Ground transport supplier CMAC Group has completed a 51% acquisition of quotes search engine Coach Hire Comparison with the goal of increasing expansion.
It follows CMAC’s purchase of airport transfer company Suntransfers in September and means the group will have a combined turnover of more than £150 million.
The Coach Hire Comparison website, which was set up in 2010, attracts more than 12,000 users per month who are looking for low-cost travel costs and links them up with around 300 minibus and coach operators across the UK.
CMAC transports nearly two million passengers a year, providing time-critical passenger transport services for the likes of airlines, train operators, corporations and breakdown companies. It reported a 45% increase in revenue in 2022.
The group says it will integrate Coach Hire Comparison into its existing business and use its resources and technology to further growth abroad and in the UK. Already operating in 10 countries in Europe and north Africa, it plans to expand Coach Hire Comparison’s reach outside of the UK.
CMAC says the comparison website’s founders James and Laura Stokes will continue managing the operation.
James Stokes, Joint Managing Director of Coach Hire Comparison, says: “We’re excited to join forces with CMAC Group. Doing so allows us to accelerate our growth and continue to develop our bespoke booking platform to further enhance the experience for both customers and coach operators.”
Peter Slater, CEO of CMAC Group, adds: “We’re pleased to welcome Coach Hire Comparison’s team, James and Laura, into the CMAC Group. This strategic move aligns with our vision for growth and strengthens our position in the market.”
