CapMan Infra Press Release
10 December 2021 at 9:30 a.m. EET
CapMan Infra acquires Finland’s leading bus operator –electric bus fleet to grow sixfold by 2026
CapMan Infra has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of the shares of Koiviston Auto (Metsäpietilä Oy), the largest bus operator in Finland. The acquisition is aligned with CapMan Infra’s approach to improve public transportation networks, offer sustainable transportation alternatives by driving the green shift of the business.
Koiviston Auto, founded in 1928, is a market leader within public and commercial bus transport in Finland. The company employs 2,300 people, has a fleet of c. 1,000 buses, operates a network of 18 depots across Finland and transported around 85 million passengers pre-pandemic in 2019.
The company’s business is divided into two segments, contract- and market-based bus transport. The contract-based urban bus transportation business displays attractive infrastructure characteristics of a large asset base underpinned by long-term capacity based and inflation protected contracts with public transportation authorities. The contract-based business represents currently around 80 per cent of group revenues, while the market-based business shows post-pandemic recovery opportunities. The market-based segment operates three well-known brands: Onnibus.com, Onnibus Flex and Porvoon Liikenne, and is the clear market leader in the intercity long-haul bus traffic in Finland.
“We are very pleased to acquire a company with an impressive history and opportunities to transform its business towards more environmentally friendly operations. As the market leader, the company is well-positioned to drive the electrification of the bus sector and grow the business through winning additional contracts. We value their local knowledge and presence, and we plan to maintain the strong brands that the company’s fleet operates under. We look forward to continuing to develop the company together with its employees in line with the values of Koiviston Auto. We recognise the impact of the ongoing pandemic on employees and customers and focus on providing stability as we move towards a recovery,” says Ville Poukka, Managing Partner at CapMan Infra.
Through the acquisition, CapMan is driving the rapid electrification of urban bus transportation. Electric buses currently account for only 6 per cent of Koiviston Auto’s contracted fleet. CapMan plans to increase the company’s contracted electric bus fleet to more than 220 buses by 2026, representing over 33 per cent of the contracted bus fleet. The annual savings of around 21,000 tons of CO2, when compared with 2021 levels equal the removal of around 7,000* cars from traffic.
“Koiviston Auto has operated as a family business for nearly one hundred years. Before making the decision to sell we performed a careful evaluation of the company’s future. The industry is in transition, as traffic is being rapidly electrified. Now was a natural turning point to realise this change. CapMan Infra brings added resources to for instance needed fleet investments as well as valuable expertise to developing the business”, says Antti Norrlin, Chairman of the Board of Koiviston Auto.
The CapMan Infra team holds significant experience in implementing a green shift of the transportation sector through its investment in Norwegian ferry operator Norled, where emissions reduction of the fleet has been a key component of the strategy. The team has previous experience of managing and developing large transportation systems and organisations in the Nordics.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2022. All existing employees will maintain their current positions following the transaction. This agreement has no immediate effect on Koiviston Auto’s existing customers or services provided.
CapMan Infra is a Nordic infrastructure investor with a team of ten professionals based in Helsinki and Stockholm and approx. €400 million in assets under management.
*Assuming on average 94,909 driven kilometers per annum for urban traffic bus and 1,202 g/km CO2 emissions for EURO VI class bus (full load) as well as 20,000 driven kilometers per annum for car and 153.5 g/km CO2 emissions for car, based on the average emissions per car in Finland in 2020.
For more information, please contact:
Ville Poukka, Managing Partner, CapMan Infra, tel. +358 50 572 9120
Torborg Chetkovich, Partner, CapMan Infra, tel. +46 73 802 02 05
Antti Norrlin, Chairman of the Board, Koiviston Auto, tel. +358 400 499 041
Antti Unkuri, Group CEO, Koiviston Auto, tel. +358 44 786 4623
About CapMan
CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers, we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate assets and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the past 30 years. With over €4 billion in assets under management, our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover Private Equity, Real Estate and Infra. We also have a growing service business that includes procurement services, fundraising advisory, and analysis, reporting and wealth management services. Altogether, CapMan employs around 160 people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London and Luxembourg. We are a public company listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001 and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2012. Read more at www.capman.com. www.capman.com
About Koiviston Auto
Koiviston Auto is the largest bus operator in Finland with a nationwide network of depots and routes. The company employs 2,300 people, has a fleet of around 1,000 buses and had a turnover of 173 million euros in 2020. Koiviston Auto is the market leader in market-based intercity traffic with its OnniBus.com, OnniBusFlex and Porvoon Liikenne brands. In the contract-based urban bus transportation business the company is strongly present in the regions of Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lahti, Kuopio, Oulu, Porvoo, Rauma, Rovaniemi and Varkaus. Koiviston Auto is a family-owned company founded in 1928. The company has its headquarters in Lahti. Visit www.koivistonauto.fi or www.onnibus.com for more information.
