Abbey and Deutsche Bank linked in Porterbrook sale

Abbey and Deutsche Bank linked in Porterbrook sale

Abbey is reported to be selling its train leasing business to Deutsche Bank, for £2 billion.

Porterbrook Leasing Company was acquired by the bank in 2000 from Stagecoach, for approximately $1.2 billion in cash.

The firm specialises in the leasing of all types of railway rolling stock and associated rail equipment.

The business is now valued at around £2 billion and according to a report in The Sunday Times, Abbey’s parent company, Santander, could be making the disposal to improve its capital position.

In June, Royal Bank of Scotland announced that it had sold its Angel Trains rolling stock leasing business to a consortium headed by Australian infrastructure group, Babcock & Brown, for £3.6 billion.

Other members of the consortium included Deutsche Bank and AMP Capital Investors.

It is understood that HSBC is also considering the sale of HSBC Rail, another train-leasing firm, also valued at around £2 billion.

Angel Trains, HSBC Rail and Porterbrook are the three leading rolling stock leasing companies in the UK, having been formed out of the privatisation of British Rail between 1994 and 1997.