Jordan Companies Add to STA’s Growing Family
WALL, N.J. (Sept. 18, 2009) – North America’s fastest growing school transportation provider, Student Transportation of America, Ltd. (“STA”) (TSX: STB) announced today it has completed the acquisition, after the previously announced Letter of Intent, of the combined operations of Jordan Transportation, Inc. and related companies (” Jordan “) based in Butler NJ. The transaction and closing was contingent upon meeting certain conditions and receiving various consents and renewals, which have been obtained. Management expects the deal to be immediately accretive to shareholders of its common stock.
Jordan is the company’s 35th acquisition since inception and will add over 135 vehicles, annualized revenues of US$7.2 million, and two locations to STA’s operations in New Jersey . The Company utilized availability under its senior credit facility, recently created with the proceeds of the common share offering completed in June 2009 , to fund the acquisition.
“We are pleased to welcome the entire staff of Jordan to our growing family of companies. Mark Jordan will be joining our management team in NJ and we welcome his leadership. We certainly plan on continuing the tradition of service excellence the Jordan ‘s have developed over the past forty years,” said Denis J. Gallagher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STA. “I have known the Jordan family for over 33 years and they have always had a great company. I am honored that they have chosen to be part of the STA family. Mark’s experience and commitment to the school bus industry as President of the Garden State School Bus Contractors Association fits very well with our on-going operations in other parts of the state.”
Gallagher added, “This year we will continue to look at great opportunities like Jordan . We have been very successful this past year, with good growth by winning new bid-in contracts that have good margins and very good cash flow. This is our fifth year as a public company. The sustainability and growth we have achieved is not seen in many businesses today and we hope shareholders value the cash we generate for dividends. We have always been a positive cash flow company that re-invests back into our fleet, our people, and our communities while also paying an attractive dividend to shareholders. We will continue that plan and believe the markets will respond positively. “
Sun Mergers & Acquisitions, based in Hasbrouck Heights , NJ acted as sole financial advisor for the Jordan companies.
About Student Transportation
Founded in 1997 by Denis Gallagher, Student Transportation of America (STA) is North America ‘s third-largest and fastest-growing provider of school bus transportation services, operating more than 6,300 vehicles. STA’s family of local companies delivers safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation solutions to school districts throughout the US and Canada . Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, terminal managers and others who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.
