Uniworld parent acquired by US private equity firm
The parent company of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has been acquired by US asset management firm Apollo
The move ends more than 100 years of private, family ownership of The Travel Corporation (TTC), which 18 brands include Uniworld, escorted tour operator Trafalgar, youth travel specialist Contiki and guided holiday firm Insight Vacations.
The transaction is subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Certain brands are not included in the sale, notably The Red Carnation Hotel Collection and will remain under the continued stewardship of the Tollman family. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
TTC chair Brett Tollman said: “For more than 104 years our family has built TTC into an industry leader known for exceptional service and innovation.”
He continued: “Without a next generation to lead TTC, the time has come in our strategic succession plan to select a new owner with a proven track record and who shares in our vision and customer-first values.
“We will support a seamless transition and are confident the team at Apollo will continue driving the business forward to meet growing global demand for touring, river cruising and specialist and adventure travel.”
Apollo to take Uniworld and other TTC brands ‘to the next level’
Apollo Private Equity partner Michele Raba added: “TTC has a leading collection of brands that we believe we can take to the next level as an Apollo Funds portfolio company, leveraging our extensive experience in the travel, tech and hospitality sectors.
“We’d like to thank the Tollman family for trusting in our good stewardship of the business they’ve built for more than a century and look forward to an exciting next chapter in which TTC can serve as a platform for growth.”
