Hivest Capital, together with Bpifrance, has completed the acquisition of Rail Europe, a worldwide leader in the distribution of European train tickets to international customers

Paris, March 9, 2022 – Hivest Capital, an independent French private equity firm, has  completed the acquisition of Rail Europe S.A.S. (the “Group” or “Rail Europe”) from SNCF  Voyageurs and SBB, in partnership with Bpifrance (through its fund ‘France Investissement  Tourisme 2’) and the Group’s management team.

Founded in 1932, Rail Europe is one of the world’s leading distributors of European train tickets  to international customers. With two cutting-edge digital platforms, the Group offers to its  business and individual customers one of the most comprehensive European train booking service. Rail Europe currently connects nearly 15,000 tourism professionals around the world,  especially via its application programming interface (API). The company also offers a booking  site and a mobile application available to the general public.

In a context of liberalisation of the European rail market, increase in train use and structural  changes in mobility habits accelerated by the ecological transition, this operation will enable  Rail Europe to get necessary resources to strengthen its position as leader on the international  markets, in close partnership with rail operators.

PRESS CONTACTS: 

Hivest Capital  

Kevin Blakimé

Phone: +33 (0)7 62 49 28 27

kevin@hivestcapital.com

Bpifrance 

Juliette Fontanillas

Phone: +33 (0) 1 42 47 97 61

juliette.fontanillas@ext.bpifrance.fr

ABOUT RAIL EUROPE 

Founded in 1932, Rail Europe is the leading distributor of European train tickets to international  customers. Headquartered in Paris, the Group has subsidiaries in the United States, the United  Kingdom, China, India and Australia and has 180 employees.

ABOUT HIVEST CAPITAL PARTNERS 

Hivest Capital is a French independent private equity firm licensed by the Autorité des marchés  financiers. Hivest Capital invests in French SMEs with a turnover ranging from €50 million to €500 million  for buyout or expansion projects. Hivest Capital aims to help companies unlock their full potential  through improved operational performance and innovative growth strategies.

About Bpifrance

Bpifrance’s equity investments are made by Bpifrance Investissement. Bpifrance finances companies – at every stage of their development – with credit, guarantees and equity. Bpifrance supports them in  their innovation and international projects. Bpifrance now also supports companies in their export activity  with a wide range of products. Advisory, university, networking and acceleration programmes for start ups and SMEs are also part of the offer to entrepreneurs. Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices,

entrepreneurs benefit from a close, single and efficient contact to help them face their challenges. More information on: www.Bpifrance.fr. Follow Bpifrance on Twitter: @Bpifrance – @BpifrancePresse

PARTICIPANTS

Buyer

Investors – Hivest Capital Partners: Cédric Lépée, Axel Bonnassies, Kevin Blakimé, Sacha Gasy,  Guillaume Bourcier / Bpifrance: Serge Mesguich, Flavien Tiberghien, Manoel Assaf

Lawyer (legal) – Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier: Orphée Grosjean, Frédéric Chevalier, Lionel Simonet / Everlaw : Jean-François Copé / Agilys Avocats: Baptiste Bellone, Madalina Suru.

Legal, tax and social audit – KPMG Avocats: Florence Olivier, David Guiet

Financial audit – KPMG: Damien Moron, Remy Brocquet

Strategic audit – Oliver Wyman: Bruno Despujol, Gwendoline Cazenave, Laetitia Plisson

Insurance audit – Marsh: Humbert d’Autichamp, Margaux Rocher

Operational and technical audit – Madiagonale Conseil: François Navarre

Tax advisory – CJ Avocats: Jean Goncalves

Others financial advisory – NG Finance: Jacques-Henri Hacquin, Alexis Szabo, Alexis Preau