Lincoln International advised Knorr-Bremse on its agreement to sell Kiepe Electric to Heramba

August 23, 2023

Knorr-Bremse has agreed to sell Kiepe Electric to Heramba

Kiepe Electric

Kiepe Electric, a subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse, headquartered in Germany, is a global leader in electrifying road and urban rail transportation. The company manufactures and implements power electronics, electric drives, vehicle control hardware and smart software for fleet and energy management around the globe. As the specialist in electrical engineering, the company supplies leading bus and rail vehicle original equipment manufacturers with electrical systems for ecologically sustainable and emission-free solutions in the public transport sector. In 2022, Kiepe Electric launched their exclusive high-power charging system, enabling rapid battery-electric bus charging and energy management. Kiepe Electric operates six locations in Europe, North America and India with approximately 600 employees. In 2022, the company generated revenues of more than €120 million.

The Deal

Kiepe Electric brings historical strength in delivering system competency for electrical traction systems. Current trends in electrification and green mobility with mandates from countries across Europe, Asia and North and South America have created significant demand for solutions that reduce the carbon footprint across public and freight transportation. The transaction will create a unique pure-play global leader in sustainable urban transportation. The transaction is still subject to closing conditions.

Our Perspective

Patrick von Herz, Managing Director who co-leads Lincoln International’s automotive and mobility technology team, commented, “This transaction is the third e-mobility related M&A sell-side we successfully executed in 2023 and underpins our strong momentum in this segment.”

“It also demonstrates Lincoln International’s ability in giving clients access to a global investor base with an interest in sustainable transportation technology innovations,” Richard Floto, Managing Director in Lincoln International’s Industrials Group, added.

Knorr-Bremse

Knorr-Bremse, a public company based in Munich, is the world’s leading manufacturer of braking systems and a leading supplier of safety-relevant subsystems for rail and commercial vehicles. Knorr-Bremse is part of the German stock market index MDAX.

Heramba

Founded in 2023, Heramba is a special-purpose company focused on investing in companies with technologies and capabilities that can accelerate the decarbonization of commercial transportation. The company is headquartered in Berlin and Atlanta.