Keolis and Downer have signed an agreement for Keolis to buy Downer’s shares in the Keolis Downer joint venture, ending a 15-year partnership that has seen the company become a major player in Australia’s public transport sector.
The move will see the Keolis Group, already the majority shareholder, take full ownership of its Australian activities, which will be rebranded simply as Keolis.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australasia’s bus and coach industry
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly ABC magazine
The acquisition underscores Keolis’ ambition to expand its footprint and services in Australia, leveraging both its international experience and local knowledge to forge new partnerships and enhance public transport delivery.
“After having partnered with Downer for 15 years and successfully grown the business to become a leading multi modal public transport operator in Australia, we have agreed to adopt a different strategy moving forward by Keolis becoming the sole shareholder of our Australian business,” Keolis Group International CEO Laurence Broseta says.
“This will allow us agility to build new partnerships based on business opportunities and projects. With our knowledge of the local market and our extensive international footprint, now is the right time to change our commercial approach.”
Keolis Downer CEO Leila Frances says she was proud of what the joint venture had accomplished and was eager for the next chapter.
“I am proud of all the achievements that Keolis Downer has made in the last 15 years and look forward to building on that foundation with a new chapter,” she says.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to maintain our focus on effective partnerships with local transport authorities to deliver positive passenger outcomes and expand our local footprint.”
Australia is regarded as a strategic market for the Keolis Group, which operates in 13 countries and runs a range of services including trains, driverless metros, trams, buses, on-demand transport and active transport services.
The company says it is committed to delivering strong operational performance, improving customer experience, and supporting a shift towards sustainable travel modes.
The transaction between Keolis and Downer is expected to be completed by late 2025.