Deal: Rover Coaches has been sold to Buslines Group.

Value: Undisclosed

Area: Merger and acquisition; transport

Key players: The Piper Alderman team was led by transport partner Maria Capati and supported by senior associate Kara Pennisi and lawyer Grace Hooper.

Deal significance: Rover Coaches is a family-owned bus company established in 1925.

It operates in and around the Hunter Valley, NSW and holds a number of prominent NSW bus contracts, including an Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract and operates significant charter services.

According to a statement from Piper Alderman, the sale of Rover Coaches to Buslines Group sees an iconic bus business being handed over to the
D’Apuzzo family, who now extends their rural and regional holdings into the outer metropolitan region of NSW.

VIEW ALL

“The sale was extremely complex as a result of the requirements for consent from Transport for New South Wales and the ever-changing structure of the transaction. With the expert advice from the team, the sale resulted in successful completion of the transaction,” the firm noted.

Commenting on the outcome, Piper Alderman lead partner Maria Capati said: “This was truly one of the most challenging and complex transactions I have ever acted on.

“This transaction took over a year to complete, and there were many hurdles faced by both parties. This was a deal that used every ounce of my bus industry knowledge and experience to get this one over the line.

“I thank Aaron Lewis for choosing Piper Alderman in advising his family on the sale of their business. It was a privilege to act for him and his family. Congratulations to the D’Apuzzo family, who now take over a fantastic operation in Rover Coaches. It will be exciting to see the continued success of Rover Coaches as part of the Buslines Group.”