The Participations and Transfers Commission, which must give the green light to each sale of a company by the State, will soon work on a new file: the privatization of the public transport operator Transdev.
This giant with 102,000 inhabitants and nearly 10 billion euros in turnover was born from the merger, in 2011, of the transport activities of Veolia with those of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC). The latter owns 66% of the capital and the remaining 34% belongs to the German family group Rethmann. During a review of its holdings, CDC decided to sell a portion. The candidates had until Friday, November 22 to take a position. According to our information, the French investment fund Meridiam, specialized in infrastructure, would be a candidate, without getting any illusions.
In fact, the favorite would be the Rethmann group. The latter confirmed to World his intention to make a “very good offer, at a good price, with strong commitments in the social aspect”. It also ensures that “Transdev is and will remain a French company”. This is a requirement of the Caisse des Dépôts, which would keep 30% of the capital to guarantee it. He hopes to pocket more than one billion euros with the operation.
Although Transdev is less known to the French than SNCF or RATP, this historic bus and coach operator is present throughout the country, where it also operates trams, trains and some small metro lines. Transdev thus manages transport from Reims (Marne), Grenoble or Saint-Etienne. Côtes-d’Armor is also home to the bucolic Paimpol station and the train that connects it to Pontrieux. Above all, Transdev will operate, starting in 2025, the first TER outside the SNCF, which will circulate between Nice and Marseille. It will also restore the service of the small railway line between Contrexéville (Vosges) and Nancy, managing the infrastructure with the public works group NGE.
Leading operator in the United States
However, Transdev’s activities in France represent less than 30% of its turnover. Over the years, the company, present in nineteen countries, has become the bus operator in Bogotá, the operator of the largest tram network, that of Melbourne (Australia), and the first metro line. from Quito. Transdev is also the main competitor of Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s historic railway operator.
You have 55.47% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
