Klarners Coaches and Tendring Travel acquired by REL Capital

Entrepreneur Andy Scott’s investment firm REL Capital has acquired Klarners Coaches and Tendring Travel.

Colchester-based Klarners Coaches operates a number of Euro VI Mercedes-Benz and Irizar coaches for both its own tours and third-party operators, as well as providing private hire and rail work. Managing Director, Graham Klarner, will be retiring after a handover period to REL, while Tristian Noble the Transport Manager and General Manager continuing to work within the REL businesses.

REL has also agreed an investment, taking a majority shareholding in Tendring Travel, which operates a number of school contracts around the Colchester, Ipswich and Clacton-on-Sea areas with a fleet of 20 coaches. Director Mark and Transport Manager, Merighan Bone, will remain in the business long-term retaining a shareholding, managing the business day to day. The company will be looking to grow its business with more private hire work after a number of nearby operators have closed their doors. An investment from REL will provide a more modern fleet, its new owners say.

“We welcome all the new drivers from Tendring and Klarners to our growing friendly team” – Matt Watson, Managing Director of REL Davian

Matt Watson, Managing Director of REL Davian, said: “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 welcome all the new drivers from Tendring and Klarners to our growing friendly team.”

“I welcome any chat with any operators to either partner with or buy them out” – Andy Scott, REL Chairman

Andy Scott, REL Chairman, said: “Our operators are continuing to see the synergies and benefits in working together having recently invested in a combined Group Coach Manager system to ensure we are able to accommodate both larger private hire and contract bookings in the areas we cover. I welcome any chat with any operators to either partner with or buy them out, as we are flexible in our approach and can tailor an offer based on what the operator wants to achieve, whether that be retirement now, stay on for three- to five-years but working as part of a larger group in the meantime, with all of the benefits that bring, or just investment required in exchange for a shareholding.

“Please reach out to Freya Casey for a meeting: [email protected]”

Andy continued: “I’m enjoying playing a very small part in what appears to be a continuing consolidation of the sector.”