The Council of Ministers has given the green light to the entry of the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI) in the capital of Talgo, an operation agreed between the central government and the Basque government that will allow the financial rescue of the railway manufacturer.
The intervention involves an investment of up to 150 million euros. SEPI’s share, half, will be materialised with a capital increase of 45 million, which will give the state a 7.87% stake in the company, and a convertible loan of another 30 million. With this entry into the capital, it will pay €4.25 per share.
The operation is subject to the purchase of 29.78% of the capital that the Trilantic fund holds in Talgo by a Basque consortium led by José Antonio Jainaga (Sidenor), BBK, Vital and the Basque Government, thus unblocking the financial restructuring of the company. This group will also inject 75 million in additional financing through convertible bonds.
The state presence is also conditional on the approval of a new restructuring of Talgo’s bank debt, which includes the refinancing of 650 million and a new guarantee line of 500 million.
After the operation, Talgo will have a core of institutional shareholders controlling 35.2% of its capital, with the Oriol family, Torrblas and Torreal holding small stakes. The final execution is pending approval by the shareholders’ meeting in September.