International law firm Bird & Bird advised GALEO, a company specialising in passenger transport and urban, interurban, tourism and occasional activities throughout the south of France, on the strategic acquisition of several entities belonging to the Berthelet and Lieutaud Groups, two long-standing players in the passenger transport sector.
The acquisition of Groupe Berthelet occurs in the context of the restructuring of the Berthelet family group (260 employees), led by Aurélien Berthelet, the third generation at the head of the company, which has specialised in coach passenger transport since 1946.
The transaction took place at the end of June 2025 and resulted in the division of Cars Berthelet into three blocks, with GALEO taking over the Genas site, which manages the contract for routes in eastern Lyon on behalf of Sytral Mobilités, with Aurélien Berthelet continuing a part of the activities. The acquisition is part of the aim to preserve local expertise while providing the resources necessary for the development and modernisation of transport services.
In parallel, in July, GALEO also acquired Groupe Lieutaud in Vaucluse, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary, thereby consolidating its geographical presence and portfolio of activities.
With the integration of Berthelet's activities, now known as Courriers Rhodaniens Lyon - CRL (formerly Cars Berthelet), and the acquisition of the Lieutaud entities (SCTP Cars Lieutaud, AP Cars Lieutaud, and Autocars Lieutaud), GALEO has significantly strengthened its position in the interurban and urban passenger transport market.
Bird & Bird advised GALEO on the acquisition of the Berthelet Group with a team comprising partner David Malcoiffe, Counsel Lionel Berthelet, and associates Lara Fizaine and Constance Brouquier.
On this transaction, Polder advised the sellers, with a team comprising partner Pierre-François Muller, and associate Vanessa Matraj; Delsol also advised Aurélien Berthelet, with a team comprising Counsel Caroline Da Lage and associate Jean Leclercq.
Bird & Bird also advised GALEO on the acquisition of Groupe Lieutaud with a team comprising partner David Malcoiffe, associate Constance Brouquier and legal advisor Anne-Sophie Dos Santos.
The sellers were assisted by Odyssée Avocats, with a team comprising partner Régis Junqua and associate Aurélie Azorin.
