Australian-based Kelsian today filed with the United States Surface Transportation Board to acquire All Aboard America America Holdings (AAAHI), which includes All Aboard America, Hotard Coaches, Sun Diego Charter, Ace Express Coaches, Lux Bus America and First Class Transportation.
The parties anticipate the deal to close in June 2023, subject to approval by the Surface Transportation Board. The deal is estimated to be worth $487 million, according to the Financial Times. The publication noted that All Aboard America! had revenues of $208 million last year, generated in part from contracts with corporate customers such as Apple, Tesla and Google.
“Over the past six years, AAAHI has invested in our people, our safety culture and our technology to create a strong and stable foundation for six of the most impressive motorcoach companies in the United States,” says AAAHI CEO Bill Trimarco. “When we were looking for a new partner, we knew the best choice would be a company that recognizes the value of combined charter and contract operations, believes EV is the future and supports the independence of our local brands. We are excited to work side-by-side with the Kelsian team to grow our footprint, our customer base and our team in the USA.”
Since Hotard Coaches and All Aboard America joined in 2012, AAAHI has given family businesses and entrepreneurs a place to call home, combining strong local brands with a large, contiguous, regional network of motorcoach operators in the U.S. Kelsian has been building a similar model since 1989, with more than 25 brands operating ferries, buses and light rail in Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Once finalized, the deal will create one of the largest and most comprehensive managed transportation and logistics networks in the world.
Companies have much in common
“We are thrilled to bring AAAHI into the Kelsian global platform,” said Kelsian Group CEO Clint Feuerherdt. “Our businesses are highly complementary, our operating portfolios span across multiple locations in the transport and tourism sectors, and we both share the same commitment to maintaining high safety standards for our employees and our customers.”
Feuerherdt said Kelsian believes in the AAAHI vision and will continue to support the team, invest in EV, expand contracts with current and new clients, and provide market-leading charter operations.
All Aboard America Holdings is the fourth-largest motorcoach operator in the United States, with more than 1,000 vehicles and 1,500 team members in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and Mississippi. Since 2012, AAAHI’s regional brands have included acquisitions of generational family businesses, including Hotard Coaches, All Aboard America, Sun Diego Charters, Ace Express Coaches, Lux Bus America and First Class Transportation.
AAAHI serves a wide-range of customers in charter operations, including university and professional athletics, military travel, corporate partners, tour operators and K-12 schools. It also has more than 20 major contracts with transit operators, construction projects and corporate commuter shuttles that anchor their local businesses.
Kelsian is Australia’s largest integrated multi-modal transport provider and tourism operator, with bus operations in Singapore, London and the Channel Islands.
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