Press release from the Competition Council regarding the concentration project concerning the exclusive takeover of the company “Villé Holding Participations SAS” by the company “Vossloh AG” through the acquisition of 100% of its share capital and associated voting rights

In accordance with Article 13 of Law No. 104-12 on freedom of prices and competition and Article 10 of Decree No. 2-14-652 issued for its implementation, as amended and supplemented, the Competition Council makes available to the public the “operation summary” below, containing the information provided by the parties.

This information has been prepared by the notifying parties, who are solely responsible. Any inaccurate or distorted information contained therein does not in any way prejudge the Competition Council’s position on the proposed operation.

The publication of this press release does not attest to the completeness of the file provided for in Article 9 of Decree No. 2-14-652 issued for the implementation of Law No. 104-12 on freedom of prices and competition as amended and supplemented.

Names of the companies and groups concerned:

• The indirect acquirer: “Vossloh Aktiengesellschaft (AG)”;
• The direct acquirer: the company “Vossloh France SAS”.
• The target: the company “Villé Holding Participations SAS”.

Nature of the operation

• Acquisition of exclusive control.

Economic sectors concerned

• Production, supply, and installation of products for the Railway infrastructure.

Deadline for interested third parties to submit their observations

• 10 days from the date of publication of this press release, i.e., September 23, 2024.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL SUMMARY OF THE OPERATION PROVIDED BY THE PARTIES

The Competition Council has received notification of an economic concentration operation concerning the exclusive takeover of the company “Villé Holding Participations SAS” by the company “Vossloh Aktiengesellschaft (AG)” through the acquisition, through its subsidiary “Vossloh France SAS”, of 100% of the share capital and voting rights related thereto, and thereby exclusive control of the “Sateba” group owned by it.

“Vossloh AG” is a German company and the parent company of the major German player in the railway industry worldwide. The group focuses its activities on products and services for the infrastructure sector by offering rail fastening systems, concrete sleepers, switch systems, and a range of services related to rails and switches. The various companies managed by the group are holdings, including “Vossloh France SAS”. Vossloh’s main European production sites are located in Germany, France, Luxembourg, Poland, and Scandinavia. In addition, the group has subsidiaries in Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and Russia.

“Villé Holding Participations SAS” is a French holding company, a subsidiary of the company “Dolmen Holdings BV” based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and bringing together several technical study offices composed of multidisciplinary skills with technical capabilities (architects, engineers, and highly specialized technicians).

The “Sateba” group is 100% owned by the company “Villé Holding Participations SAS”. The group is a French specialist active in the design, manufacture, and distribution of prefabricated concrete products necessary for the construction and maintenance of railway networks.

 

Done in Rabat on September 12, 2024