goetzpartners advised the shareholders of Solaris Bus & Coach

Fortlane Partners advised the Olszewski family, the 100% shareholders of Poland-based Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. (“Solaris” or “The Company”), a leading European manufacturer of innovative city and intercity buses, on the sale of the Company to Spain-based Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. ("CAF"), a publicly-listed turnkey solutions provider for the railway industry, covering all rolling stock segments including high speed, regional, commuter, metros and trams.

Via the acquisition of Solaris, CAF will broaden its already extensive range of products enabling it to meet the current and future needs in urban transportation, particularly in e-mobility and multimodal door-to-door solutions. In 2017, Solaris delivered 1,397 buses, including conventional models (diesel and CNG) as well as a growing number of e-mobility vehicles, where it offers the widest available range of solutions including hybrid, battery, hydrogen fuel cell-powered and trolleybuses. Consequently, CAF will become one of the market leaders in the bus segment.

"CAF’s investment in Solaris confirms our commitment to the vision of profitable growth and opens new strategic markets to CAF,” said Andrés Arizkorreta, President and Chief Executive Officer of CAF. “Together with Solaris, we will create a leader in urban mobility solutions beyond rolling stock, particularly in the e-mobility segment. We want to continue using and to develop Solaris’ valuable brand and to keep its Polish character. The combination of both companies’ know-how in production, design, technology and services, together with the track record of Solaris in bus product innovation will allow us to better serve our clients while creating shareholder value.”

“By selecting CAF as an investor for Solaris, we ensure a promising future for the brand, its clients and its employees.” said Solange Olszewska, President and CEO of Solaris. “I strongly believe that CAF has the right vision for the Company and will be able to develop Solaris’ potential on a global scale. I am confident that this agreement is fully in line with everything we have achieved since the Company was founded 22 years ago and elevates Solaris to a higher level of development path” – Solange Olszewska added.

Fortlane Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to the selling shareholders, further underlining our competence advising cross-border M&A transactions in the global Transportation industry.

ABOUT SOLARIS
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Bolechowo (Poland), Solaris has supplied buses to over 700 cities across 32 countries. As of today, Poland, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia and the Baltics are considered its main markets and with an annual turnover of close to €450 million, the Company has a workforce of more than 2,300 people.

ABOUT CAF
Established in 1892 and headquartered in Beasain (Spain), CAF operates as an integrated railway systems solution provider in over 40 countries across 5 continents. With an annual turnover of close to €1.5 billion, CAF has a workforce of more than 8,400 people.

TRANSACTION TEAM

Dr. Stephan Goetz
Managing Partner

Christian Muthler
Managing Director

Markus Rosen
Associate Director
 

Julius Adrian Rieker

Patrick Bobak