BRISBANE-based Apollo Tourism and Leisure, which builds caravans and is
the world's biggest RV rental company, has bought the United Kingdom and
Ireland RV business Camperco for around $8 million
in cash and shares.
The Camperco Group owns and operates Bunk Campers, which claims to be the
largest independently owned rental company in the UK.
Established in 2007, Bunk Campers returned revenue of around $5.5 million
during the 2017 calendar year and planned a 2018 fleet of more than 200
RVs.
It has outlets in Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Birmingham
and Leeds.
There were plans for further European expansion
for the 2019 season.
"This acquisition will further strengthen our position as a global
operator of RVs and allow further expansion into Europe," Apollo managing
director and chief executive Luke Trouchet said.
Camperco founders Keith Charlton and Louise Corken will stay on to lead
the business through its next stage of development and expansion.
Apollo, which has over 4000 rental RVs in Australia,
New Zealand, USA and Canada, said its latest acquisition would allow it to capitalise on the
forecast growth in the UK and European tourism market.
Since listing on the Australian Stock Exchange with $1
shares in late 2016, Apollo has
bought the Sydney RV Group, grabbed a two
percent stake in Camplify, bought Queensland's Kratzmann Caravans and
Clint's Caravan Warehouse, taken over CanaDream in Canada and bought WA's
George Day Caravans.
Its shares are now.worth around $1.68 and it has
a market capitalisation of about $300 million.