Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised Flexam Invest Asset Management (“Flexam Invest”) on the asset financing of a fleet of specialised wagons for CargoBeamer AG (“CargoBeamer”). The wagons are now in use in the intermodal rail network, in particular in France between Calais and Perpignan.
CargoBeamer’s patented wagons are designed for the intermodal transport of semi-trailers and other loading units. Equipped with a steel frame and wagon top, they allow for the horizontal, parallel and automatic loading and unloading at CargoBeamer terminal. This overall system of wagons, trans-shipment terminals and logistics software supports a shift in transport volume from road to rail through highly efficient loading with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions and certain external costs.
Flexam Invest is a leading European asset manager founded in 2011 specialising in private debt and asset finance in the transport and logistics relating to decarbonisation. Its first fund financed assets worth €185m between 2018 and 2020. Its second fund, which launched in 2021, has a target volume of €250m.
Founded in Leipzig in 2003, CargoBeamer, an innovative logistics service provider, focussed on developing an efficient European network of terminals connected via fixed timetables. Its trains currently operate in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The WFW Germany Asset & Structured Finance team that advised Flexam Invest was led by Frankfurt Partner Frederik Lorenzen supported by Senior Associate Alexander Piepenbrock. Hamburg Partner Verena Scheibe and Managing Associate Verena Weider advised on the tax aspects of the transaction.
Frederik commented: “We are delighted to have advised Flexam Invest on this international transaction, which represents another step forward in the decarbonisation of the European transport sector”.
