INDUSTRY: Alstom formally confirmed on September 22 that it had been holding discussions regarding a possible ‘combination’ with Siemens’ Mobility Division.
Alstom said that no final decision had been made, discussions are on-going and no agreement had been reached. The company would ‘inform the public of any material developments in this respect’.
Speculation has been mounting in recent months regarding a possible combination of the rail activities of some or all of Alstom, Bombardier Transportation and Siemens, as the companies seek to compete with the scale, resources and state backing of China’s CRRC.
Bloomberg reported on September 21 that one option being considered was a merger of Siemens’ rail activities into Alstom in exchange for Siemens taking a stake in the French company, or the formation of joint ventures.
Siemens and Bombardier are understood to have discussed the formation of a Bombardier-led joint venture in the rolling stock market and a Siemens-led joint venture in the signalling sector.
