Kabe buys Coachman in major caravan industry acquisition

In a major deal in the European caravan industry, Swedish firm Kabe Group AB has completed its full acquisition of British caravan manufacturer Coachman. Kabe, a well-known name for caravans and leisure vehicles in its native Sweden, already owned 21.5 per cent of shares in Coachman since a deal in July 2018, but on 19 February 2021, it completed a deal to acquire the remaining shares.

Coachman, a brand with more than 30 years of history as a manufacturer in the caravan trade, recently reported excellent sales figures for 2020 with its recent financial year amounting to just over £30 million. It has about 200 employees and an operating margin of approximately six per cent. Alf Ekström, president and CEO of Kabe Group said: “We are very pleased to have been able to complete the acquisition of Coachman, which is a great dealwell-run company that is gradually increasing its market share in the English market. Coachman fits in well with the Kabek Group and our strategic focus.”

In a statement, Kabe described the acquisition as one which “creates opportunities for synergy effects and enables deeper collaborations in terms of sales, product development and purchasing, as well as the exchange of production technology. The acquisition strengthens KABE's position in the premium segment and becomes a stronger international group. The current management of Coachman will continue to lead the company.”

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