Alternative asset and private equity investor KKR announced that it will acquire a majority stake in electric locomotive leasing company Green Mobility Partners (GMP), and the formation of a new strategic partnership with GMP aimed at meeting growing demand for sustainable rail infrastructure across Europe.
Launched in 2024 by Christoph Katzensteiner, Vienna-based GMP provides full service for Siemens Vectron electric locomotives, deployed in rail freight and passenger transportation across Europe with a focus on energy efficient and environmentally friendly operations. According to the companies, GMP plans to expand significantly through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Christoph Katzensteiner, Founder and CEO of Green Mobility Partners, said:
“Europe’s rail infrastructure requires significant modernisation to meet its decarbonisation objectives. I am delighted to partner with KKR to help address these needs and build a leading European rail leasing platform.”
Under the new strategic partnership, in addition to acquiring a majority stake in the business, KKR will provide capital and strategic support to scale GMP’s locomotive fleet and build a dedicated rail platform to pursue growth opportunities, including potential M&A.
Vincent Policard, Co-Head of European Infrastructure at KKR, said:
“KKR has a strong track record of supporting projects tackling decarbonisation in some of the most challenging industries. Rail is at a critical moment in Europe, with an ageing fleet that faces significant challenges to modernise. Christoph is a trusted founder who knows these challenges better than anyone, and crucially, how to address them. GMP combines a resilient, contract-backed business model with powerful secular tailwinds in both locomotive and passenger rail leasing.”
