William Blair in favour of a Euro Car Parts rescue of Unipart Automotive
Investment bank William Blair said it views a potential rescue deal between Euro Car Parts and Unipart Automotive, if it were to happen, as “a good fit”. However, these words were written in an investor’s note dated 10 July and so far there hasn’t been any more information on how the talks with Euro Car Parts, Better Capital and at least one other party are progressing as yet.
Continue Reading![Goodyear signs 3-year contract to provide port handling tyres at London Gateway](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gateway.jpg)
Goodyear signs 3-year contract to provide port handling tyres at London Gateway
Goodyear off-the-road tyres have been fitted to 28 Kalmar ESH-250 Shuttle Carrier vehicles at London Gateway. The fitment took place under a new three-year contract between Goodyear and DP World London Gateway to provide Goodyear OTR EV-3+, EV-4A and EV-4C industrial radial tyres.
Continue ReadingChemix Autocentres reports 70% increase in air conditioning related calls
With 95 per cent of new cars being sold with air conditioning as standard, Chemix Autocentres is reporting that the company has seen an almost 70 per cent increase in calls relating to air conditioning related problems.
Continue ReadingAndrew Page rejoins Parts Alliance
On Tuesday 8 July Andrew Page Group (one of the top three independent UK aftermarket suppliers), announced that it is rejoining The Parts Alliance, the major UK and Ireland buying and distribution group. The company’s decision to rejoin came after an absence of six years. It also came the same day that Unipart Automotive confirmed that it had put the administrators on standby in the event that it would not be able to negotiate a rescue deal with the at least three parties it has been talking to.
Continue Reading![Register now to support Tyre Safety Month](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/170714tyr-a.jpg)
Register now to support Tyre Safety Month
Companies planning on supporting this October’s Tyre Safety Month campaign can now register to receive their free campaign materials. The month-long, TyreSafe-organised campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of driving on tyres with adequate tread depth, and after the wettest winter on record will include essential advice about minimising the risk of aquaplaning.
Continue Reading![British Gas adopts Michelin tyre policy under ATS-E service agreement](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/britishgas.jpg)
British Gas adopts Michelin tyre policy under ATS-E service agreement
ATS Euromaster has won a significant new contract with British Gas to fit and service tyres across the energy provider’s fleet of 13,000 vans. The Michelin-owned service provider says its nationwide network coverage, detailed fleet reporting and expertise in managing B2B accounts were crucial factors in securing this new account. As part of the agreement, ATS Euromaster will roll out a full Michelin tyre policy across the fleet; winter tyres, specifically the Agilis Alpin, will be the fitment of choice.
Continue Reading![TyreSafe now taking 2014 award submissions](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/np-tyresafe.jpg)
TyreSafe now taking 2014 award submissions
Entries for the second annual TyreSafe awards are now open, and interested parties have until 5 November to nominate organisations that help reduce tyre related road casualties for a 2014 honour.
Continue ReadingAre Unipart Automotive rescue bids in?
Sources are reporting that the Unipart Automotive rescue bids have been received and we are likely to hear the outcome in the next 24 hours, but these claims could not be officially verified. Earlier in the week separate sources close to the negotiations told Tyres & Accessories they were expecting talks to conclude towards the end of the week, which would seem to fit into the same timeframe. With managers saying they were hopeful talks could be wrapped up in 36 hours at the beginning of the process on 8 July, the fact that almost 10 days have now passed suggests things are becoming increasingly urgent. It is also putting pressure on its loyal workforce. However, the official line from shareholders Unipart Group and H2 Equity as well as one of the three bidders Euro Car Parts has been a unified “no comment”.
Continue Reading‘Loyal’ Unipart Automotive staff in quandary while takeover talks continue
We know Unipart Automotive is in need of a buyer. We know at least three companies including Euro Car Parts and Better Capital are talking to the owners about a takeover/rescue plan. But a lot remains unknown and so Unipart Automotive’s roughly 1600 employees are facing a great deal of uncertainty while the talks continue causing some to consider their employment options moving forward.
Continue Reading![Generous members and supporters wish retired NTDA director well](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DSC02110-1.jpg)
Generous members and supporters wish retired NTDA director well
NTDA past chairman John Tarbox recently contacted Tyres & Accessories as a way of conveying his, the association’s and newly retired director Richard Edy’s appreciation to all those that contributed to his leaving gift.
Continue ReadingEuropean tyre markets up across all segments in 1H 2014
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) has published figures showing that is members experience sales increases across all segments in the first half of 2014.
Continue ReadingUAN: independent automotive aftermarket worth £2.5 billion
According to detailed research undertaken by United Aftermarket Network (UAN), annual UK automotive aftermarket distributor turnover is now estimated to be worth £2.5 billion. The research shows that three companies (Euro Car Parts, Andrew Page and Motor Parts Direct) collectively share around 27 per cent of the total market. In terms of buying groups, three companies including UAN account for over 40 per cent of the total market.
Continue Reading![Tyre aging Bill presented to House of Commons](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/np-rotherham.jpg)
Tyre aging Bill presented to House of Commons
The campaign for tighter laws on aged tyres has taken another step forward with the presentation of a Bill in the House of Commons calling for a maximum age limit for tyres fitted to public service vehicles. The Ten Minute Rule Bill was introduced by Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotherham yesterday, and although approval is by no means certain it achieves the important aim of increasing awareness of the dangers aged tyres can pose. Per the Bill, operating a public service vehicle with tyres that are ten or more years old would become an offence; this age limit would be enforced by Traffic Commissioners, and tyre age checked and recorded during the annual vehicle test. Rotherham also stated that the Bill would accommodate tyre manufacturers’ ongoing research, and the proposed maximum age limit could thus “easily be increased” should evidence verify that a newly-developed bus or coach tyre was “demonstrably safe” beyond ten years of age.
Continue Reading![Over inflated part worn market figures](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/573038_86645720.jpg)
Over inflated part worn market figures
One of the Eagle-eyed editors at Tyres & Accessories’ German sister title, Neue Reifenzeitung recently dropped us a line with regard to our coverage of insurance firm Liverpool Victoria’s research into the UK part worn tyre market (see “23 million part worns sold since 2009” online and in the June issue of the magazine for the original story). In short it seems that while we accurately reported the figures that were released to the press, some of the calculations undergirding the report’s claims couldn’t bear their own mathematical weight. Or in other words the research shows that annual worn tyre demand is less than 4 million units annually and not knocking on the door of 6 million tyres a year (5.7 million units annually was the precise figure) that was originally quoted.
Continue Reading![Is Unipart Automotive being lined up for sale to Euro Car Parts?](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/UNIPART-AUTOMOTIVE-Van.jpg)
Is Unipart Automotive being lined up for sale to Euro Car Parts?
With numerous sources reporting that loss-making parts firm Unipart Automotive is just days away from a rescue plan (which you might read as a sales of the company), and with at least three bidders being associated with the deal, fast-growing rival Euro Car Parts could be seen as a front runner. But first a little background. Following the initial news reports Unipart Automotive was close to calling in the administrators on 8 July, a day later minority shareholder Unipart Group clarified its relationship to Unipart Automotive:
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