21 Centrale Partners combine Village Center and Vacances directes to create the European leader in outdoor accommodation, in partnership with Promeo Group. The new group has thus been established, pooling Promeo Group’s assets of Village Center (Village Center Loisirs, Kawan Group and Le Gain) and Vacances directes, the number two player in the French market for mobile home rentals.The combined Village Center / Vacances directes entity will have an aggregate 20,500 camping plots under management, as well as a fleet of 13,500 mobile homes, deployed on a total of 168 partner campsites and will operate a total of 38 campsites, of which 19 directly owned. The group is thus expected to generate a turnover in excess of €M 100 in 2012.In a fast-growing market, 21 Centrale Partners will side with management in the implementation of a timely development strategy, contributing expertise in build-ups and international development to support the new group’s expansion across Europe.Gérard Pluvinet, Founding Managing Partner and François Barbier, Managing Partner of 21 commented: “We are pleased to partner with Promeo Group for this ambitious project which marks a turning point in the development of the outdoor accommodation market. The complementary business models of Village Center and Vacances directes will come together to generate synergies and expand internationally, driven by talented managers.”Gilbert Ganivenq, Founder and CEO of Promeo Group and Olivier Ganivenq, General Manager of Promeo Group and President of Village Center Group added: “This ambitious partnership is to allow the acceleration of the growth of Village Center and Vacances directes through the strong complementarity of offerings and know-how. In addition to positioning the new group as a key player in the market, our alliance with 21 Centrale Partners materializes the developments we have undertaken in outdoor accommodation and opens a new era for the expansion of our brands in Europe.”