Pictured above: Carl Cumbo (left) and Tim Butler shake hands on Adept’s acquisition of Butler’s customer portfolio
FLEET management specialist Adept Vehicle Management has acquired the customer portfolio of Butlers Vehicle Solutions.
Adept said that the acquisition is part of the company’s strategic growth plan to reach a wider audience for its tripartite B2B offering of fleet management, daily rental and vehicle procurement.
The opportunity to acquire the Butlers’ customer portfolio arose when MD of Butlers Vehicle Solutions, Tim Butler, approached Adept in order to provide an orderly shut down of the leasing brokerage and pass on customers to a business with a similar customer-centric ethic.
“We have a high standard of personal customer service, and Adept has a similar approach to its customers. Rather than sell the customer portfolio to the highest bidder, we wanted to pass our customers on to a business that would treat them in a similar manner.”
While Adept Vehicle Management is a B2B specialist, the Butlers portfolio – numbering 200 fleets – is more evenly split between PCH and BCH. Adept said it would enable them to offer their range of services to the former Butlers’ customers.
“We have a very hands on consultative approach to our customers and I think Tim realised we had the same ethos and values as Butlers. Our new Butlers’ clients can rely on the same level of service support with the added benefit of our fleet management and rental services that we specialise in.”
After 18 years operating Butlers Vehicle Management, Tim Butler is now joining Arnold Clark as an EV sales specialist at the retailer’s Stafford innovation centre. Former director Linda left to go into full time employment two years ago.
Adept Vehicle Management currently has 3,000 vehicles under management and 300 vehicles for its short term rental business, 70% of which are on its own book.
“Although we have been operating in different market areas to Butlers Vehicle Solutions, we saw a direct synergy that was focused around a hands on consultative approach and a dedication to offering personalised and unrivalled customer service,” added Carl. “We pride ourselves on following the mantra of our strap line ‘the people that make the difference’.”
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Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
