Europcar news

Europcar confirmed today the closing of the acquisition of 100% of the Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries of ECA Car Rental, which operates its “Master Franchise” within the Asia-Pacific region. The acquisition, first announced on April 28, gives Europcar direct operations in markets outside of Europe for the first time and enhanced access to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market.

Leading car rental provider, Europcar, has won a new contract with Advantage Travel Centres, the biggest central service provider to business and leisure travel agents. The contract further strengthens the relationship between the two companies which goes back more than 10 years. Advantage and Europcar will work together to promote the car rental company as Elite supplier across the Advantage Travel Centre membership base. Europcar will be the only car rental company to carry this unique status.

For the convenience of our customers, all our vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the rental. Rental rates do not include the cost of fuel unless expressly stated, so a fuel deposit is taken at the start of the rental which is refunded if the car is returned with a full tank.

The purchase gives Europcar its first direct operations outside of
Europe and enhanced access to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific market

Europcar, the European leader in passenger car and light utility vehicle rental, today announced that it hasEntered into an agreement to acquire the Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries of ECA Car Rental, which operates its “Master Franchise” within the Asia-Pacific region. The acquisition gives Europcar direct operations in markets outside of
Europe for the first time. 

Since 2005, ECA Car Rental has national coverage throughout Australia and New Zealand and oversees franchise operations for 28 other countries in Asia-Pacific. In addition to Australia and New Zealand, ECA Car Rental notably launched the Europcar brand in India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand, with more launches planned this year. 

To complete its network in the region, Europcar has developed specific relationships with local partners, entering the Japanese market in 2006 and China earlier this year. 

With an average fleet of more than 7,000 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, ECA Car Rental managed over 2 million rental days in 2007, generating AUD 123 million (€75 million) in revenues, an increase of 18% over 2006. 

Salvatore Catania, Chief Executive Officer of Europcar Groupe, declared, “For Europcar, this is an important acquisition in several ways. It is a perfect opportunity to enhance our brand and expand a profitable business from a strong existing base. It also provides Europcar with direct access and in-house expertise in the Asia-Pacific region, which is the fastest-growing market in the car rental business.” 

In keeping with the company’s strategy of expanding its global footprint through organic and external growth, this acquisition is the 5^th for Europcar in the past two years. In 2007, the company integrated Vanguard’s National and Alamo brand activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and acquired Betacar, which serves the Canary and
Balearic Islands. In 2006, Europcar strengthened its position in Belgium and Spain, respectively, through the acquisitions of Keddy and Ultramar. 

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ABOUT EUROPCAR

Owned by the French private equity firm Eurazeo, Europcar is the European leader in passenger car and light utility vehicle rentals. Since March 2007 with the acquisition of Vanguard EMEA (National & Alamo brands), its network comprises over 5,300 rental outlets in 160 countries. Europcar serves business and leisure customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Excluding franchise operations, in 2007 Europcar signed more than 10 million rental contracts, with 7,700 employees and a fleet exceeding 215,000 vehicles. For more information www.europcar.com