Simpson Thacher advised Aberdeen Investments and Rock Rail in connection with the formation and closing of its c.£800 million new platform investing in the next generation of U.K. passenger trains, attracting long-term international capital into Britain’s rail network.
The first close brings together a diversified syndicate of global institutional and secondary investors, led by StepStone and Partners Group as co-lead investors, alongside a significant commitment from the sponsors, Aberdeen Investments and Rock Rail.
The platform will fund the delivery of Rock Rail’s current rolling stock fleet and deliver new, more efficient trains to replace ageing fleets, improving passenger experience, increasing capacity and supporting decarbonisation.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Ed Ford, Tessa Dean, Barnaby Geddes-O'Dolan and Samuel Pennington (Funds and Secondaries); Amy Mahon, David McKendrick, Kate Strachan, Steven Hood, Naomi Shode and Neha Goyal (Energy and Infrastructure); and Caleb McConnell and Tim Wells (Tax).