Editing Connexxion (section)

==History==
[[File:Connexxion 4165, Hilversum (8601729306).jpg|thumb|[[VDL Berkhof]] at [[Hilversum railway station|Hilversum station]] in March 2013]]
[[File:Cxx 5037-III.JPG|thumb|[[Stadler GTW#Netherlands|GTW train]] near [[Amersfoort]] in July 2013]]
[[File:Catharina Amalia - Connexxion.jpg|thumb|[[Voskhod (hydrofoil)|Voskhod hydrofoil]] in June 2009]]
[[File:Connexxion Taxi.jpg|thumb|[[Mercedes-Benz Sprinter]] taxi in September 2007]]
Connexxion was formed on 10 May 1999 from a merger between transport companies NZH, ZWN, Midnet and Oostnet. Its name is a mutation of the French word [[wiktionary:Connexion|connexion]] meaning connection. In January 2007, Connexxion took over [[Utrecht]] public transport operator [[GVU (Utrecht)|GVU]] and [[Nijmegen]] operator Novio.<ref>[http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2007/01/connexxion_consolidates_bus_op/ Connexxion consolidates bus operations] ''Dutch News'' 3 January 2007</ref> In 2007, Connexxion's 33% shareholding in [[Keolis Nederland|Syntus]] was sold.<ref>[https://www.transdev.nl/data/upload/JV2007_ENG_LOW(1).pdf Annual report for year ended 31 December 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208123855/https://www.transdev.nl/data/upload/JV2007_ENG_LOW(1).pdf |date=8 February 2018 }} Connexxion</ref>

On 12 October 2007, Connexxion was privatised with a 67% stake purchased by Transdev-BNG-Connexxion Holding BV (TBCH), a consortium consisting of [[Transdev (historic)|Transdev]] (75%) and [[Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten]] (BNG) (25%), beating a [[Deutsche Bahn]] / [[Rabobank]] consortium and [[FirstGroup]].<ref>[http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/French-company-buys-Connexxion_146919.html French company buys Connexxion] ''[[Expatica]]'' 2 July 2007</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072221/https://uk.reuters.com/article/connexxion-transdev-idUKL0274463120070702 Transdev buys majority stake in Dutch bus firm] ''[[Reuters]]'' 2 July 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/transdev-acquisition-creates-fourth-largest-public-transportation-group-in-europe-533963431.html Transdev Acquisition Creates Fourth Largest Public Transport Corporation Group in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072456/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/transdev-acquisition-creates-fourth-largest-public-transportation-group-in-europe-533963431.html |date=23 January 2018 }} ''[[CNW Group]]'' 5 July 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.zonebourse.com/FIRSTGROUP-444908/pdf/55255/FIRSTGROUP_Rapport-annuel.pdf Annual Report for year ended 31 March 2007] FirstGroup</ref> This gives Transdev 50%, BNG 17%, and the government a 33% stake in Connexxion. In February 2013, the government's 33% shareholding was purchased by Transdev, increasing its shareholding to 86%.<ref>[http://www.nisnews.nl/mergers-and-acquisitions-feb.html State Sells Rest of Connexxion] Mergers & Acquisitions February 2013</ref><ref>[http://corpdocs.gmianalyst.com/Annual/ar_2013_317249.pdf Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122125604/http://corpdocs.gmianalyst.com/Annual/ar_2013_317249.pdf |date=22 January 2018 }} Bank Nederlandse Gemeenten</ref>

Connexxion's parent company, [[Transdev#Netherlands|Transdev Netherlands]], also had another operation called [[Veolia Transport Nederland]]. The branding was replaced with the Connexxion in December 2016.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161212145820/https://ovmagazine.nl/2016/11/veolia-verdwijnt-definitief-uit-het-ov-1517/ Veolia name disappears from the OV]  ''OV Magazine'' 21 November 2016 (Dutch)</ref> As a result, Veolia Transport Nederland's Haaglanden operations were rebranded to Connexxion.