Backed by SNCF and the Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, Keolis is poised to step up growth

PARIS, France and MONTREAL, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Representatives of the Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec (CDPQ) met today to approve a 30% equity investment in Keolis.

Following the transaction, SNCF, the core industrial shareholder of Keolis, and CDPQ, a long-term investor in the company, confirmed their lasting commitment to ensuring the continuity and growth of Keolis for the benefit of public authorities.

Guillaume Pepy, Chairman of SNCF, said, "With this shift in share ownership between SNCF and CDPQ, we will be continuing to back the expansion of Keolis, a company founded on high-quality service and ongoing innovation. Our aim is to accelerate Keolis's growth strategy in France and on fast-growing markets in other parts of the world. The challenge is to be even more responsive to the needs of clients in the public sector, combining performance and efficiency."

Normand Provost, Executive Vice-President, Private Equity at CDPQ, said, "We are pleased to have been partners in Keolis alongside SNCF for five years and are firm believers in its business model. Keolis is a leader in its market, with a strong track record and a promising future, both in France and on international markets. We are confident that the management team at Keolis and its new Executive Chairman will make its current and future projects a success."

CDPQ played an active role in selecting David Azéma as Executive Chairman of the Executive Board and Joël Lebreton as Chairman of the Advisory Board at Keolis.

About SNCF Group
SNCF is a world leader in mobility and logistics with a presence in 120 countries and a total workforce of 245,000 generating revenue of €32.6 billion in 2011, including 23% in international markets. A public sector group dedicated to public service, SNCF builds on its foundations in rail in France to offer an extended range of services for smooth door-to-door mobility in the interest of transport and logistics operators, passengers, and the regional and local governments that are its organizing authorities. Targeting cross-border and international markets, the Group is made up of five divisions: SNCF Infra, managing, operating, maintaining and developing rail and related infrastructure; SNCF Proximités, operating local, urban and regional passenger services; SNCF Voyages, operating high-speed passenger rail services; SNCF Geodis, providing freight and logistic services; and Gares & Connexions, charged with train-station management and development. www.sncf.com

About Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a financial institution that manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2011, it held $159.0 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, the Caisse invests in major financial markets, private equity and real estate. For more information: www.lacaisse.com.

About Keolis
Keolis develops tailor-made mobility solutions to suit individual local requirements. Keolis is a market leader in France and a major player on the public transport spectrum in Europe and worldwide. Established in 12 countries, the company generated revenue of 4.4 billion euros in 2011 and employs 51,150 people..

SOURCE CAISSE DE DEPOT ET PLACEMENT DU QUEBEC