{{Short description|Irish car rental company}} {{Infobox company | name = CarTrawler | logo = | logo_size = | type = | traded_as = | ISIN = | industry = IT | genre = | predecessor = | founded = 2004 | founder = Greg Turley <br> Niall Turley | defunct = | fate = | successor = | hq_location = Dublin, Ireland | area_served = | key_people = Peter O’Donovan (CEO)<ref name="CEO">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/revenues-rise-5pc-at-cartrawler/a1555195395.html|title=Revenues rise 5pc at CarTrawler|lang=en|author=Caoimhe Gordon|website=Irish Independent|date=2024-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/cartrawler-appoints-new-chief-executive/42037978.html|title=CarTrawler appoints new chief executive|lang=en|author=Caoimhe Gordon|website=Irish Independent|date=2022-10-04}}</ref><br>Patrick Kennedy<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businessandfinance.com/news/new-and-notable-appointments-at-matheson-llp-acca-community-finance-ireland-irish-beverage-council-cartrawler-virgin-media-television-and-azets-ireland/|title=New and notable appointments at Matheson LLP, ACCA, Community Finance Ireland, Irish Beverage Council, CarTrawler, Virgin Media Television and Azets Ireland|lang=en|website=Business & Finance|date=2023-04-06}}</ref> | products = | production = | production_year = | brands = | services = | revenue = €173.8 million<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/0823/1466352-cartrawler-reports-higher-revenue-and-profits-for-2023/|title=CarTrawler reports higher revenue and profits for 2023|lang=en|website=RTE|date=2024-08-23}}</ref> | revenue_year = 2023 | operating_income = €8.3 million<ref name="Hancock">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/08/23/cartrawler-pays-47m-dividend-to-parent-as-profits-rebound/|title=CarTrawler pays €47m dividend to parent as profits rebound|lang=en|author=Ciarán Hancock|website=The Irish Times|date=2024-08-23}}</ref> | income_year = 2024 | net_income = | net_income_year = | aum = | assets = | assets_year = | equity = | equity_year = | owner = | members = | members_year = | num_employees = 400+<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesspost.ie/tech-news/cartrawler-to-cut-10-of-workforce-amid-strategic-shift-but-new-roles-will-follow/|title=CarTrawler to cut 10% of workforce amid strategic shift - but new roles will follow|lang=en|author=Charlie Taylor|website=Business Post|date=2024-09-19}}</ref> | num_employees_year = 2024 | parent = TowerBrook Capital Partners | divisions = | subsid = | module = | ratio = | rating = | website = {{URL|https://corporate.cartrawler.com/en-gb/}} | footnotes = | embed = }}
'''CarTrawler''' is an Irish car rental provider. Its headquarters are located in Dublin. It has offices in New York City, Melbourne, and London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webintravel.com/cartrawler-lands-e100-million-investment-to-drive-growth-and-strengthen-platform/|title=CarTrawler lands €100 million investment to drive growth and strengthen platform|lang=en|website=WiT|date=2020-05-19}}</ref>
As of August 2024, CarTrawler had a network of over 2,200 vehicle rental service providers in 150 countries. It also manages online car rental websites under the brands Holiday Autos and Argus Car Hire.<ref name="ii">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/cartrawler-irish-brothers-sell-car-rental-firm-to-private-equity-group/30121334.html|title=CarTrawler: Irish brothers sell car rental firm to private equity group|lang=en|website=Irish Independent|date=2014-03-25}}</ref>
== History == CarTrawler was founded in 2004 by brothers Greg and Niall Turley.<ref name="Hancock" /> In February 2014, as part of a debt-secured deal worth €450 million, CarTrawler was sold to investment firms BC Partners and Insight Ventures Partners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/irish-car-hire-technology-firm-to-be-sold-for-450m-1.1736072|title=Irish car-hire technology firm to be sold for €450m|lang=en|author=Fiona Reddan|website=The Irish Times|date=2014-03-24}}</ref> BC Partners received a controlling stake for an undisclosed amount, while Insight Ventures Partners acquired a minority stake. A "significant portion" of the shares remained with local management.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.phocuswire.com/CarTrawler-majority-stake-bought-by-BC-Partners-in-big-bucks-deal|title=CarTrawler majority stake bought by BC-Partners in big bucks deal|lang=en|author=Kevin May|website=Phocus Wire|date=2014-03-24}}</ref> It was reported that BC Partners and Insight Ventures Partners used €150 million in debt financing to complete the transaction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/cartrawler-set-to-fall-under-control-of-uk-firm-towerbrook-1.4246571|title=Cartrawler set to fall under control of UK firm TowerBrook|lang=en|author=Joe Brennan|website=The Irish Times|date=2020-05-06}}</ref>
In August 2015, CarTrawler entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with Ryanair.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/ryanair-launches-new-car-hire-service-as-charm-offensive-continues-a2920736.html|title=Ryanair CarTrawler: Airline launches new car hire service as charm offensive continues|lang=en|author=Alex Lawson|website=The Standard|date=2015-08-25}}</ref> In September 2017, Ryanair announced an extension of this agreement for another two years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-extends-partnership-with-cartrawler-for-2-more-years/|title=Ryanair Extends Partnership With Cartrawler For 2 More Years|lang=en|website=Ryanair|date=2017-09-11}}</ref>
In May 2020, British private equity group TowerBrook Capital Partners invested €100 million to acquire CarTrawler.<ref name="CEO" /><ref name="IT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/08/02/cartrawler-backer-has-no-plans-to-sell-as-firm-returns-to-profit/|title=CarTrawler backer has ‘no plans to sell’ as firm returns to profit|lang=en|author=Joe Brennan|website=The Irish Times|date=2023-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/sep/24/willie-walsh-takes-cartrawler-role-after-leaving-ba-owner-iag|title=Willie Walsh takes CarTrawler role after leaving BA owner IAG|lang=en|author=Gwyn Topham|website=The Guardian|date=2020-09-24}}</ref> The acquisition was driven by the company's difficulties amid COVID-19 restrictions.<ref name="Hancock" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesspost.ie/tech/british-investor-looks-to-unload-a-roadworthy-cartrawler/|title=British investor looks to unload a roadworthy CarTrawler|lang=en|author=Charlie Taylor|website=Business Post|date=2023-04-02}}</ref> It was noted that BC Partners and Insight Ventures Partners suffered significant losses from this deal.<ref name="it">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/cartrawler-management-to-take-stake-in-towerbrook-takeover-1.4257082|title=CarTrawler management to take stake in TowerBrook takeover|lang=en|author=Joe Brennan|website=The Irish Times|date=2020-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/boi-among-lenders-to-take-hit-as-cartrawler-is-sold-for-third-time/39219209.html|title=BoI among lenders to take hit as CarTrawler is sold for third time|lang=en|author=Ellie Donnelly|website=Irish Independent|date=2020-05-20}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Information technology companies of Ireland Category:Car rental companies