Metropoline Acquires Tanufa in Public Transportation Sector Deal

Metropoline, a public transportation company operating in the Negev, Sharon, and Netanya-Tel Aviv regions, is acquiring Tanufa, which serves the Jerusalem corridor and Samaria. The details of the transaction have not yet been disclosed. Metropoline is owned by Bon Tur, which is controlled by Generation Capital investment fund (73%) and a group led by Leumi Partners (27%). Tanufa is owned by Maya Tur, EL, China Motors, and the Shasha Group.

Both companies have faced numerous complaints about poor service and were fined millions of shekels two years ago. In the first half of 2024, Metropoline received the highest fines from the Ministry of Transportation, totaling 22.5 million shekels, followed by Tanufa with fines amounting to 14.5 million shekels. Over the past two years, these two companies have accumulated the largest fines in the sector. Additionally, Metropoline ranked at the bottom in the Ministry of Transportation's semiannual performance report published about two months ago.

This acquisition comes amid ongoing criticism of the quality of public transportation services provided by both companies. The deal is expected to reshape the public transportation landscape in the regions they serve, although further details and implications remain to be seen.