CMAC completes latest acquisition, targeting coach hire specialist
Accrington-based CMAC Group, has made its third acquisition in recent months, with the purchase of 51% of Coach Hire Comparison, based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, for an undisclosed sum.
CMAC is a managed ground transport and accommodation specialist, while Coach Hire Comparison delivers online hassle-free transport quotes direct to businesses and consumers.
In September 2022, CMAC acquired Barcelona-based Suntransfers, one of Europe’s largest airport transfer companies, and later that month it bought Portuguese travel company Here & Dare.
Coach Hire Comparison was founded in 2010, offering customers a convenient way to source multiple quotes from independent minibus and coach companies.
Every month more than 12,000 users hit its website, coachhirecomparison.co.uk, to begin their search for low-cost coach hire solutions for a range of events from school trips to stag do’s.
Utilising purpose-built technology, Coach Hire Comparison connects customers with around 300 minibus and coach operators across the UK, helping them to save time, money and hassle.
The strategic move will see CMAC integrate Coach Hire Comparison into its existing business, utilising existing resources and technology to accelerate growth in the UK while supporting CMAC Group’s international expansion plans. This move offers CMAC Group further diversification of services and added resilience, delivering a combined turnover of more than £150m.
James Stokes, joint managing director of Coach Hire Comparison, said: “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, said: “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.”
The acquisition follows a period of continued growth for CMAC, with the business reporting a 45% increase in revenue and seven per cent headcount growth in 2022, in a year which saw the firm transport more than 2.5 million travellers.
Coach Hire Comparison’s two-person team, James and Laura Stokes, will remain at the helm of the coach price comparison and booking website.
