Railcor Corporate Services

Corporate Services

We partner with founders and management teams of small to mid-market companies to support their international growth in developing countries. We focus on the railway sector where we have experience and a proven history.

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We provide the following services to our partners and affiliates.

Research & Development for Railway Products and Solutions

Railcor provides a full-spectrum Research and Development service designed to take ideas from concept to operational reality. Our team identifies operational challenges, conducts technical and market research, and develops innovative railway products and solutions tailored to customer needs. From early-stage planning, feasibility studies, and prototyping through to testing, certification, and final implementation, we provide a structured, engineering-driven R&D pathway. This ensures that every solution is practical, commercially viable, and ready for deployment across complex railway environments.

Regulatory & Compliance Support

Railcor provides comprehensive regulatory and compliance support to affiliates and third-party customers, assisting them in securing the necessary approvals for product endorsement and certification across multiple rail networks. Our team navigates the full spectrum of governance requirements, including engagements with the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR), adherence to network-specific technical standards, and alignment with applicable ISO frameworks and quality-management systems. We manage the administrative processes, safety submissions, conformity assessments, and documentation required to ensure products and solutions meet all regulatory thresholds. This service streamlines market entry, reduces approval timelines, and ensures full compliance with both national and international rail-industry standards.

Sales and Marketing Support (Licensed or Ad Hoc)

Railcor offers flexible sales and marketing support services to help partners expand their market reach and commercial performance. Whether on a licensed basis or through ad hoc engagement, we provide targeted sales strategies, product positioning, brand development, customer engagement programmes, and bid preparation support. Our team leverages deep industry knowledge and established networks across the railway sector to generate qualified leads, strengthen customer relationships, and drive sustainable revenue growth for our partners.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Finance Advisory

Railcor provides specialised advisory services for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic disposals, acting for both the buy-side and sell-side in targeted transactions. Our expertise covers opportunity identification, valuation support, due-diligence coordination, transaction structuring, and negotiation management. We assist clients in executing acquisitions or divestitures that enhance strategic positioning and long-term value. Complementing this, our corporate finance capability extends to capital raising, financial modelling, project finance, and structuring of investment vehicles—ensuring that every transaction is commercially sound, well-governed, and aligned with the client’s broader strategic objectives.

Railcor Case Studies

Case Study: Market Disruption Through Sales & Marketing Support

We are a UK-based company that has developed a next-generation intelligent bolt solution for the railway sector. Our technology provides real-time monitoring of clamp load and temperature, significantly enhancing rail network safety, asset reliability, and operational efficiency. We believe this solution represents an essential tool for any modern railway system committed to reducing risk and improving performance.

As part of our global expansion strategy, we have undertaken a detailed assessment of the African rail market. While the opportunity is substantial, it is equally clear that entering the region independently presents significant challenges. The cost of market penetration, the complexity of certification requirements, and the need for strong on-the-ground support make it impractical for a single product company to enter the territory alone.

For these reasons, we have elected to appoint a credible and experienced licensing partner to represent us, ensure regulatory and technical compliance, and build a sustainable sales footprint. Railcor is the obvious choice. Their extensive knowledge of the territory, established industry reputation, and strong local sales and technical presence position them perfectly to champion our technology and drive adoption across the region.

We look forward to exploring a mutually beneficial partnership that brings this innovative solution to rail networks throughout Africa.

Case Study: Market Disruption Through Sales & Marketing Support:

Our company manufactures forged steel products for several sectors, including rail. For years, the local market for a specific rail component was dominated by two suppliers whose prices had escalated far beyond what we believed was reasonable. We identified an opportunity to manufacture the product locally at a significantly lower cost—while still achieving the required technical performance and maintaining a healthy margin.

Working with Railcor affiliates, we developed the product in full compliance with track-use specifications. The engineering, testing, and approvals were completed within 18 months, and we entered the market with a product that met all standards and outperformed competitors on price.

With Railcor’s sales and marketing support, we secured early customer engagement, technical trials, and rapid market acceptance. Our entry immediately disrupted the status quo, prompting rail operators and contractors to re-evaluate traditional suppliers as cost savings became a top priority.

Our first batch was successfully delivered to the market, and we have “shaken the tree”—creating real momentum and opening the door for further products to be developed using the same model. We are now exploring additional forged steel components where local manufacturing, competitive pricing, and Railcor-backed market access can deliver similar results.

Case Study: Rail Sourcing and Supply into African Markets.

Our company sources and supplies a wide range of railway rails into African networks. With most global rail production now centred in the UK, Europe, and China—and South African mills largely inactive—we operate as an agnostic supplier able to procure from any compliant international factory.

Supplying rails into Africa carries high barriers to entry, as it requires purchasing large volumes upfront and holding stock for long periods. Supported by a strong balance sheet, we are able to carry this inventory and ensure consistent availability for projects.

By cutting out additional agents and middle men intermediaries and running a lean, low-overhead head office, we have delivered material cost savings (in excess of 25%) compared to prevailing market prices in various supply projects. Our diversified global sourcing approach ensures both reliability and competitiveness.

Railcor has provided essential regulatory, certification, and market support, helping us navigate network requirements and identify new sales opportunities. Through this collaboration, we have expanded our footprint across multiple African territories and positioned ourselves as a trusted, cost-effective rail private sector supplier to the region’s growing rail sector and will drive our efforts to disrupt pricing for public railway systems.

Strategic Investment Leadership in the Rail Sector

Our affiliate companies have over the years made a large number of successful investments in the sector driving our focus and expertise further. As a result, the Railcor investment team is strongly positioned to identify and execute on strategic acquisition or investment opportunities in the sector.

Key characteristics of businesses we back

Opportunities for growth acceleration, structural transformation, operational improvement, buy & build, strategic repositioning and international expansion.

Partnership approach with management teams where we can bring value-adding support as majority owners.

With a common goal and a shared value creation plan, we can achieve great results together.

We create value by being selective and focused

Our sourcing strategy results in selecting the best companies

Through partnership, expertise and collaboration we help companies maximise their potential

We understand development country market landscapes and trends and shifts within our focus sector

We avoid reliance on external factors or the wider economy

We have a sustainability focus in everything we do

How do we support our portfolio companies?

Railcor offers close partnerships with founders, families, management and co-owners to create a platform for long-term success. This partnership-led approach allows us to contribute expertise and relevant experience, drawn from more than three decades of developing some of the most innovative companies. By focusing on driving accelerated growth and value creation through business transformation, Railcor empowers great companies to become even stronger.

Taking a long-term view on ownership, our goal is to create companies that continue to thrive well beyond the ownership period. Working closely with management to realise transformative opportunities, drive operational improvement and evaluate a diverse range of exit routes as the final step of the journey together.

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Experts in what we own

With sector specialisation and functional expertise, Railcor’s active ownership model unlocks value and helps create companies that are more sustainable, resilient and stronger. Our proven Ownership Excellence model makes a difference at the core.

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We drive sustainable change

Sustainability is embedded in every stage of the ownership journey – from investment decisions to value creation and exit. Our focus is not only on building stronger companies today, but on ensuring they continue to grow responsibly and thrive well into the future.

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