12.03.2015, 07:00
| Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Zurich – Alpiq is investing in the rail infrastructure market with the acquisition of Balfour Beatty Rail S.p.A., the Italian engineering and contracting expert in railway and mass transit electrification systems, which specialises in design, procurement, installation and commissioning of turnkey and renewals railway projects. This transaction is in line with the group’s growth strategy in energy services, such as transport technology, and will strengthen Alpiq’s leadership position as an international transport technology and service provider.
With this acquisition, Alpiq expands its transport technology business geographically and gains strong and comprehensive know-how in the sectors of railway and mass transit electrification as well as first-class technology and resources. Balfour Beatty Rail S.p.A. has approximately 120 employees and is part of Balfour Beatty plc, the UK’s leading international infrastructure group listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The company specialises in the design, procurement, installation and commissioning of turnkey systems for railway electrification used for traditional and high-speed railways, mass transit and light rail systems, as well as in renewals and maintenance of existing lines, at national and international level. In recent years, Balfour Beatty Rail has been one of the key technological partners involved in the construction of the Italian high-speed rail network. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
This acquisition is in line with Alpiq’s strategy to reinforce its presence in both transport technology and high- and medium-voltage engineering – business areas Alpiq is already active in. Alpiq has a strong position in the planning and assembly of catenary and electro-technical installations, above all in the area of transport. The company is also a leading player in offering solutions in the area of power lines and switchgear systems for the transmission and distribution of energy in Switzerland.
Balfour Beatty Rail S.p.A. was founded in 1926 and carried out the first railway electrification project in Italy: the Bolzano–Brenner line. Since 2001, the company has been part of Balfour Beatty plc, the UK’s leading international infrastructure group with more than 100 years of experience.