Unipart Group and H2 Equity Partners have announced the completion of their deal for H2 to acquire a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment.
The news follows the announcement reported first on Aftermarket Online last month that a deal was in progress. As H2 Equity Partners hold 50.1% of the firm they will have the majority ownership in the UK operation. Unipart Group will retain a 49.9% share and Patrick Kalverboer, managing partner at H2, will become Executive Chairman of the new company.
Unipart Automotive has around 175 branches with sales of over £175m. As part of the deal Unipart Automotive’s 2,100 employees nationally will transfer to the new company, which will continue to trade under the Unipart Automotive brand.
H2 already owns a controlling interest in Sator Holding B.V. -- the market leading importer and distributor of parts for the automotive aftermarket in the Benelux, and Northern France. The acquisition of Unipart Automotive, will allow H2 to promote “best practice” cooperation between Sator Holding and Unipart Automotive in areas such as product management, IT systems and sourcing capabilities. H2 Equity Partners has also created a new buying group called AP United, which will combine the purchasing volumes and ranges of both companies and improve efficiencies for its suppliers as well as its members.
Over the next few months a multi-million pound, joint forward investment programme is planned, together with a significant expansion of Unipart Automotive’s current range of parts and accessories - to around 160,000 products - making it the most comprehensive automotive replacement parts offering available in the UK.