The key factors of the group's growth are outlined through its long-term operational history and technology excellence (the group was set up in Italy and the USA at the end of the 1800's, in France at the beginning of 1900's and invests heavily in R&D activities), has a high international participation and consolidated competencies (the group operates in 18 countries), has reached primary positions in the markets of interest (as far as the signalling systems are concerned and the company developed about 56%1 of the signalling systems of high-speed railways in the world. It has special experience in innovating transport system projects such as the automatic underground lines in Copenhagen, he first driverless and unmanned automatic underground railway,he automatic underground in Brescia, the recent acquisitions of the Rome C line, one of the most interesting infrastructures on the market, and the 5 line in Milan, which is the first automatic underground line realized under the new project financing scheme.

Future strategies will concentrate on strengthening our branches in different geographical areas and consolidating our leadership in those sectors where ANSALDO STS has registered its highest market acknowledgement on consolidation of its portfolio of offers and the attention given to business improvement and innovation.

The strategic objective in terms of signalling is to strengthen the areas where the company is already present and entering new markets, in particular increasing its participation in the Asian/Pacific area, China and India, the latter two countries which are investing the most in mass transit infrastructures. For this purpose, ANSALDO STS may create planning and production units in those countries. In Western Europe, one of the main targets is strengthening new presence in some of those countries which offer good opportunities, such as Spain and Great Britain. The group has been working to obtain local contracts.

The Transport System Unit aims to consolidate the Italian leadership and increase its European market share by taking advantage of the - in particular automatic - competencies developed in the segment of Underground Transport Systems.

ANSALDO STS principally focuses on a development strategy which promotes synergies between the two company's business units. The Transport System Unit can utilize the strong international distribution of Signalling to access new markets, above all in the automatic underground segment. As a consequence, the Signalling Unit can augment its product sales owing to joint offers with the Transport System Unit.