Rome, 13 July 2017

Busitalia signed the preliminary purchase agreement for Qbuzz, a Dutch public transport provider, in Rome today.

The operation will be closed after the procedure and authorisations have been obtained, including the go-ahead from the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM).

The agreement was signed by Renato Mazzoncini, Chief Executive Office and Director General of Fs Italiane, Stefano Rossi Chief Executive Officer of Busitalia, Bert Groenewegen, Chief Financial Officer of NS, the Dutch rail provider and Angelique Magielse Chief Executive Officer of Abellio Nederland.

In the Netherlands, Qbuzz, owned by Abellio Nederland, controlled by the Dutch rail provider NS, manages local public transport in the metropolitan area of Utrecht and the province of Groningen-Drenthe.

Qbuzz, one of the main operators in the Dutch market, has a turnover of around 190 million Euros, a fleet of 614 buses (including electric buses) and 26 trams, and transports 160,000 passengers a day.

The purchase of Qbuzz fits with the FS Group's process of internationalisation, part of the 2017-2026 Business Plan.