Retailer WHSmith expanded its travel division with the acquisition of hospital retail outlet UNS Hospitals and a franchise agreement with Roadchef.
UNS Hospitals, which trades as United News and has 72 retail units and 8 Caffe Nuovo coffee shops in 62 hospitals in the UK, has been acquired for £19m. It will be funded through WhSmith’s existing cash resources and bank facilities. Integration costs are expected to be around £1m in the current financial year.
The group also struck a franchise agreement with Roadchef to open travel units in all 29 RoadChef Motorway service areas.
“The acquisition of UNS Hospitals creates further growth opportunities for our Travel business. The hospital channel is under developed and the combination of the experienced UNS management team and the WHSmith brand and offer will bring benefits for customers,” said chief executive Kate Swann.
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