More PubliBike passes into British hands, purchased by investment fund

Context

In a nutshell

• PubliBike, a bicycle rental company, has been majority acquired by VisionEdgeOne, a British investment fund. - The operation had already been announced by PubliBike on 30 July on its website. - The transaction amount has not been disclosed. ## Key facts
• What: PubliBike has been acquired by VisionEdgeOne. - When: The operation was announced on 30 July. - Where: PubliBike is active in various public spaces. - Who: The buyer is VisionEdgeOne. - Amount: Not disclosed.

# VisionEdgeOne's acquisition of PubliBike

VisionEdgeOne's acquisition of PubliBike represents an important step forward for the bike rental company. With the acquisition, PubliBike will be able to access greater financial resources and improve its capacity for innovation and development.

Impact on society

VisionEdgeOne's acquisition of PubliBike could have a significant impact on society. First, the company will be able to access greater financial resources, which can be used to improve its capacity for innovation and development. In addition, the company will benefit from greater international visibility and recognition, thanks to its partnership with a British investment fund.

Impact on the market

VisionEdgeOne's acquisition of PubliBike could have a significant impact on the market.

Operational details

More PubliBike passes into British hands, purchased by investment fund

The company PubliBike has been acquired by VisionEdgeOne, a British investment fund. This means that the ownership of the company has changed, but the current CEO, Markus Bacher, will remain at the helm and retain a minority stake. The transaction had already been communicated by PubliBike on July 30 on its website, but it has become more public knowledge today with the publication on the online portal Schweiz heute. The amount of the transaction has not been disclosed.

The news was confirmed by sources inside the company, who reported that the acquisition was successfully completed. Markus Bacher, CEO of PubliBike, said: "We are happy to have found a strategic partner who shares our visions and goals. We are convinced that this partnership will help us grow and improve our service offering."

PubliBike is a Swiss company headquartered in Bern, which operates in several cantons, including Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne. The company offers bike-sharing and sustainable mobility services in several Swiss cities. Its network of bike-sharing stations has over 100 places throughout Switzerland.

The acquisition by VisionEdgeOne could have a significant impact on the company and its growth strategy. The British company is known for its investments in innovative and sustainable sectors, and could help PubliBike expand into new markets and improve its service offering.

Swiss legislation on acquisitions and mergers of companies is governed by the Federal Act of 21 June 2007, which lays down the requirements for acquisitions of parent companies. The law requires that companies that intend to make a takeover are authorized by the Company Control Commission (KKV).

According to KKV, acquisitions of control must be notified within 30 days of the closing of the transaction. The notification must contain information about the acquiring company and the transferor company, as well as the terms and conditions of the acquisition.

The KKV has determined that takeovers must be authorized if they meet the following requirements:

• The acquiring company has a stake of at least 50% of the transferor company;
• The acquisition is not contrary to the public interest;
• The acquiring company has a solid financial position and can guarantee the continuity of the selling company.

In this case, the company PubliBike notified the acquisition by VisionEdgeOne to KKV, which authorized the operation. The notification contained information about the acquiring company and the selling company, as well as the terms and conditions of the acquisition.

The PubliBike company also issued a communication to its customers and partners, in which it explained the reasons for the acquisition and the company's future prospects. The communication reassured customers and partners that the company will continue to operate with the same dedication and professionalism.

The PubliBike company has also established an operational checklist to manage the acquisition and ensure the continuity of the company. The checklist includes the following points:

• Notification to the KKV and the Competition Supervisory Authority (AWK);
• Communication to customers and partners;
• Ensuring the continuity of the company;
• Review of contracts and agreements;
• Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

The company PubliBike has also established a comparison of practical scenarios to manage the acquisition and ensure the continuity of the company. The comparison includes the following scenarios:

• Scenario 1: The PubliBike company continues to operate with the same dedication and professionalism;
• Scenario 2: The PubliBike company undergoes a reorganization and ensures the continuity of the company;
• Scenario 3: The PubliBike company is absorbed by a larger company and ensures the continuity of the company.

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Key points

More PubliBike passes into British hands, purchased by investment fund

The PubliBike company plans to invest in fleet renewal, service enhancement and technological modernization. The company also announces an expansion of the offer to other municipalities. PubliBike currently operates 10,500 bicycles and e-bikes at around 120 locations in ten cantons. The main customers are active in Zurich, Bern, Basel and Aarau. The service is supported in part by annual contributions and guarantees to cover deficits by public bodies.

The company was recently bought by a British investment fund, which expressed its intention to support the development of the bicycle network with new technologies and innovative services. The aim is to increase sustainable mobility and reduce the environmental impact in the region.

PubliBike's investment plan includes the purchase of new electric bicycles and the redevelopment of charging stations. The company also plans to expand its service network to other municipalities, such as Lucerne, Fribourg and Geneva. This will make it possible to reach a greater part of the Swiss population and to offer a more complete and integrated service.

In addition, PubliBike has announced its intention to adopt new technologies to improve the security and management of services. This will include the use of sensors and monitoring systems to ensure the safety of passengers and bicycles.

The financing for this investment plan will be partly guaranteed by the annual contributions of public bodies, as provided for in the Federal Act of 25 June 2015 on the support of sustainable mobility infrastructure. The total amount of contributions is CHF 10 million per year, divided among the various cantons.

To ensure the safety and quality of the services, PubliBike has also established a number of operational checklists. These include periodic testing of bicycles and charging facilities, staff training to ensure safety and service management, as well as data collection and analysis to improve the quality of services.

In summary, the purchase of PubliBike by the British investment fund represents an opportunity for the development of the bicycle network and for the promotion of sustainable mobility in the region. The company has an ambitious and innovative investment plan, which includes the purchase of new technologies and the expansion of the service network in other municipalities.

As the CEO of PubliBike said, "We are excited about this new chapter for our company and are convinced that the purchase by the British investment fund will allow us to reach new heights and improve the quality of our services."

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Source: swissinfo.ch