For the owners and managing directors of bike adventure tours, Chris and Andi Schnelli, the merger with the Globetrotter Group is an important step towards the future-oriented alignment and strengthening of their company. The affiliation with the Globetrotter Group offers many interesting synergies, for example in the area of marketing. For André Lüthi, Globetrotter Group, the bike and mountain bike provider is an ideal addition to the company portfolio. He is convinced that niche tour operators have a promising future ahead of them. The parties have agreed that the successful path taken by bike adventure tours will be maintained. The company headquarters will remain in Affoltern am Albis, and Chris and Andi Schnelli will continue to run the company as managing directors. The parties have agreed not to disclose the sale price.

bike adventure tours GmbH is the leading Swiss tour operator for cycling and mountain bike tours worldwide. Group and individual tours in over 40 countries are presented in a 112-page catalog. The offer ranges from enjoyable cycling culture tours to challenging extreme bike expeditions. The company is based in Affoltern am Albis and employs six office staff and 50 tour guides who accompany the cycling and biking groups.Source: Globetrotter press release

Press release from Bike Adventure Tours:

Dear friends and partners of bike adventure tours

In spring 2009 we were asked by a competitor whether we would be prepared to merge our companies. This had never been an issue for us since bike adventure tours was founded. Nevertheless, the time seemed right for us to think about it, because in these difficult economic times a strong partner could offer our small company security and support. During a careful and thorough evaluation, we found the best possible partner for us: on October 20, 2009, Globetrotter Travel Service AG acquired a majority stake in bike adventure tours GmhH.

Globetrotter Travel Service AG convinced us with its know-how and its leading position in the Swiss travel market as an individual travel specialist (20 branches, 220 employees, 148 million turnover). We are certain that the partnership with Globetrotter and its partner companies Globotrek & Background Tours AG (Globotrek, Background Tours, Globotrain, Shangri-La Tours, Globoship) Explora, Transa and the Globetrotter magazine will create considerable advantages and synergies for us in the areas of marketing and customer acquisition. In addition, the corporate cultures are a good fit. We have agreed with the Board of Directors of Globetrotter Travel Service AG that

• bike adventure tours will continue to be managed by us as managing directors for at least the next five years
our company name and external image will remain unchanged
• the company headquarters will remain in Affoltern am Albis
• we can retain a share in our company
• all existing contracts and collaborations with our partners remain unchanged and continue to the same extent

We are convinced that with this step we have secured the long-term future of bike adventure tours.

Sporting greetings
Andi and Chris Schnelli