neither Skoda Group nor CriteriaCaixa have made official statements on this matter yet.

The procedure for selling 100% of Talgo’s shares to a new owner began last year. The Hungarian company Ganz-MaVag, in consortium with the state investment support fund Corvinus, submitted a bid to buy Talgo for 620 million euros.

This offer was approved by the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) and supported by Talgo’s current shareholders – the companies Trilantic and Torreal. However, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente vehemently opposed this deal.

Additionally, the Swiss company Stadler, which already has production facilities in Spain, is also vying to acquire Talgo.

In contrast, Skoda Group does not have production facilities in the country.

Interestingly, neither Stadler nor Skoda Group have competencies in the production of high-speed trains, while Talgo has just introduced the new generation of high-speed trains, Talgo Avril.

These trains are the first in the world with variable gauge and capable of speeds up to 330 km/h.

The entry of Skoda Group into the race for Talgo could significantly alter the balance of power in the railway transport market.

If the deal goes through, it could open new opportunities for Skoda Group in the high-speed train sector and strengthen its position in Europe.

Overall, the situation surrounding the sale of Talgo remains uncertain, and the development of events will depend on many factors, including political decisions, investor interests, and the strategic plans of the companies involved.

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