Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised French banks, Société Générale and Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CACIB), on the sale of three rail car fleets and the respective leasing contracts to Alpha Trains Luxembourg (Alpha Trains). The transaction volume was in the three-digit million range. The firm also advised the banks on the repayment of the existing financing on the sold fleets.

Société Générale is a leading financial services provider in Europe and one of the longest standing banks in France. CACIB is the corporate and investment entity of the Crédit Agricole group, which is prominent in the French market and is one of the largest banking groups in Europe.

Alpha Trains is an owner and lessor of railway vehicles into Continental Europe. With a head office in Luxembourg, it owns a portfolio of approximately 370 locomotives and 440 train sets. Alpha Trains leases rolling stock to almost every large public and private operator in 12 European countries.

The Norton Rose Fulbright team was led by banking partner in Hamburg, Timo Noftz and included: of counsel, Katharina von der Heyde (M&A/corporate); partner, Uwe Eppler and senior associate Alexander von Reuss (tax); partner, Maxim Kleine (competition); partner, Ludger C. Verfürth (banking); and associate in Munich, Oliver Paasch (banking). The team also included, in Paris, partners Martin Gdanski and Marc Hamilton, senior associate, Alexandre Roth (banking), and partner, Laure Joncour (employment).