Our team in Finland, led by Partner and Co-head of Corporate, Maria Carlsson, has advised Mitsubishi Electric Corporation on its investment into EKE-Electronics Ltd, whereby Mitsubishi Electric acquired a 34% stake in EKE-Electronics from EKE-Finance Oy.
EKE-Electronics (www.eke-electronics.com) is part of the EKE Group, a privately held Finnish corporation with diversified international operations. EKE-Electronics is a leading global supplier of intelligent train automation and management systems. Based in Finland, the company has operated in the railway business for over 30 years, executing complex projects across the world with a current focus on Australia, Europe, and China.
There are growing needs in the railway industry for improved customer service, faster response to operation issues and more efficient maintenance activities enabled by IoT and analytic technology that collects and analyzes big data from trains in operation. In the worldwide railway market, including the world’s largest railway market Europe, the railway system is expected to be continuously enhanced by utilizing digital technology. Through the newly formed alliance, the parties aim to strengthen the competitiveness of their train information and support systems and grow their respective train information systems businesses in the international market.
Partner Maria Carlsson, who acted as the team lead of the project at Bird & Bird, describes the transaction as complex, but highly rewarding for all sides.
"As an international law firm with strong know-how in the transport and technology sectors, we see that global trends such as digitalisation, big data use and ecological considerations are changing the market more rapidly than ever before", says Carlsson. "Our team is well-placed to handle the complex regulatory and commercial questions resulting from this change. We feel privileged to have been able to act as Mitsubishi Electric's legal advisor in the forming of this new international alliance."
“We are very pleased with Bird & Bird’s outstanding advice and overall handling of this transaction", says Manager (Legal Counsel) Katsuya Mitsuhashi at Mitsubishi Electric.
With nearly one hundred years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503, www.mitsubishielectric.com) is a recognized world leader in the manufacture, marketing, and sales of electrical and electronic equipment used in information processing and communications, space development and satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy, transportation, and building equipment. The company recorded a revenue of 4,462.5 billion yen (ca. 37.1 billion euro) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020.
