National Express acquires Spanish bus firm Transportes Rober for £11.13m
National Express today announced that it has acquired Spanish bus group Transportes Rober for £11.13m.
Rober has operated the urban bus contract in Granada for more than 20 years and is a major hub for long haul connections.
National Express said the deal represented a further step in “consolidating the regional and urban bus markets”, which its Spanish subsidiary ALSA has successfully executed in the country’s regions.
“The acquisition of Rober adds another revenue-protected contract to ALSA, consolidating its leadership position in another region, further diversifying its revenue streams and delivering operational synergies,” said Ignacio Garat, CEO of National Express.
Following the announcement, shares in National Express rose by 2.4 per cent as markets opened.
The UK-based bus company’s trading performance has improved in 2021, as it continues to win new contracts across Europe and North America.
National Express said it will deliver a further update on its finances when it publishes its interim results on 29 July.
Commenting on the deal, Francisco Iglesias, CEO of ALSA, said: “The consolidation of regional and urban services in Andalusia will reinvigorate public transport across the region making it more attractive and easier to use.”