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Paris — Essling Expansion, Essling Capital's Small & Lower-Mid Cap fund, completes its third investment in less than 12 months to support the growth of the Chabé Group.
A family company founded in 1921 by Maurice Chabé, the Group has become the leader in its historic market: luxury chauffeur-driven transport. The company is now headed by Guillaume Connan, the great grandson of Chabé’s founder, who joined the management in 2014. He succeeded Agnès Lo Jacomo, the founder's granddaughter.
With nearly 400 employees and a fleet of approximately 360 vehicles, Chabé is positioned as an expert in bespoke mobility for the most influential clients. The group sets itself apart by delivering a consistently high quality of service and by considering the specific requirements of each client in order to offer a bespoke travel experience in line with their expectations.
The group is planning to achieve a turnover of €50 million for 2019, representing nearly 40 percent of organic growth in three years. Thanks to a portfolio of more than 2,000 customers, mainly comprising five-star hotels, international companies, government agencies, luxury goods companies, and event agencies, Chabé transports more than 150,000 people a year, in France and elsewhere.
"On the threshold of its centenary, Chabé is entering a new stage in its development, with the dual ambition of strengthening its positions in its home market and becoming a reference internationally. Essling's presence at our side will be a determining factor in achieving this and we look forward to intensifying our efforts in this direction," says CEO Guillaume Connan.
"We are delighted to support a long-standing player and its management team in structuring its growth and international expansion. This change of dimension will notably involve digital transformation and the enrichment of Chabé's service offering, levers of value creation that matter to us," say Essling Co-Manager Bertrand Fesneau and Associate Charles Bourgain.
"Essling Expansion's support will also enable Chabé to fully commit to an ambitious ecological transition, notably through the electrification of its fleet, in line with its purpose, which is to integrate mobility as naturally as possible into each customer's experience." adds Essling Co-Manager Rémi Matuchansky.
Visit chabe.fr for more information.
[CD0120]
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Marlton, N.J. — One of the benefits that the National Limousine Association (NLA) is proud to offer is its Scholarship Program, which will give 10 operators from around the world the opportunity to attend the first-ever 2020 CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas this February 23-26.
On December 20, the association announced the winners, who are:
- Sarah Campbell of Campbell Premier Fleet in Wilmington, Del.
- Brian Dowling of Dowling Chauffeur Drive in Dublin, Ireland
- Agustin Hernandez of BlackCar Offers Limo Services in Mexico City, Mexico
- Paul Herren of Paul's Private Transportation Service in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
- James Jordan of Lux Tux Transportation in Burr Ridge, Ill.
- Darnell Leavell of D Livery Service in Chicago, Ill.
- Rodly Lormestoire of Rodlymo Transportation in Miramar, Fla.
- Aisha Pettett of Finess Services DBA Finesse Town Car in Seattle, Wash.
- Michael Silber of MS Luxury VIP Transportation in Leander, Texas
The NLA received more than 30 scholarship applications this year. Its Scholarship Committee—which includes Co-chairs Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousines and Erich Reindl of Avanti International Transportation as well as committee members Perry Barin of Music Express Worldwide, Mary Harrell-Paul of Crown Cars & Limousines, Kenway Hua of Avanti International Transportation, and Steve Qua of Company Car and Limousine—diligently reviewed the applications and selected 10 operators to attend the show.
Of the 10 selected, eight were not NLA members; through their scholarships, they will now become part of the association.
“I am thrilled to see so much interest in the program this year and am so excited to welcome the winners to our upcoming show,” said NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation.
Buffo also recognized the generosity and support of National Interstate Insurance, which once again sponsored the scholarship this year.
“Without support from sponsors, this program would not be possible,” he said.
The NLA will hold an in-person meeting February 24 at the CD/NLA Las Vegas Show, where all 10 scholarship winners will be recognized.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[CD1219]
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North Reading, Mass. — The New England Livery Association (NELA) returned to Teresa’s December 10 for its annual holiday meeting and party. Nearly 80 attendees came from coast to coast to gather together for a casual, festive evening of networking, industry updates, oodles of raffle prizes, and celebrating the holiday season among the warmth of industry peers. Chauffeur Driven was among the event’s raffle sponsors and was represented by its new Event Coordinator, Britt Kirk of All Points Limousine.
The evening began with an extended cocktail hour so party-goers could grab quick bites between catching up with old friends and making a few new ones. DJ Greg “Gates” Plowman of Entertainment Concepts once again acted as the event’s emcee and set a merry mood by playing tons of holiday classics and plenty of contemporary holiday favorites. Dinner soon followed, after which NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi welcomed and thanked everyone present. He then introduced the evening’s sponsors and NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car.
Dornhoffer welcomed Drew Messina of Create-A-Card as the newest vendor member to join the association’s board of directors, all of whom he thanked for the generosity of their time and efforts they dedicate to NELA, its members, and the industry at large throughout the year. Szilagyi then highlighted the NELA’s many accomplishments in 2019, reminding those in attendance about the status of the Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Fund (TIEF) that NELA had helped usher into Massachusetts legislature three years ago. The fund “essentially creates a nickel from every single TNC run in the state—and it’s a lot of nickels” to benefit both the taxi and chauffeurs ground transportation industries.
As guests settled in for after-dinner coffee and dessert, the raffle promised an array of sweets, treats, tech, and more. CD donated a pass to the February 23-26 CD/NLA Las Vegas Show, which was won by Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives. The $235 50/50 cash prize was won by Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation/Boston Car Service, which he immediately and generously donated back to NELA.
NELA has also been working to establish a Connecticut Committee these past few months that aims to increase the association’s engagement and membership from operators hailing from The Constitution State. The committee recently elected NELA Director Charles Wisniewski of Teddy's Transportation System as its chairman, with NELA 1st Vice President Joseph Cardillo of AOT Global and NELA Secretary Joseph Puleo of Dav El/BostonCoach serving on its board. The Connecticut Committee will meet in New Haven in January, with a day and location to be determined by operator feedback.
NELA will hold its next meeting March 10.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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