Munich — Liberta Partners, a Munich-based multi-family holding company, is acquiring Ameropa, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn (DB). Liberta Partners invests specifically in companies with future potential in German-speaking countries and supports them in the further development of their business models. ARQIS advised Liberta Partners on the acquisition of Ameropa. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Ameropa, based in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt am Main, is a specialist provider of short and rail adventure trips with 120 employees and around 500,000 customers. The close cooperation between Ameropa and Deutsche Bahn will continue after the sale until further notice. Ameropa trips are offered in around 7,000 travel agencies and about 400 DB travel centers, as well as via the company’s own website and bahn.de.
“Ameropa continues to stand for vacation by rail. Many Ameropa customers are rail customers and we want even more to become so. We also pursued the claim of climate-friendly travel in our search for a suitable buyer and are very much looking forward to now continuing the Ameropa success story with Liberta Partners,” says Dr. Michael Peterson, CEO of DB Fernverkehr.
“Ameropa is a traditional company with strong partnerships and interesting growth potential,” said Nils von Wietzlow, partner at Liberta Partners. “Short city breaks and adventure trips are enjoying high demand, and travel by rail is becoming increasingly popular against the backdrop of the climate debate.”
Florian Korp (photo), partner at Liberta Partners, explained, “We will help Ameropa realize its potential, expand existing partnerships and develop even more innovative offerings.”
“I’m looking forward to the new collaboration with Liberta Partners and the remaining partnership with the railroad,” says Kai de Graaff, who has led Ameropa as managing director for seven years and will remain with the company in that capacity, “together we’re taking Ameropa forward in a decisive way.”
Advisors to Liberta Partners: ARQIS Rechtsanwälte (Düsseldorf/Munich)
Mauritz von Einem (Lead; Corporate/M&A and Tax), Dr. Mirjam Boche (Corporate/M&A and W&I), Johannes Landry (Corporate/M&A), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Christian Wegener (Tax); Associates: Benjamin Wolfgang Bandur (Corporate/M&A)
About Ameropa
Ameropa-Reisen GmbH offers travel modules and package tours mainly for short city trips (2–4 days) by train in Germany and the DACH region. The offers consist mainly of hotel, travel and entertainment (musicals, concerts, sightseeing, etc.). International offers for luxury and special trains represent another service segment. The company offers its products through partnerships with other tour operators and travel agencies (stationary and online) as well as through its own sales channels (ameropa.de and its own call center). For more information, visit: https://www.ameropa.de
About Liberta Partners
Liberta Partners was founded in 2016 and is a multi-family holding company based in Munich. Liberta Partners invests in companies in German-speaking countries with a clear operational and strategic development potential, especially in corporate spin-offs and succession situations. These are actively developed within the long-term “100% Core& Care” concept and benefit from the innovative entrepreneurial understanding of Liberta Partners. The Liberta Partners team consists of professionals from M&A, Operations and Legal. www.liberta-partners.com
About ARQIS
ARQIS is an independent business law firm operating in Germany and Japan. The firm was founded in 2006 at its current offices in Düsseldorf, Munich and Tokyo. Around 45 professionals advise domestic and foreign companies at the highest level on the core issues of German and Japanese business law. The focus is on M&A, corporate law, private equity, venture capital, employment law, private clients, intellectual property, litigation as well as real estate law and tax law. www.arqis.com.