Arriva pays pounds 47m for Dutch buses

TRANSPORT GROUP Arriva is paying pounds 47m for two Dutch public bus companies as part of its European expansion drive in a move that will give the British group 20 per cent of the Dutch bus market.

Veonn Groep and Hanze Groep, the two Dutch companies, have 3500 employees and operate in 30 towns and cities in the north of Holland. Arriva shares jumped 24p to 426.5p on the news.