Abellio Transport Group Limited - full steam ahead

RSM’s merger and acquisition (M&A) and private equity (PE) team has successfully advised on the management buyout (MBO) of Abellio UK from the Dutch state-owned rail company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS).

The client

Established by NS in 2001, Abellio UK serves millions of rail and bus passengers each year. The company is responsible for running four of the UK’s rail passenger services - East Midlands, West Midlands, Greater Anglia, and Merseyrail, as well as over 60 routes across the London bus network. 

The MBO, which was led by managing director Dominic Booth, sees the company transition to domestic ownership after c.20 years and will establish a new UK-based company, Transport UK Group Limited (TUKG). 

Under the leadership of the existing management team, TUKG will assume all Abellio UK’s interests in existing transport services and will continue to deliver a high level of service to its passengers as they look to acquire further transport franchises in the future.

RSM’s solution

RSM advised the management team on this complex cross-border deal, providing expertise across a range of specialisms including M&A, tax, modelling and accounting.

Transaction team: Natalie Ord, Mark Colling, Lucy Roberts and Henry Crane (M&A); Simon Martin and Chris Chittleborough (financial modelling); Colin Smyth and Jack Bentham (transaction tax); Martin Cooper and Emily Sloane (employment tax); Paul Merris and Helen Jones (accounting and financial reporting).

Testimonial

‘I am grateful to RSM for the breadth and depth of their advice to the management team to ensure the successful completion of the transaction. They worked closely with the team to understand a range of complex issues and provided clear, concise advice to senior management, as well as support along the way. Thank you.’

                     Dominic Booth, Managing Director

Abellio UK (now Transport UK Group Limited)