French buy Bath Bus Company

[Jack]

RATP Dev UK Limited has bought 100% of the share capital of the Bath Bus Company Ltd from Ensign Bus Ltd for an undisclosed amount.
RATP Dev UK Ltd is the UK subsidiary of RATP Dev part of RATP Group based in Paris.

Bath Bus Company operates 30 vehicles on four open-top Citysightseeing franchises in Bath, Cardiff, Eastbourne and Windsor as well as offering private hire services using vintage buses.

Eighty-one 81 staff are employed by Bath Bus Company, including Managing Director Martin Curtis.

Ensign Bus Chairman Peter Newman says: “We are delighted that Bath Bus Company is joining RATP Dev. I am sure that they will continue to grow the business and develop new markets, and I wish them every success for the future.”

“Cyril Carniel CEO for Northern Europe for RATP Dev said: “We are delighted that Martin Curtis and his team will be joining RATP Dev as part of our development plans for the UK.

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[MetrolineGA1511]

This was, by a matter of days, an advance guard for RATP assuming ownership of London United and Yellow Buses. As Bath Bus Company and Yellow Buses are both in the south west, I wonder whether they will acquire other companies in the south west, such as Western Greyhound or even Thamesdown if ever privatised?