Beacon Rail Leasing, a leading Pan-European rolling stock lessor, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ascendos Rail Leasing S.à r.l., a European locomotive and rolling stock leasing company. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including clearance with the German competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2016. Committed debt financing for the transaction has been provided by ING Bank and Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, with additional offices in London and Munich, Ascendos' current portfolio includes 35 locomotives and 100 freight wagons on lease in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, 35 passenger train units on lease in Germany, and 67 double decker coaches on lease in Denmark.

Beacon owns a diverse portfolio of freight and passenger train rolling stock and leases these assets to operating companies in the UK and Continental Europe. It owns and manages a modern fleet of 190 locomotives, 944 freight wagons and 20 passenger train units. Beacon's customers include many of the top freight operators in the UK and leading locomotive and rolling stock operators throughout Europe and Scandinavia. 

Pamplona Capital Management acquired Beacon in May 2014 through Pamplona Capital Partners III, LP, a 2011 vehicle with $2.7 billion of committed capital. Since closing, Beacon has been an active acquirer of assets through portfolio acquisitions, the placement of new build orders and the closing of sale / leaseback transactions with various freight and passenger operators, significantly increasing the scale of the portfolio and diversifying both the lessee and asset base. 

Ascendos is currently owned by Everest Babcock & Brown Opportunities Fund, BBSFF EU Rail Lessor Limited (a subsidiary of Global Investments Limited listed on the Singapore Exchange) and BOSSAF Rail Limited. 

Beacon Rail Leasing is a rolling stock leasing company focused on serving the UK and continental European markets.