TT. Tui Travel

TIDMTT.

RNS Number : 3915B

TUI Travel PLC

17 February 2011

17 February 2011

TUI TRAVEL PLC

("TUI Travel")

ADVENTURE BRANDS ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC VENTURE WITH INTREPID TRAVEL

TUI Travel PLC is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement to enter into a strategic venture with Intrepid Travel, one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators. The proposal is to create a global leader in adventure travel, which will combine Intrepid Travel and TUI Travel PLC's international portfolio of adventure brands.

The transaction is based on an injection of businesses into the venture by both parties and has no cash component. The venture will be 60% owned by TUI Travel PLC and 40% owned by Intrepid Travel's private shareholders, and will be consolidated by TUI Travel PLC. The transaction is expected to drive cost synergies, primarily arising from increased economies of scale, of at least GBP10m per annum within the first three years. Completion is expected by May 2011.

Intrepid Travel, based in Melbourne, Australia, handles over 100,000 customers per annum, drawn from all the key adventure source markets in the world. For the financial year ended 30 June 2010 Intrepid Travel had revenues of GBP69.4 million and PBT of GBP5.3 million.

TUI Travel PLC's Adventure businesses are part of the Specialist & Activity Sector. They are a portfolio of market-leading adventure travel businesses based in the UK, Australia, North America and the Netherlands and have over 240,000 customers per annum. For the financial year ended 30 September 2010 they had revenues of GBP185.3 million and PBT of GBP6.8 million.

The combined businesses will operate a multi-channel and multi-brand strategy and will provide new opportunities for growth including new products, distribution channels, source markets and destinations.

Commenting on the announcement Peter Long, Chief Executive, TUI Travel PLC stated:

"Specialist travel is an important part of our business and one of our key drivers of growth due to strong margins and development opportunities. This deal with Intrepid Travel will significantly enhance our position in the fast growing adventure travel sector. We believe this venture has great potential for value creation through the increased scale, synergies and growth of the combined businesses."

The Board of the venture will be chaired by John Wimbleton, Managing Director of TUI Travel PLC's Specialist & Activity Sector. Darrell Wade, CEO and co-founder of Intrepid Travel, will become CEO of the venture.

Enquiries:

 
 Analysts and Investors 
 Paul Rushton, Director of Investor Relations    Tel: +44 (0)1293 645 
                                                  795 
 
 Press 
  TUI Travel 
 Michelle Jeffery, Corporate Communications      Tel: +44 (0) 1293 645 
                                                  774 
 Michael Sandler / Kate Hough (Hudson Sandler)   Tel: +44 (0) 20 7796 
                                                  4133 
 

Notes to editors:

Brands included in the venture are Adventure Center, The Adventure Company, Adventure Tours Australia, Country Walkers, Exodus, Gecko's, Guerba, Headwater, Imaginative Traveller, Intrepid Suntrek, Intrepid Travel, Oz Experience, Peregrine, Pinnacle Tours, Sawadee, TrekAmerica and WesternXposure.

At 30 June 2010, Intrepid had gross assets of GBP42.8m and net assets of GBP12.7m. At 30 September 2010, TUI Travel PLC's Adventure businesses had gross assets of GBP68.2m and net assets of GBP14.7m.

TUI Travel PLC

TUI Travel PLC is the world's leading international leisure travel group operating in approximately 180 countries worldwide. It serves more than 30 million customers in over 27 source markets. Headquartered in the UK, the Group employs approximately 49,000 people and operates a pan-European airline consisting of 143 aircraft. The company is organised and managed through four business Sectors: Mainstream, Specialist & Activity, Accommodation & Destinations and Emerging Markets. In the financial year ended 30 September 2010 TUI Travel had revenues of GBP13.5bn and an underlying operating profit before tax of GBP447m. For more information visit www.tuitravelplc.com

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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