International defence partnerships and new markets can open a growth path for the Hungarian heavy vehicle manufacturer
. RÁBA Automotive Holding Plc. (“Rába”) majority stake acquisition is successfully completed with all conditions of the transaction fulfilled. 4iG Space and Defence Plc. (“4iG S&D”) acquired 74.34% stake in the listed company.
. Two former shareholders, N7 Holding Ltd. and Széchenyi István University Foundation, sold their entire stakes in Rába to 4iG SDT EGY Zrt., a special legal body established by 4iG S&D for the purpose of this acquisition.
. Through the indirect acquisition, 4iG S&D strengthens its defence-industry portfolio with advanced land-based mobility capabilities, completing the integrated competence base across land, air, and space domains.
. Following the change in ownership, renewed strategic vision of Rába is focused on the development of value-added defence-industry products and services, as well as on the expansion of related export activities.
. Through strategic agreements concluded in recent months with Czechoslovak Group (“CSG”), TATRA TRUCKS, and Lockheed Martin, 4iG S&D established strong technology and market framework that enables Rába to enter new markets, while also supporting the growth of 4iG Group’s defence business segment.
The acquisition represents another milestone in the evolution of 4iG S&D defence-industry capabilities. The objective is to expand the Land Systems division of 4iG Space and Defence holding with modern ground mobility capabilities, creating integrated and competitive defence-industry built on land, air, and space technologies. The substantial infrastructure of Rába, decades of its engineering expertise and defence-industry experience, together with the highly skilled workforce of more than 1,200, provide stable and reliable foundation for the implementation of 4iG S&D long-term strategy.
The transaction is driven by value creation objectives on a long term. In the future, Rába continues to operate as an integral part of the 4iG Space and Defence industry ecosystem, while maintaining its capital market presence, operational independence, and industrial identity. In parallel with the closing of the acquisition, 4iG S&D started a series of complementary partnerships aimed at opening new export markets for both Rába and 4iG Group defence business, as well as expanding component production, vehicle assembly and complex vehicle-integration related to military and special-purpose applications. As a result of these partnerships, product, and service portfolio of Rába is expected to expand, directly supporting international market presence of both Rába and the Group’s defence-industry operations. These initiatives create market, technological and business opportunities, significantly enhancing the overall growth potential of 4iG Group.
Furthermore and contributing to the sustainable improvement of its profitability and income-generating capacity in the long term.
The growth and market-entry strategy is reinforced by the planned cooperation with global defence player Czechoslovak Group (“CSG”), by which CSG can acquire indirect minority stake in Rába, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions following the transaction. As one of the largest privately owned defence companies in the region, CSG professional expertise, technological background and international network support renewal and international expansion of Rába, while strengthening its national and regional market position.
Another key pillar of the strategic framework is the commercial agreement between 4iG S&D and TATRA TRUCKS a.s. by 4iG S&D acquired exclusive distribution rights in Hungary for the sales of TATRA military and special-purpose vehicles and related services. The parties are also assessing the potential for component manufacturing, vehicle assembly, and production, as well as joint development activities in Hungary, leveraging Rába’s manufacturing capacities. TATRA, world-renowned for its heavy-duty vehicles designed for extreme terrain, is one of the oldest and most recognised commercial-vehicle manufacturers of the world. Its vehicles and innovations play significant role in defence, security, disaster-control and other special government applications, and the company holds a central position within CSG’s defence portfolio.
Rába defence-industry role is also strengthened by the agreement concluded with Lockheed Martin, which enables the integration of HIMARS launcher systems associated with long-range rocket artillery solutions in Hungary. The development of deployment and mobility capabilities on military truck platforms represent a new, international competence for Rába, enhancing the company’s position in the market for complex, high-technology defence-industry solutions.
4iG S&D’s long-term objective is to establish a manufacturing and development centre in Hungary, building on more than one hundred years of experience of Rába, existing production capacities and engineering expertise, and capable of developing and manufacturing innovative defence products and solutions. This objective is reinforced by the cooperation between 4iG S&D and Nurol Makina, which, based on the Hungarian distribution rights for the Gidran vehicle family and the previously established industrial and manufacturing cooperation between Rába and the Turkish company, supports the coordinated implementation of related activities across the value chain.
Following the completion of the transaction, Rába continues its operations with a stable ownership structure, clearly defined strategic directions and an expanding international partner network, laying the foundation for the company’s long-term development and sustainable value creation.
— end —
4iG Space and Defence Plc.
4iG Space and Defence Plc. is the space and defence-industry holding company of the 4iG Group, developing innovative dual-use technologies for the space, defence, and security sectors. Its activities are structured around five business divisions: Space, Aero, Land Systems, Weapons & Ammunition, and Cyber and Defence Digitalisation. The Space division covers satellite design, manufacturing, and operations. In the defence-technology domain, 4iG S&D develops unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS solutions, land platforms, weapons, and ammunition manufacturing solutions, as well as advanced cyber and digitalisation technologies. Its systems contribute to the development of NATO-compliant capabilities and to strengthening regional security.
www.4igsdt.hu
RÁBA Automotive Holding Plc.
Founded in 1896, RÁBA Automotive Holding Plc. is a publicly listed company on the Budapest Stock Exchange, with indirect majority state ownership. The company develops, manufactures, and supplies axles and axle components for commercial vehicles, agricultural tractors, and earth-moving machinery, as well as components for commercial and passenger vehicles, with significant exports to the European Union, Japan, and the United States. The Hungarian Defence Forces have been using RÁBA vehicles and systems for decades, and in recent years the company has further strengthened its role in the domestic defence industry.
www.raba.hu
For further information
Péter Elkán
Group Director of Corporate Relations
and Communications
4iG Nyrt.
sa***@*ig.hu
