Optare strikes £2.5m export deal

BUS manufacturer Optare has agreed its largest export order yet – a £2.5m deal to supply its vehicles to a Dutch company.

The Lancashire firm, which has been developing export markets, will supply 25 Solo buses to Syntus, a provider of integrated public transport services.

The board said it expects to receive the formal contract within the next few

Glenn Saint, Optare’s commercial director, said: “This order represents our largest export order as Optare and is particularly significant since it involves the supply of buses into one of the most sophisticated public transport markets in the world.”

Last month the Darwen-based manufacturer said it was making “positive” progress with an un-named suitor which made an approach in January.

Optare told the Stock Market on January 7 that it had received a preliminary approach which could lead to an offer being made for the majority of its shares.

The company, which is pioneering a new type of low carbon bus, made a loss of £12m on turnover of £79.3m in 2009. The company has a market value of around £14m.