Railcare acquires 40 per cent of the shares in the locomotive rental company AC Finance AB. A strategic investment to initially ensure access to locomotives with better environmental performance in a challenging market. In the longer term, creating increased opportunities for new projects.
– Access to locomotives with the right performance is a prerequisite for the transition and for creating good business opportunities. With this part-ownership, we gain greater influence on that development, comments Mattias Remahl, CEO at Railcare.
The locomotive shortage has been noticeable in the industry recently. An ageing locomotive fleet in combination with higher environmental requirements and new technical requirements means that the availability of locomotives that meet the requirements is, and will be, a challenge for many companies in the industry.
– We want to ensure that Railcare can be at the forefront in the future. Transports are believed to increase by 50% by 2040, while at the same time, there will be an increase in demand for locomotives. By becoming a partner in AC Finance, we ensure access to a total of 14 locomotives with better environmental performance that can be used both in the standby project and for other projects, for example, shunting. It gives us good opportunities to obtain new transport projects, says Mattias Remahl.
The other shareholders in AC Finance AB, who after the deal own 30% each, are Actinvest AB, an independent financial company where the shareholders, among other things, manage a passenger transport group that includes both bus and train companies. The other owner, Nornan Invest AB, is also the largest owner of Railcare today.
– The main purpose of the partnership with AC Finance and the acquisition of the 14 locomotives is to secure Railcare’s locomotive needs and thus contribute to continued development and good profitability, says Anders Westermark at Nornan Invest AB.
More information about the acquisition, loan financing and locomotive rental can be found in the press release published on June 28.
