HSBC supports Rotala’s acquisition strategy

[robertclark125]

Not quite. The routes that Preston bus ran before selling out to stagecoach had to remain with Preston bus when it was sold, except route 11. The need for a north West engineering base is what rotala should be looking to achieve. You can' keep sending accident damaged optare solos etc to Avonmouth.

 

[ARN556B]

Preston Bus was owned by Preston Borough Council from 1986 operated as an arms length bus company owned by Preston Borough Council. Preston Bus management bought the company in 1993. Bought by Stagecoach after a period of competition, and sold on to Rotala following a CMA enquiry. The current local managers have been with Preston Bus throughout.

 

[winston270twm]

Not quite. The routes that Preston bus ran before selling out to stagecoach had to remain with Preston bus when it was sold, except route 11. The need for a north West engineering base is what rotala should be looking to achieve. You can' keep sending accident damaged optare solos etc to Avonmouth.

Deepdale Road does a fair bit of prep & repair work for NW ops, Rotala have been using Go Goodwin's opposite (DBNW Eccles base) for engineering work with Citaro 33001 & Trident 40596 being repaired by them.

They don't keep sending damaged buses to Avonmouth, they don't normally do repair work for the rest of the group (must of had spare capacity), they used to send accident damage repairs to Rotala HQ at Long Acre & now Tividale Group HQ.

What's the probably that they are looking at D&G Bus? South Lancs Travel was a sister company of D&G (so same directors who sold them South Lancs Travel.) Since then Rotala have also added Go Goodwins (who ran a few routes in the Altrincham area) to the Diamond Bus North West business, while D&G have recently increased the number of services they run in Altrincham and have started serving Manchester Airport, meaning D&G's operating area overlaps with theirs and at the same time they could expand their operations in to Cheshire and Staffordshire with an acquisition. (I don't think there's any overlap between D&G's Staffordshire services and Diamond Bus' West Midlands operations.)

I don't really see D&G being that attractive to Rotala, especially as the majority of their routes operate within Stoke, which if the bus operating territory is as bad as First Potteries state, just not worth it. Don't forgot D&G are also linked with Midland Classic.

 

[Robertj21a]

Deepdale Road does a fair bit of prep & repair work for NW ops, Rotala have been using Go Goodwin's opposite (DBNW Eccles base) for engineering work with Citaro 33001 & Trident 40596 being repaired by them.

They don't keep sending damaged buses to Avonmouth, they don't normally do repair work for the rest of the group (must of had spare capacity), they used to send accident damage repairs to Rotala HQ at Long Acre & now Tividale Group HQ.



I don't really see D&G being that attractive to Rotala, especially as the majority of their routes operate within Stoke, which if the bus operating territory is as bad as First Potteries state, just not worth it. Don't forgot D&G are also linked with Midland Classic.

D&G wouldn't be a target. All of the Julian Peddle-connected operators tend to be of a similar approach to costs and operating on low margins, council contracts etc.

 

[winston270twm]

D&G wouldn't be a target. All of the Julian Peddle-connected operators tend to be of a similar approach to costs and operating on low margins, council contracts etc.

That's what I thought, although Rotala do go for tendered work, they also like a decent balance of commercial work & prefer the major conurbations i.e. Bristol / West Midlands / Greater Manchester etc

 

[northwichcat]

I don't really see D&G being that attractive to Rotala, especially as the majority of their routes operate within Stoke, which if the bus operating territory is as bad as First Potteries state, just not worth it. Don't forgot D&G are also linked with Midland Classic.

D&G wouldn't be a target. All of the Julian Peddle-connected operators tend to be of a similar approach to costs and operating on low margins, council contracts etc.

Peddle does have a record of selling operations and moving on to something else though. As with many companies with multiple depots Rotala could approach with a view to purchase one but not another (if the other party is willing to consider such an offer) or buy all the operations but with a view to sell off part (a common Stagecoach tactic.)

 

[DD12]

Interesting stuff above, thanks everyone !

 

[winston270twm]

Peddle does have a record of selling operations and moving on to something else though. As with many companies with multiple depots Rotala could approach with a view to purchase one but not another (if the other party is willing to consider such an offer) or buy all the operations but with a view to sell off part (a common Stagecoach tactic.)

You typically find that the majority of the buying / selling of bus companies done by Peddle, typically involves Arriva.