Type Public company Industry Tourism Website www.thlonline.com Founded 19 September 1984 | Traded as NZX: THL Key people Grant Webster (CEO) Headquarters Auckland, New Zealand | |
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Products Vehicle rentals, tourist attractions, caravan manufacturing Stock price THL (NZE) NZ$ 3.70 -0.05 (-1.33%)3 Apr, 4:59 PM GMT+12 - Disclaimer Subsidiaries El Monte RV Rentals & Sales, Fullers Bay of Islands Profiles | ||
Tourism Holdings Limited usually called 'thl' and formerly known as The Helicopter Line is a large New Zealand tourism company that has been listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange since 1986.
Contents
- Sale of assets
- 2009 financial results
- 2014 Financial Results
- New chief executive
- 2012 New Zealand rental business merger
- El Monte Rents Acquisition
- THL businesses
- References
The company began as a scenic helicopter flightseeing business and quickly grew by acquiring new businesses and diversifying. The thl business is now much different from its early years - in 2007 an extensive asset sale programme began followed by various mergers and acquisitions in 2010-2012. It is now the largest provider of holiday vehicles for rent and sale in Australia and New Zealand. [1]
Sale of assets
In 2007 thl began to sell off a number of its business units including:
As some of these businesses were sold midway through the thl 2009 financial year, they are referred to as discontinued operations.
2009 financial results
On 26 August 2009 [5] thl announced it had achieved a net profit of $2.9 million in the year ended 30 June. This was a substantial decline on the previous year when a $14.3 million profit had been achieved. thl noted that discontinued operations had made a small profit however continuing operations had made a loss.
2014 Financial Results
On August 25, 2014, thl announced a successful turnaround [6] in the company’s profitability and outlook with 192% increase in Net Profit After Tax of $11.1 million and gross annual dividend of 11 cents in calendar year 2014. A further 35% increase in forecast NPAT for FY15 of at least 15 million was also announced.
New chief executive
During the 2009 financial year CEO Trevor Hall resigned from thl. He was replaced by Grant Webster.[7]
2012 New Zealand rental business merger
In September 2012 plans began to merge thl with two other major New Zealand campervan rental companies: United Vehicle Rentals and Kea Campervans. The proposed merger was a result of falling visitor numbers from key markets in Europe such as Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, as well as the strengthened New Zealand dollar making New Zealand a more expensive destination. Combining the three businesses would lower overall operating costs and make it the most “logical, strategic and best response to the challenging realities facing the New Zealand campervan market”. [8] On 19 October 2012 this merger was approved at a special thl shareholders meeting, effective 1 November 2012. [9]
El Monte Rents Acquisition
In December 2016, it was reported that Tourism Holdings would acquire US-based recreational vehicle hire company, El Monte Rents, for $65.3 million USD. The deal will be funded through debt from existing lenders and 3.4 million shares in Tourism Holdings. The acquisition provides Tourism Holdings with the second-largest market share, behind Cruise America, in the US recreational vehicle rental market with 28; whilst Cruise America holds 52%. The New Zealand Herald noted that the acquisition provided Tourism Holdings with the perfect opportunity to remodel its US operations to resemble its New Zealand and Australian Businesses.
THL businesses
Rentals Group: Rental cars and campervans operations under the following brands:
CI Munro (Caravans International Munro): Manufacturer of motor homes, campervans, caravans and other special purpose vehicles for operators such as Pacific Horizon and thl's own Rentals Group. Located in Hamilton but supplying both the New Zealand and Australian markets.
Tourism Operations: Owns and manages the youth and backpacker orientated bus Kiwi Experience. THL also operates tours of Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Ruakuri Cave and Aranui Cave, as well as Black Water Rafting tours in New Zealand's Waitomo region.