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Forsythe Transportation Acquires Assets From FirstGroup America to Operate Anchorage School System Transportation Services

Posted on: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 18:00 CDT

ANCHORAGE, Ala., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Forsythe Transportation, Inc. today announced it has acquired from FirstGroup America [FirstGroupUK: FGP (LSE)] the contracts and assets to provide school bus transportation services to the Anchorage Independent School District.

"This acquisition marks the re-entry of Forsythe Transportation into the school transportation business, bringing years of transportation expertise and operating excellence back to the market," said William P. Forsythe, chief executive officer.

"The divestiture of the Anchorage business better positioned FirstGroup and First Student to move forward with our acquisition of Laidlaw International," said Carey Paster, President of First Student. "But, before we made that decision, it was imperative that there was a suitable successor. With Forsythe Transportation, we think it will be a seamless transition."

Forsythe now is providing school bus transportation services to the Anchorage district and its 50,000 students, purchasing more than 180 buses, various office/maintenance facilities and other equipment as part of the agreement.

Forsythe previously had owned a $40 million transportation company with 650 employees that operated 12 school bus and public transit contract services in California and Arizona and numerous transportation contracts for the Olympic Games, World Cup Soccer, the Goodwill Games and other major events around the world. Forsythe was recognized as Contractor of the Year from the Arizona Transit Association.

Forsythe's principals were subject to non-compete restrictions that only recently have expired, allowing for their re-entry into the transportation market.

Mark V. Foster, chief operating officer, said "Forsythe is proud of our reputation for safety and service, and for building a positive and motivated workplace. We look forward to working with the Anchorage School District and the Anchorage employee group to provide a premier level of service to the school district.

About Forsythe Transportation:

Prior to being sold in January 2000, Forsythe & Associates, Inc., Forsythe's $40 million predecessor company, earned a reputation as one of the premier school bus transportation, public transit and special event transportation companies in the country. The company achieved significant growth around its core values of providing excellence and value for its customers and a welcoming work environment for its 650 employees.

Forsythe & Associates developed recognized excellence in the management of Foothill Transit for many years. The operation of contract transportation services requires measurable goals, objectives and standards of performance. Foothill Transit through the leadership of Bill Forsythe earned Outstanding Transit System of North America three times in its first ten years of operating transit service. In fact, Foothill Transit was named as the National Model in the Congressional Record for reinventing transit in the United States.

Forsythe Transportation, Inc.

CONTACT: Mark V. Foster, Chief Operating Officer of ForsytheTransportation, +1-623-551-5223

Source: PRNewswire

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