NORTH BRANFORD, Conn. — The Girardin Family of Businesses and the Lintern Family announced on Feb. 18 that they have concluded a transaction by which Girardin has acquired the assets of School Lines from its owners, Dave and Debbie Lintern.
“Debbie and I are pleased with this natural transition for ourselves, our dedicated team and loyal customers. The relationship with the Girardin Family and the Lintern Family goes back many decades. We cannot imagine a better outcome for School Lines,” said Dave Lintern.
Business Continuity
Dave Lintern will remain with the organization, ensuring a smooth transition for its employees, customers and suppliers. The business will operate under School Lines Connecticut Inc., out of the same location in North Branford and with the same experienced and dedicated team.
School Lines Connecticut will continue to offer the complete line of Blue Bird and Micro Bird by Girardin buses, plus mini-buses with their best in class diesel, propane, gas, CNG and electric powertrains.
Additionally, School Lines Connecticut will maintain its focus in offering its customers rapid and reliable service by its experienced and dedicated team of professionals, while expanding its readily available bumper-to-bumper parts offerings for all makes.
“We are pleased to welcome the School Lines Connecticut team to the Girardin Family of businesses,” said Dave Girardin, president of Girardin.
He observed that “This transaction, along with other planned investments, will increase the product offering and servicing capability of School Lines Connecticut and strengthen its position in the North East. An expanded parts and service offering will undoubtedly create great opportunities for our mutual customers in Connecticut.”
“We love to see our dealers reinvesting in the Blue Bird network,” said Phil Horlock, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “It is a testament to the strength of the Blue Bird brand and the commitment of our dealer organization. We sincerely thank Dave and Debbie for their lifelong commitment to Blue Bird and wish them every success in the future.” The transaction is effective as of February 17, 2020.
About School Lines
Incorporated in 1966, School Lines has been selling and servicing Blue Bird Buses continuously for over 50 years. School Lines offers the complete line of Blue Bird and Micro Bird by Girardin school and commercial buses, along with a comprehensive parts and service center located in North Branford, Conn. School Lines is a recognized leader in CT for its sales and support of Alternative Fueled products. Contact 203-488-1382 or www.schoollinesct.com.
About Girardin
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Girardin Family of Businesses, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries A. Girardin, Inc., Girardin Ontario, Inc., New York Bus Sales and School Lines Connecticut, Inc., is the market-leading Blue Bird and Micro Bird dealer for the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Upstate New York and Connecticut in the U.S.
Girardin has been a Blue Bird Dealer for over 50 years, and is a Joint Venture partner with Blue Bird in Micro Bird Corporation, which builds all Micro Bird by Girardin mini-buses. Girardin is a Third Generation Family Business heavily invested and specialized in the school bus and commercial bus industry with investments and operations in Canada and the U.S. www.girardinbluebird.com
About Blue Bird Corporation
Celebrating its 90th year in business, Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an iconic American brand.
Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture, and sale of school buses and related parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production that are specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability.
Blue Bird is also the market leader in alternative fuel applications, with its propane-powered and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center in Delaware, Ohio. www.blue-bird.com
