International Investor Mutares Acquires Arriva Group’s Assets in Denmark and Serbia

International Investor Mutares Acquires Arriva Group’s Assets in Denmark and Serbia

(IN BRIEF) Arriva Group has successfully sold its businesses in Denmark and Serbia to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, an international financial investor. This sale is in line with Arriva Group’s strategy to focus on its core markets in the UK and Mainland Europe. The agreement, which also includes the sale of Arriva’s bus business in Poland, was signed in September 2022. The transactions for Denmark and Serbia have been completed, while the sale of the Poland bus business is expected to conclude soon. Arriva Group’s decision to refocus its portfolio follows a strategic review conducted in partnership with shareholder Deutsche Bahn. This move aims to ensure long-term competitiveness and a strong business outlook. The recent sale follows Arriva Group’s divestment of its rail and bus business in Sweden to VR Group and the sale of its bus business in Lisbon, Portugal to Dan Group. Arriva Group remains committed to delivering excellent transportation services in its core markets.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 16-May-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Arriva Group, a British multinational public transport company, is excited to announce the successful completion of the sale of its businesses in Denmark and Serbia to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, a renowned international financial investor. This strategic move aligns with Arriva Group’s vision to concentrate on its core markets in the UK and Mainland Europe.

The sale agreement, signed in September 2022, encompasses not only the businesses in Denmark and Serbia but also includes the sale of Arriva’s bus operations in Poland (with the Polish rail business remaining under the Arriva Group umbrella). The transactions for Denmark and Serbia have been concluded, with the sale of the Poland bus business expected to be finalized by the end of this month.

The decision to refocus the Arriva Group portfolio originated from a comprehensive strategic review of the business conducted in 2020/21, in collaboration with Arriva’s shareholder, Deutsche Bahn. This initiative forms a crucial part of the company’s forward-looking strategy to fortify its position as a robust and competitive player in the industry for the long-term.

The recent transaction follows the successful divestment of Arriva’s rail and bus business in Sweden to VR Group, which was finalized in July 2022. Additionally, Arriva concluded the sale of its bus business in Lisbon, Portugal to Dan Group in December 2022.

As Arriva Group realigns its focus, the company remains dedicated to delivering exceptional transportation services in its core markets while ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future.

About Arriva

Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 38,000 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 10 European countries. We are part of Deutsche Bahn (DB), one of the world’s leading passenger and logistics companies. With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, car and bike-­­­sharing systems, as well as on-demand transport solutions, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably, delivering these services in a better way, every day. The activities of Arriva are divided into four lines of business: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe.  Arriva has operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, , Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.  For further information: www.arriva.co.uk

About Mutares

Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, Munich (www.mutares.com), as a listed private equity holding company with offices in Munich (HQ), Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna and Warsaw, acquires medium-sized companies in special situations, based in Europe, which show significant operational improvement potential and are sold again after undergoing a repositioning and stabilisation process. For the financial year 2023, consolidated revenues of EUR 4.8 billion to EUR 5.4 billion are expected. Based on this, consolidated revenues are to be expanded to approx. EUR 7 billion by 2025. As the portfolio grows, so do consulting revenues, which together with portfolio dividends and exit proceeds accrue to the Mutares Holding. Accordingly, a net income in the holding company in the range of EUR 125 million to EUR 150 million is expected for the financial year 2025. The Management Board and Supervisory Board together hold more than one third of all Mutares shares with voting rights. The shares of Mutares SE & Co. KGaA are traded on the Regulated Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MUX” (ISIN: DE000A2NB650).

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SOURCE: Arriva Group