24 March 2013

NS buys 49% of The Hague’s public transport company

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek has advised state-owned Dutch railway company NS on the acquisition of a 49% share in The Hague's public transport company HTM from the Municipality of The Hague. The Municipality will retain a majority 51% share in HTM Passenger Transport.

The city's light rail infrastructure will remain under municipal ownership. As part of their long-term cooperation, the Municipality of The Hague and NS have agreed to invest substantially in the improvement of public transportation in The Hague.

Anja Mutsaers, lead partner at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek: "It is very special to have worked on this complex transaction with a client that we have been assisting since 1881. It is one of the firm's oldest clients. We are therefore honoured that 132 years later we are still advising Dutch Railways (NS) on their business, as in this matter where NS has taken an interest in the public transport organisation HTM and, together with the Municipality of The Hague, will ambitiously invest in public transport in The Hague."

Team: Anja Mutsaers, Jaap de Keijzer, Menno Stoffer, Paul Sleurink, Reinier Kleipool, Arjan Kleinhout, Mauricette Schaufeli, Claire van der Hoeven, Deline Kruitbosch, Ellen Gerretsen, Gurgen Hakopian, Pieter van Os en Henk van Ravenhorst.