BPI France's Travel & Co bolts on Backroads

Travel & Co, a tourism-focused investment holding representing a combined €35m in turnover, will add Backroads' €5m in sales via the bolt-on. The acquirer will benefit from Backroads' focus on the North American market through holiday packages to Canada, the US and Mexico; according to its figures, 1.7 million French holiday-goers are expected to travel to these locations in 2016.

The add-on comes almost nine years after Travel & Co was set up with the support of BPI France. The state investor, which recently launched a €100m tourism-focused fund, backed Travel & Co's co-founders Jacques Judéaux and Claude Blanc as they set up a consolidation platform in 2007.

Shortly after inception, Travel & Co bolted on Terres de Charme via a BIMBO. As part of the deal, Judéaux and Blanc secured a joint 50% stake in the acquired business.

Since that date, Travel & Co has added holiday brands Îles du Monde, Australie Tours, Alma Latina, Asie Infiny, Nouvelle Zélande Voyage and Australie Autrement.

Company
Founded by Jacques Klein in 1993, Backroads has since grown to offer tailored holiday packages across five continents, with a focus on motorhome holidays and cruises in the US, Canada and Mexico. Headquartered in Paris, the company most recently posted €5m in revenues.

People
Travel & Co – Jacques Judéaux, Claude Blanc (co-founders).
Back Roads – Jacques Klein (founder).

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