FS signed to buy-back the 40% of Centostazioni shares, a decisive step towards the realization of a “Smart Station” network
Rome, 15th November
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane acquires full ownership of Centostazioni, a decisive step towards the realization of a “Smart Station” network, aimed at becoming the center of the infrastructure and integrated mobility services, a fundamental pillar of the 2017-2026 Industrial Plan.
For this acquisition, signed on November 15, FS will pay € 65.6 million. The full ownership of Centostazioni will allow to pursue a single management of the FS Group main network, consisting of more than 600 stations.
The buyback of the shares – previously owned by Archimede 1 – is a further step towards a redefinition strategy of the station’s role.
The process started in June 2016 with the demerger of Grandi Stazioni in GS Rail and GS Retail, with the following GS Retail sale to a consortium of investors, which took place in July 2016.
This enabled to split the two different areas of business - retail and mobility - and avoid the differences in goals. After this transaction, the next step involves the sale of the retail business, by tender, of some stations part of Centostazioni perimeter, i.e. those stations which might be attractive centers for shopping, services and entertainment, by considering the number of passengers and the spaces for business purposes.
The stations fully managed by FS Group will become intermodal hub (bus terminal, parking, car rental, car sharing/bike sharing, electric vehicle charging), with ancillary services and new facilities, from temporary offices to start-up incubators.
They will become Smart Stations for the Smart Life of our customers.