ALSTOM has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Rotterdam-based rolling stock maintenance and overhaul services firm Shunter.
The agreement was signed on March 8, and the transaction is expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year, subject to the fulfilment of both parties’ agreed terms.
The acquisition includes Shunter’s three maintenance workshops and three service sites, as well as approximately 110 skilled employees. Shunter reported an annual turnover of €20m in 2020, and carries out maintenance, overhaul and damage repair work on more than 1000 rail vehicles annually.
The purchase provides Alstom with a foothold at the Port of Rotterdam and reinforces the company’s presence in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) maintenance market.
The acquisition will complement Alstom’s existing facilities in the Benelux region, which includes centres dedicated to signalling and power electronics, two manufacturing sites for rolling stock and components, and several signalling project offices.
“Shunter’s full maintenance expertise will complement Alstom’s knowledge and installed base in products and solutions,” says Mr Bernard Belvaux, Alstom’s managing director for Benelux. “It will enable us to become an even stronger maintenance partner to our customers, increasing availability and reducing the total cost of ownership of their fleets.”
“The integration of Shunter into an international group will bring us new possibilities with access to new markets,” says Mr Jos Toes, Shunter’s managing director. “I am delighted to join Alstom and convinced that with our combined expertise we can satisfy our customers even better.”
