Blue Bird Corporation completed its acquisition of Girardin Group’s stake in the Micro Bird joint venture, taking full ownership of the business in a transaction valued at about $200 million. The deal was funded with a mix of cash and Blue Bird common stock.
The move gives Blue Bird full control of Micro Bird’s operations and brings the company’s North American business under one brand and one leadership structure. Micro Bird had operated as a 50/50 joint venture since 2009.
Blue Bird said the acquisition expands its product lineup across type A, C and D school buses, plus multi-purpose and commercial vehicles, with diesel, gasoline, propane and electric powertrains. It also increases the company’s exposure to the Buy America-compliant shuttle bus market.
Micro Bird’s manufacturing footprint includes facilities in Drummondville, Quebec, and Plattsburgh, New York. The company said the Plattsburgh plant, opened in 2025, helped expand Micro Bird into the shuttle bus segment.
Micro Bird employs about 960 team members across its operations.
As part of the transaction, Steve Girardin joins Blue Bird’s board of directors. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved -1.5% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $56.60. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
