VERTU MOTORS PLC

M&A Activity • May 1, 2015

National Storage Mechanism | Additional information

You don't have Javascript enabled. For full functionality this page requires javascript to be enabled.

RNS Number : 9490L

Vertu Motors PLC

01 May 2015

1 May 2015                                                      

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

Acquisition of Bury Land Rover and Bradford Jaguar, expanding the Farnell brand

Vertu Motors, the UK automotive retailer with a proven growth strategy, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the business and assets of Bury Land Rover in Lancashire and has also exchanged contracts to acquire the business and assets of Bradford Jaguar in West Yorkshire.

Bury Land Rover Acquisition:

·      High quality business - immediately accretive to Group profits

·      Further development of the Group's representation of Land Rover in the North of England

·     Acquisition now combines Jaguar and Land Rover operations in the Bury and Bolton territory under the Group's ownership

·      Opportunity for marketing and management synergies as acquired business will operate under the Farnell banner and management structure

Bury Land Rover has been acquired from a subsidiary of Pendragon PLC and operates from leasehold premises.  Total consideration, which includes £7.0m of goodwill, is estimated at £7.0m and has been settled in cash from the Group's existing resources. 

For the year ended 31 December 2014, the management accounts of Bury Land Rover showed revenue of £41m and EBITDA of £1.5m.  The Board expects this acquisition to be earnings enhancing in the current financial year.

The acquisition complements the Group's existing Land Rover dealerships in Nelson, Lancashire and across West Yorkshire and further extends the Farnell brand.  The Group already operates the Jaguar franchise in the same territory with a Farnell branded dealership in Bolton. 

Bradford Jaguar Acquisition:

·      High quality business with potential for earnings growth as brand develops

·      Further development of the Group's representation of Jaguar in the North of England

·      Acquisition now combines Jaguar and Land Rover operations in the Bradford territory

·      Opportunity for marketing and management synergies as acquired business would operate under the Farnell banner and management structure

Bradford Jaguar is being acquired from a subsidiary of Lancaster plc and operates from a leasehold property.  Total consideration, which includes £0.75m of goodwill, is estimated at £0.9m and will be settled in cash from the Group's existing resources.  Completion of the transaction is anticipated on 12 May 2015 subject to certain conditions.

For the year ended 31 December 2014, the management accounts of the Business showed revenues of £14.7m and a loss of £0.15m.  The Board expects this acquisition to be earnings neutral in the current financial year and earnings enhancing thereafter.

The acquisition will complement the Group's existing Land Rover dealership in Bradford and further extend the Farnell brand.  Following completion, the Group will operate five Land Rover dealerships and two Jaguar dealerships.

Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors, said:

"Since 2013, the Board has considered it strategically important to balance the Group's representation of volume franchises, with increased exposure to premium franchises.  Today's announcement is a further step along this path with further extensions of our Farnell Land Rover and Jaguar brand."

"Bury Land Rover is an earnings enhancing acquisition that will further support the profit growth of the Group in the short and medium term. Bradford Jaguar will complement our successful Land Rover operation in Bradford and will strengthen our Farnell brand in the North."

The Group will release its final results for the year ended 28 February 2015 on 13 May 2015.

For further information please contact:

Vertu Motors plc
Robert Forrester, CEO	Tel: 0191 491 2111
Michael Sherwin, FD	Tel: 0191 491 2112
Liberum
Peter Tracey Richard Crawley Jamie Richards	Tel: 020 3100 2000
Zeus Capital Limited
Adam Pollock	Tel: 020 7533 7727
Camarco
Billy Clegg Georgia Mann	Tel: 020 3757 4983

Notes to Editors

Vertu Motors, the UK automotive retailer with a proven growth strategy, is the sixth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 116 sales outlets across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu, Farnell 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 114 franchised sales outlets and 2 non-franchised sales operations from 95 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 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

ACQDGGDSLUXBGUG