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SEARCHMichael and Lory Fullington repurchase Fullington Auto Bus Co. from RATP Dev. The Pennsylvania-based company’s fleet includes 230 school buses.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Fullington Auto Bus Co. is once again fully owned by its founding family, the Fullingtons.
The company announced on Friday that Michael and Lory Fullington have repurchased all outstanding shares of stock that were owned by previous parent RATP Dev, a global transportation company based in Paris, France.
“We’re excited to begin the new year, a rebirth of sorts, with total ownership and control of the company,” Michael Fullington said.
Fullington Auto Bus Co. provides a variety of transportation services in Pennsylvania, including pupil transportation for school districts. For example, in 2015 the company won a five-year contract to operate school bus services for the Southern Columbia Area School District in Catawissa, Pennsylvania.
Along with 230 school buses, Fullington’s fleet includes 80 motorcoaches and 15 vans, limousines, and sedans. The company employs 505 people.
The Fullington family business began operations in 1908 when Emerson M. Fullington and his three sons began a livery and surrey company in Clearfield, Pennsylvania.
In 2009, RATP Dev approached Aerial Fullington Weisman, CEO of Fullington Auto Bus Co. at the time, about partnering to enter the U.S. market. A decision was made to sell majority ownership of the company to RATP Dev.
The company reportedly grew and prospered during its nine-year relationship with RATP Dev.
“We’ve learned a lot from each other, and we’re pleased with what we were able to achieve together,” said Jonathan Berzas, president and CEO of Fullington.
Negotiations for the Fullington family’s repurchase of the company began in early 2017 and concluded in December.
Lory Fullington said that the company will continue its family approach.
“We’re not just coworkers serving customers,” she said. “We’re family serving friends and neighbors.”
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