James Villa Holidays MBO

MBO of James Villa Holidays

James Villa Holidays Limited, the UK's leading tour operator specialising in villa holidays, was acquired in a management buy out ("MBO") supported by Bank of Scotland and a small group of private investors.

Mark Edwards, Bank of Scotland Director in Gatwick said, "James Villa Holidays Ltd has a proven and highly experienced management team with a clear strategy and excellent customer proposition. We are extremely pleased to be a chosen partner to help the business through its next growth phase and look forward to working with such an established and respected business."

The MBO was led by Tony Wheble, the company's Chief Executive, Jo Afridi (Overseas Director), Simon Grigg (Finance Director) and Richard Moger ( Director of IT Services) who have been with the company for a combined total of 28 years.

James Needham, the founder and former majority shareholder, has retained an interest in the business and will become non-executive Chairman.

He said “I started James Villa Holidays in 1984 in the spare bedroom of our house, renting villas in Lanzarote. My son Darren joined me in 1990 and we expanded to a small office in our local high street with two other staff. I think we made a good partnership in work and both enjoyed our pastime of motor sport. Together with our very loyal and devoted staff, the company grew to the heady heights it is today with a turnover approaching £60 million and over 120,000 passengers."

James Villas currently has a portfolio of over 2,500 villas throughout the Mediterranean and Florida. The company employs 100 staff in Maidstone, Kent in addition to a 60 strong team overseas. It operates 3 websites in the UK, Ireland and Germany along with a single retail outlet within the Bluewater regional shopping centre.

Chief Executive Tony Wheble said, "The management team are delighted to have the opportunity to lead the business through its next growth phase. James Villas is a well known brand with a loyal and expanding customer base. We are confident that further exciting growth streams exist that will help us to develop the business further in the UK and internationally. The potential to become a significant brand in the self catering market is something the whole team are motivated by and focused on."

Peter Counsell, Director of Meta Corporate Finance Limited commented “James Villas is the leading brand in its sector, due in no small part to the skills and experience of the management team. The pragmatic approach of the team and its funders will stand the business in good stead as it embarks on its next phase of growth under new ownership.”
 

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