Eversheds Sutherland advises on the acquisition of Subterra

Eversheds Sutherland Spain has advised Systra, one of the world’s largest international engineering and consulting groups, on the acquisition of Subterra, a Spanish engineering company specialized in subway works such as tunnels, subway stations and subway transportation systems with a significant presence in Chile, Colombia and Peru.

The acquisition is part of Systra’s growth strategy. The advice, with several jurisdictions involved, has been led by Eversheds Sutherland Madrid corporate partner Carlos Pemán, supported by María Ramalle Quiñones, (corporate, legal director), María Isabel González Ojeda (corporate, senior associate) and Mercedes Olmedo González (corporate, associate).

Systra has recently completed the acquisition of two companies dedicated to the design of tunnels and underground structures and subway structures, one in Australia, Bamser, and the other in Spain, Subterra. These two acquisitions reinforce its position as a world leader in the field of complex tunnels, following the 2021 acquisition of SWS Engineering, a leading engineering firm also specializing in tunnel design and based in Italy.

Subterra’s staff will bring extensive experience to projects around the world. This acquisition will also
gives Systra the opportunity to continue its development in Spain and Portugal, where the transport and construction markets are being boosted by the European Union’s recovery plan. It also enables the group to develop its partnerships with Spanish entrepreneurs, world leaders in the transport market.

Systra has been present on the Spanish market for twenty years, in particular for the modernization of the Bilbao metro, but also on high-speed line projects.