Coach industry investor REL Capital has completed further operator purchases with deals for Essex businesses Klarners Coaches and Tendring Travel.
It takes to five the number of operators that REL has acquired in 2024 and further bolsters the group’s presence in the South East England coach industry. Earlier this year it bought Lewis Coaches of London, Advance Minibuses of Rayleigh, and KB Coaches of Wickford which followed previous acquisitions.
At Klarners, Managing Director Graham Klarner will retire after a handover period. General Manager and Transport Manager Tristan Noble will remain with the Colchester operator under REL ownership. Klarners runs a modern fleet of coaches on work including tours, private hire, and rail replacement.
For Tendring Travel, REL has agreed an investment that sees it take a majority shareholding in the business, which is based near Thorpe-le-Soken. Director Mark Bone and Transport Manager Merighan Bone will stay with the operator long-term via their retained shareholding.
Tendring Travel has around 20 coaches that it operates on school contracts in the Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and Ipswich areas. REL says that growth in private hire is in sight and that investment from the new majority shareholder “will provide a more modern fleet.”
Speaking about the fruits of ongoing growth, REL Chairman Andy Scott adds: “Our operators are continuing to see the synergies and benefits of working together, having recently invested in a combined group coach manager system to ensure that we are able to accommodate both larger private hires and contract bookings in the areas we cover.”
Mr Scott has reiterated his previous words that REL welcomes the opportunity to engage with other coach operators “to either partner with or buy them out.” He adds that the group is “flexible in our approach and can tailor an offer based on what the operator wants to achieve.”
Such strategies could involve existing owners retiring, or remaining involved in the business in the medium-term as part of a larger group. Contact from interested parties is invited via email to Freya Casey.
“I am enjoying playing a very small part in what appears to be a continuing consolidation of the sector,” Mr Scott continues, noting that REL “is hungry” for more acquisitions.
Matt Watson, Managing Director of REL Davian – the operator that launched REL’s venture into the coach industry – has welcomed Klarners Coaches and Tendring Travel to the growing group.
“We are really happy to work alongside Mark and Merighan Bone at the renamed REL Tendring, and wish Graham Klarner all the best as he goes and enjoys life in retirement. We also welcome all the new drivers from Tendring and Klarners to our growing friendly team.”
