Stagecoach snaps up bus operator Bluebird

TRANSPORT giant  Stagecoach Group is buying North Manchester bus operator Bluebird for £2m.

The deal is subject to the approval of the competition regulator, the Office of Fair Trading.

Bluebird, based at Greengate in Middleton, employs 80 people and operates 40 buses. In the 12 months to 31 January 2012, it had revenues of £4mn, EBITDA of around £480,000 and an operating profit of around £330,000.

Should the deal be given the green light, all staff will transfer over to Stagecoach subsidiary Greater Manchester Buses South.
 
In Greater Manchester Stagecoach already operates around 630 buses,  employs 1,850 people and carries nearly 100 million passengers a year.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “This is a good fit with our existing successful bus network in Greater Manchester.

“We believe there is scope to develop the business and attract more customers to bus travel through our good value fares and high quality of service.”