KKR’s Trainline bolts on Index and Alven’s Captain Train

Existing venture backers Alven Capital, CM-CIC Capital Privé and Index Ventures will partially exit their holding in Captain Train following the buyout.

The add-on will expand Trainline's market to continental Europe from its hitherto UK focus, providing users with access to a combined 22 countries and 36 rail companies.

Captain Train is the first add-on acquisition for Trainline following KKR's buyout in 2015.

Trainline CEO Clare Gilmartin will become chief executive of the new Trainline International group, while Captain Train CEO Jean-Daniel Guyot will retain his current role at Captain Train and take on a director position at Trainline International. COO of Captain Train, Daniel Beutler will also remain COO of the company and become business development director of the new entity.

Previous funding
Captain Train first raised institutional funding in June 2013, when Index and CM-CIC Capital Privé invested €2.5m.

In December the following year, Alven Capital led a €5.5m funding round, alongside the existing backers.

KKR acquired Trainline in January 2015 in an SBO from Exponent Private Equity, heading off announced plans to list on the London Stock Exchange.

Exponent bought the company through a £163m MBO in 2006.

Company
Founded in 2009, Captain Train is a Paris-headquartered rail ticket booking website for European train travel.

The company employs a staff of 50 and claims 1.6 million registered users, and ticket sales in excess of 5,000 daily.

People
KKR – Philipp Freise (member and head of European technology, media and telecoms).
Trainline – Clare Gilmartin (CEO).
Captain Train – Jean-Daniel Guyot (CEO).

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• Topics
• Portfolio management
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• Advent International
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