Gert-Jan Bressers (Managing Director) and Richard Broekhoven (Financial Director) take over Fox Reizen from the ANWB through a management buy-out (MBO). They do this in collaboration with investor 819 Capital Partners. The acquisition of the tour operating business unit of the ANWB was announced on Thursday. The new organization will continue to develop and carry out member trips for the ANWB under the name Fox Reizen. After a strategic reorientation last year, the ANWB is shifting its focus in the travel sector to offering a wide range of trips, but no longer to developing them. The new organization will continue to do this for the ANWB. With the privatization, all employees of the tour operating activities will be transferred to Fox Reizen. ‘This privatisation is the most desirable outcome’, says Marga de Jager, CEO of the ANWB. “The management knows the employees and the ANWB like no other, which guarantees the continuity and quality of the service. The privatisation of the tour operating activities fits in well with the ANWB’s strategy to offer our members a wider range of products. ANWB provides a wide range of trips and their sale, but no longer wants to develop and export them itself. Everyone has access to our products through our stores, but of course also digitally via anwb.nl.’ Gert-Jan Bressers, director of Fox Reizen, says: ‘The privatisation of the tour operating activities offers plenty of opportunities and allows us to work even more competitively, flexibly and decisively. With the new management and our team, we will continue to focus on developing, selling and executing beautiful trips in Europe and far beyond. We do this through the ANWB and Fox brands. We are confident that with our expertise and passion, we will create great experiences for travelers. We look forward to working with our partner 819 Capital Partners to further expand the success of Fox Travel in the coming years.” Sven Kempers, director of 819 Capital Partners, agrees. ‘ANWB and Fox Reizen are renowned names in the travel industry. Given the strong management and the new form of cooperation with the ANWB, we have great confidence in the future. We are pleased to have been able to make this management buy-out possible from 819 Private Equity Fund.’ Photo: Gert-Jan Bressers (archive photo TravMagazine).
