Publication date6th October 2026
Read time 2 min

Keolis Santé and Groupe Nohain today announced that they are joining forces to form Keolis Santé Nohain, a new entity with Keolis Santé as majority shareholder and to which Thomas Damien will transfer his companies.

The transaction opens a new chapter for Groupe Nohain and enables Keolis Santé to expand into a new region, complementing Keolis Group’s mobility offering in the Nièvre department. It reflects a strong conviction: when healthcare is a long way away, mobility becomes essential to guarantee access to it. In a region where the regional health agency (ARS) maintains close dialogue with ambulance operators, this partnership opens up new opportunities to improve patient care pathways.

Founded in 1983, Groupe Nohain today operates in the towns of Cosne-sur-Loire, Nevers and Decize. It employs 130 people and handles several hundred patient journeys every day, covering both scheduled transport and emergency transfers to hospital. Keolis Santé Nohain has a fleet of 80 vehicles: 19 ambulances, 38 light medical vehicles (VSL) and 23 taxis. With the incorporation of four companies generating close to €10 million in revenue, Keolis Santé will increase its business by around 10% through this transaction.

A local organisation staying close to its community

This partnership will allow Groupe Nohain to retain its distinctive identity, local roots and close-knit organisation, while benefiting from Keolis Santé’s expertise, tools and support capabilities. Thomas Damien will continue to lead the company, with the ambition of giving fresh momentum to its project and its development. The company will also maintain its involvement in the JUSSIEU secours network and in trade organisations.

“Patient transport is entering a period of profound transformation. I chose to anticipate it rather than submit to it, by partnering Groupe Nohain with a solid player that is committed to our profession for the long term. With Keolis Santé Nohain, we want to combine our local roots and on-the-ground knowledge with the resources and expertise of a market leader, so that we can continue our development and prepare calmly for the future of our companies and our teams, in the interests of our patients,”

Thomas DAMIEN, Chairman of Groupe Nohain.

Patient transport is at a turning point in its history. Faced with unprecedented constraints, the sector must reinvent itself, invest and embrace a new ambition for the profession. We are convinced that this transformation will come through bold and lasting partnerships that can combine the strength of local players with the expertise and resources of a group. That is the whole purpose of this partnership: joining forces to break new ground and take patient transport further. It allows us to pursue our ambition: to simplify and improve patient journeys, while making daily life easier for the healthcare professionals who support them,”

Roland de BARBENTANE Chairman of Keolis Santé.

Key figures

  • More than 40 years

  • 130 employees

  • 3 main operating zones: Cosne-sur-Loire, Nevers and Decize

  • Several hundred patient journeys per day

Read the press release