Kuoni buys luxury travel firm Carrier
LUXURY travel firm Carrier has been bought by industry giant Kuoni for an undisclosed sum.
The deal sees Alderley Edge-based Carrier, which has a turnover of £36m and employs 84 people, become part of one of the leaders in the luxury holiday market.
Established in 1980, Carrier was founded and run by managing director Ian Pollitt and his wife Carole.
Following the acquisition Mr Pollitt will remain in his role along with finance director Tony Lovett who will also take the role of deputy managing director while Mrs Pollitt is retiring from the business.
Manchester law firm Halliwells advised Carrier on the sale to Swiss group Kuoni.
Kuoni Travel is one of the leading travel organisations in the world and was founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906. It owns niche travel firms including Voyages Jules Verne and Travel Collection.
It acquired the Journeys of Distinction and Kirker Holidays brands in 2006, and CV Travel in 2007.
The Halliwells’ team was led by partner and head of corporate Mark Halliwell and lead corporate associate Christian Doyle. It also comprised corporate trainee Daniel Sheehan, property associate Krista Powell, employment associate Melanie Wilkinson and tax associate Richard Clitherow.
Halliwells recently advised on the sale of bespoke holiday firm Elegant Resorts to travel giant Thomas Cook and the sale of Holiday Supplies – also to Kuoni.
On both the Carrier and Elegant Resorts transactions Halliwells worked closely with Swiss corporate finance boutique Hitz & Partners.
Kuoni Travel was advised by Guildford law firm, Stevens & Bolton.
