The Coach Travel Group backer named; ex-Go-Ahead man aboard – routeone

Private equity firm H2 Equity Partners is an investor in The Coach Travel Group, which has been formed to bring together an initial seven coach operators. Its stake sits alongside shareholdings held by “many” of the managers of those formerly independent businesses.

H2 says it will work closely with The Coach Travel Group and its CEO, former National Express UK and Germany CEO Tom Stables, “to leverage the combined strengths of the seven operators and drive investment in its people, fleet and technology to deliver a best-in-class service to its customers.”

Also part of The Coach Travel Group’s leadership team is former Go-Ahead Group man Peter Robinson as Chief Operating Officer. Mr Robinson left the multinational transport operator in late 2023 having most recently been Group Business Development Director.

In that role, he was responsible for a strong pipeline of contract wins and business acquisitions. That saw Go-Ahead enter multiple new bus markets, including Australia, Ireland and Singapore. Mr Robinson was also with the group when it purchased the Dartline Coaches and Pulhams Coaches businesses.

H2 has a portfolio that includes interests in healthcare, electronics, offshore equipment, online retailing and recruitment. It says that its business model is “to partner with management and other stakeholders to deliver ambitious growth or improvement plans” but notes that individual company leaders “are responsible for the going concern.”

A “deal team” from H2 typically involves two or three individuals that remain with the business concerned, the investor adds. Among directors of The Coach Travel Group are H2 Equity Partners Senior Partner Simon Gilbert and Investment Director Edward Mortimore.

In a Q&A added to The Coach Travel Group’s website, Mr Stables has underlined bullish comments around growth made when the amalgamation was first announced.

He says that the business “will undoubtedly change the shape and look of our industry” and that his vision is for it “to be the leading national coach travel provider.” Mr Stables adds that he wants the group “to serve the whole of the UK by leveraging the combined strengths of our local operators.”

He continues: “We have an ambitious growth strategy for The Coach Travel Group that will include further acquisitions.”