Quercus Corporate Finance is delighted to announce the sale of the school travel division of Newmarket Promotions Limited (NPLST) to Next Generation Travel Limited.

The Quercus team, led by Andrew Clegg, advised Newmarket Promotions Limited on the sale of NPLST to Blackpool-based school travel specialist Next Generation Travel Limited (NGT), whose brands include WST, FHT Travel and Anglia Tours.  The combined business is currently responsible for over 70,000 student trips each year.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Founded some 20 years ago, NPLST is a dedicated schools travel provider offering a specialised range of domestic and international tours and excursions to schools and clubs across the UK.  It focuses on educational and sports-based tours, together with battlefield tours and residential theatre trips, through its well-established Study Experiences, Sports Experiences brands and as official partner of the Royal British Legion for school travel.

Andrew Clegg, Quercus Partner said:

“The combination of the two businesses represents an excellent fit and I am delighted that we have found NPLST such a good home.  Study Experiences and Sports Experiences are both leading brands in the school travel sector and the Next Generation Travel team are ideally placed to accelerate their growth going forward.”

Simon Hibbs, CEO of Newmarket Promotions Limited, added:

“This is an excellent result.  The sale allows Newmarket Promotions to focus 100% on growing its core adult tour operations, and provides the school travel business with a supportive parent with the experience and track record to capitalize on its strengths.  We would not have got there without the wise counsel and experience of the Quercus team. There was much complexity to navigate in this deal.  Andy’s and Neil’s support helped make the difference”.