Acquisition of Ford dealerships

RNS Number : 5316W

Vertu Motors PLC

10 November 2014

 



10 November 2014                                

Vertu Motors plc ("Vertu" or the "Group")

Acquisition of Ford dealerships in Bolton and Wigan

Vertu Motors plc is pleased to announce that it has acquired the trade and certain assets of two Ford main dealerships in Bolton and Wigan, and two satellite operations in Walkden and Horwich, from Gordons (Bolton) Limited ("Gordons"). The Gordons business has represented Ford in Lancashire for over 100 years and employs 218 people across the four locations.

Total consideration isestimated at £11.0m and will be settled in cash from the Group's existing resources. No material goodwill ispayable on this transaction.The assets acquired include four freehold properties valued at £6.9m. This includes a development site at Wigan where a new Ford dealership will be built over the next six months to allow relocation from the current leasehold premises.

For the year ended 31 December 2013, the management accounts of Gordons showed revenue of £76.7m and operating profit of £0.3m. The dealerships are expected to be earnings neutral in the first full year of ownership and earnings enhancing in the financial year starting 1 March 2016.

This transaction increases the Group's representation with Ford to 22outlets consolidating the Group's position as Ford's third largest partner in the UK. The Group now operates a total of 114 sales and aftersales outlets across the UK.

Robert Forrester CEO of Vertu said:

"The Board is delighted to announce the acquisition of this well established business in Lancashire, which will provide further scale to theGroup's Bristol Street Motors Ford business.

We are pleased to welcome over 200 new colleagues into the Group who bring with them a wealth of experience in the Ford brand. This acquisition also brings with it some substantial freehold property assets which the Group will actively manage to enhance shareholder value."

For further information please contact:

Vertu Motors plc
Robert Forrester, CEO	Tel: [phone]
Michael Sherwin, FD	Tel: [phone]
Liberum
Peter Tracey Richard Crawley Jamie Richards	Tel: [phone]
Zeus Capital Limited
Adam Pollock	Tel: [phone]
Camarco
Billy Clegg Georgia Mann	Tel: [phone]

Notes to Editors

Vertu Motors is the sixth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 114 sales outlets across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu, Farnell Land Rover and Macklin Motors brand names.

Vertu Motors was established in November 2006 with the strategy to consolidate the UK motor retail sector. It is intended that the Group will continue to acquire motor retail operations to grow a scaled dealership group. The Group's acquisition strategy is supplemented by a focused organic growth strategy to drive operational efficiencies through its national dealership network. The Group currently operates 111 franchised sales outlets and 3 non-franchised sales operations from 92 locations across the UK.

Vertu Motors Group websites - www.vertumotors.com / www.vertucareers.com

Vertu Motors brand websites - www.bristolstreet.co.uk / www.vertuhonda.com / www.macklinmotors.co.uk / www.farnelllandrover.com / www.farnelljaguar.com/ www.vertuvolkswagen.com

 

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