Dechert LLP advised Navya in connection with its €30 million fund raising from Valeo, Keolis and Group8.

Founded in 2014, Navya is a French company that specializes in the development of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. Navya constructs driverless, automated electric vehicles that are independent of all infrastructure, most notably the ARMA shuttle. These vehicles are designed for intelligent transport of both people and goods.

Navya, which aims to release more than thirty vehicles in late 2016, now has the means to expand its operations in international markets.

In addition to original shareholders Robolution Capital, Gravitation and CapDecisif Management, the French groups Valeo and Keolis, as well as the Qatari company Group8 have taken an equity stake. After this increase, Robolution Capital, managed by 360 Capital Partners, retains control of the company.

The company has also signed important strategic agreements in an effort to gain access to new technology and to increase the deployment capacity of NAVYA ARMA shuttles around the world. Of these strategic agreements, three are particularly emphasized:

* A collaboration agreement with the Valeo group in order to integrate their technology in the manufacturing of autonomous shuttles as well as optimizing sensor data treatment, an essential element of smart mobility;
* A partnership agreement with the Keolis group enabling Navya to better meet driverless fleet management requests from cities, as is the case with the Navly service in Lyon Confluence, operational since the beginning of September 2016; and,
* A distribution agreement with Group8 for the development of Navya in the Middle Eastern and African markets, including a sales joint venture and the establishment of an assembly line in the Gulf region to better meet regional market needs.

The Dechert Paris team advising Navya was led by corporate partner Matthieu Grollemund, assisted by associates Hélène Parent and Raphaël Sendowski on transactional aspects.