Neilson changes hands
Brighton-based Neilson Active Holidays has been purchased by private equity investor LDC.
The deal was confirmed today by Cavendish Corporate Finance, which advised Neilson’s shareholders.
LDC’s Richard Whitwell and David Bains will join the Board while chief executive David Taylor and chairman Richard Bowden-Doyle will continue to lead the business.
Jonathan Buxton, partner and head of consumer at Cavendish, said: “We are delighted to have advised Neilson shareholders and to have found in LDC the right investor to take the firm to its next stage of growth.
“There is a growing demand for activity and wellness holidays in the UK and this transaction will enable Neilson to meet the needs of its growing customer base, drive the expansion of Neilson’s award winning beach clubs and increase its presence across key holiday destinations in Europe and around the world.”
The announcement said the investment will allow Neilson to accelerate growth by opening new hotels to extend the range of countries in which it operates and would provide further backing for strategic acquisitions
“With revenues of £80m, Neilson is a highly profitable business that is primed for further growth,” it said.
The transaction provides an exit for Risk Capital Partners.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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