MONTREAL, July 16 /CNW Telbec/ - TRANSDEV CANADA is pleased to announce
that it has acquired Groupe Autobus Richard Auger, a well-established bus
company in the area southwest of Montreal, thereby taking another step forward
in its growth strategy for Canada.
"The acquisition of Groupe Autobus Richard Auger is in line with our
development strategy for Canada. When we acquired Limocar in 2007, we became a
leader in the market in the area surrounding Montreal, handling 42% of travel.
We have also consolidated our internal growth, which currently stands at 10%
per year," said André Magnon-Pujo, general manager of TRANSDEV CANADA and
president of Limocar.
With the acquisition of Groupe Autobus Richard Auger, TRANSDEV CANADA has
gone from 470 to 740 employees and increased its fleet from 320 to 530
vehicles, as well as consolidating its urban transit operations in the area
surrounding Montreal. TRANSDEV CANADA will now operate four of the existing 11
CITs (inter-municipality transit commissions) in the area around Montreal, as
well as serving the Montreal-Sherbrooke intercity corridor. TRANSDEV CANADA is
also reinforcing its position in school and adapted transportation services,
notably in medical transport: Groupe Autobus Richard Auger owns Médicar, a
leading supplier of non-emergency medical transport for hospitals, seniors'
residences and day centres.
"This acquisition marks another step in our growth strategy for Canada.
TRANSDEV is a world leader in public transit using tram and light rail, as
well as in bus operations, and we intend to continue growing TRANSDEV Canada
Inc. We aim to become a key player in the development of public transit
networks in Quebec, drawing on our expertise in various cutting-edge sectors
such as tramways, trolleybuses, BusWay services, rail and-of
course-conventional bus services. "As well, environmental considerations are
an integral part of this growth strategy," added Mr. Magnon-Pujo.
Synergis Capital Inc. of Montreal, a firm specializing in mergers and
acquisitions that is the exclusive Canadian partner of Global M&A, was
Transdev Canada's exclusive consultant for this transaction.
About Groupe Autobus Richard Auger
Founded in 1956, Groupe Autobus Richard Auger owns a fleet of 210
vehicles and employs 270 people. Over the years, the company has developed a
solid reputation and outstanding expertise. A specialist in school bus
transportation, public transit, and charter and adapted transport, Groupe
Autobus Richard Auger operates the CIT Sud-Ouest urban network, as well as
school transport and medical transport with Médicar.About TRANSDEV:
- TRANSDEV, a subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts, is the fourth-largest
private operator in public transportation in Europe. With 12 tram
networks (Grenoble, Madrid, Melbourne, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nantes,
Nottingham, Orléans, Strasbourg, Tenerife, Utrecht, Valenciennes), two
under construction (Edinburgh, Reims) and two subway systems (Porto,
Genoa), Transdev is a world leader in the market, with operations in
nine countries in Europe as well as in Canada and Australia. The Group
manages a fleet of over 20,000 vehicles, including 15,000 buses and
coaches, 1,000 trams, 90 subway cars, 30 trains, 70 trolleys, 40 river
shuttles and 4,000 vehicles for demand-responsive transport, a market
in which Transdev is a European leader. It employs more than 41,000
people and had sales of 3.3 billion euros in 2008.
- TRANSDEV CANADA, which operates the Limocar brand, has a fleet of 320
vehicles, transports four million passengers annually and employs 470
people. It provides transit services in more than 40 municipalities
through contracts with CIT Laurentides, CIT de la Vallée du Richelieu
and CIT Roussillon. The company also serves the Montreal-Sherbrooke
corridor with daily intercity bus service to more than a dozen
municipalities in the Eastern Townships. TRANSDEV LIMOCAR has also
provided school bus service for nearly 25 years, with a network of
close to 130 routes across Quebec. The company is one of the main
school bus service providers southwest of Montreal and in the
Sherbrooke region.
For further information: Caroline Couillard, Morin Relations Publiques,
(514) 289-8688, ext. 233, C. (514) 755-5729, caroline@morinrp.com; Source:
TRANSDEV CANADA
