Alstom and the Fonds Stratégique d’Investissement (Strategic Investment Fund) are ‘studying’ the joint purchase of 85% of Translohr, a Lohr group brand which specialises in the manufacture and marketing of tyre-based trams.
It is thought that Lohr SA, the parent company of the Lohr Industries group, would retain a 15% shareholding.
The total cost of the acquisition would be around €60M.
Alstom said that once the discussions are finalised, the project would be subject to information of the different employee representative bodies and the approval of the European competition authorities.
The industrial operations of the Translohr business are based at Duppigheim, Alsace in France.
The contemplated acquisition would ‘ensure the long-term future of Translohr’s activity at Duppigheim and the continuation of a specialist public transport equipment business in France’.
Translohr makes light tyre-based trams, 25 to 46 metres long depending on the version, with a central steering system on each axle connected to the guiding rail.
It can reach a speed of 70 km/h and climb 13% gradients.