Enterprise Rent-A-Car has acquired commercial vehicle provider Burnt Tree for an undisclosed sum, taking its fleet of commercial vans and trucks to more than 25,000.

The agreement includes Burnt Tree’s diverse commercial fleet of 17,000 vehicles (including commercial vans, HGVs, refrigerated trucks and accessible minibuses) and its proprietary fleet management technologies, as well as its network of 20 branches and a team of 400 employees.

The purchase increases the breadth of vehicles and services that Enterprise can provide to its customers under its flexible commercial vehicle hire division, Flex-E-Rent.

In the immediate short-term, the Enterprise Flex-E-Rent and Burnt Tree businesses will continue to operate as two separate brands, with a view to creating a combined entity that will be headquartered in Shrewsbury.

Mike Nigro, managing director of Enterprise UK and Ireland, said: “We are committed to the growth of our flexible commercial vehicle business, which has grown organically in recent years.

“We could immediately see the potential of Burnt Tree to give our customers access to skills and services that are particularly suited to the needs of commercial vehicle customers.

“Burnt Tree has some unique expertise that it can bring to Enterprise and it will also benefit from becoming part of a truly global organisation.

"The combined business post-acquisition will be far stronger with greater economies of scale and better technology, while the transfer of knowledge will allow us to better serve our customers.”

The new business will be led by Danny Glynn, director, Enterprise Flex-E-Rent.

Burnt Tree chief executive Richard Metcalfe will remain in an advisory capacity to help steer the direction of the combined business.

Metcalfe said: “Last year we stated our ambition to become the leading and largest business in our industry. In time, this agreement will allow Burnt Tree to achieve its full potential to become the market leader. It will become part of the world’s largest vehicle rental company, which, like Burnt Tree, is privately-owned.

“I know that there is both the vision and resources to grow the business over the long-term, which means there will be opportunities for people here. I would like to thank everyone sincerely at Burnt Tree for all their hard work and for making the business such a success. This agreement marks the next phase of growth for the business.”