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Venture Finance provided a funding line of £37.5 million to finance H2 Equity Partner’s recent acquisition of a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive. And what’s more there is said to be “increased appetite for structured private equity deals.”
Unipart Group and H2 Equity Partners have officially completed the previous announced deal that sees H2 acquire a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment.
H2 Equity Partners has announced plans to acquire a controlling stake in Unipart Automotive, the UK’s largest independent supplier of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment. Unipart Automotive is currently owned by Unipart Group. The agreement, which is expected to be concluded shortly, sees H2 Equity Partners taking majority ownership in the UK operation. Unipart Group will hold onto 49.9 per cent. Patrick Kalverboer, managing partner at H2, will become executive chairman of the new company.
Tenneco Inc. is to supply aftermarket exhaust systems to Unipart, the UK's largest independent automotive parts supplier. "We are pleased to partner with Unipart, to expand our reach in the UK with the largest distributor of exhaust products in this important market," said Hari Nair, president, international, Tenneco. "This relationship positions both companies for significant aftermarket emission control growth by combining the strength of Unipart's customer service focus and high consumer recognition with Tenneco's powerful aftermarket brands and reputation as a leading original equipment supplier."
John Neill, Unipart Group CEO, added: "Working in partnership with one of the world's largest and most successful original equipment manufacturers further strengthens Unipart Automotive's position as the number one exhaust choice in the UK aftermarket. We are the best known brand for automotive components and our partnership with Tenneco demonstrates our commitment to providing the best trade partnership to our customers across our extensive branch network."
In recognition of the need to maintain high standards within the independent garage sector, Unipart Automotive has confirmed its support for the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.
Unipart will be encouraging all existing Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCCs) to sign up to the Code of Practice and it will become compulsory for any new UCCCs joining the network to participate. To help the network benefit from the industry standard, Unipart will contribute towards the cost of signing up to the Code for its Car Care Centres.
Unipart Automotive has teamed up some of the leading garage equipment manufacturers for its latest edition of Megawisebuys. Highlights include a free air conditioning introductory pack, a set of four high lift pads on the Cascos 3.2 tonne 2-post lift and a free Karcher domestic pressure washer with certain offers. In addition the company is offering wheel balancer accessory kits for balancing centreless, light commercial vehicle and 4×4 wheels correctly.
In the wake of Gordon Brown’s announcement to increase the number of apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds, Unipart Automotive is launching an apprentice scheme across its Unipart Car Care Centre network from September 2009. Funded by the Learning & Skills Council, the programme will enable apprentices to benefit from skills training and continuous professional development, ensuring motorists receive the highest standards of service from the independent garage sector.
The three-year training course will provide successful students with both ATA and NVQ Level 3 qualifications. Apprentices will go through a strict selection process to ensure the most promising candidates are selected. In addition to the structured programme, those who are chosen for the Unipart course will also learn about the importance of using OE matching quality parts, garage accreditation and customer service, as well as elements of the industry renowned Unipart Way to give them tools to help with the day to day running of a workshop. With on-the-job training at Unipart Car Care Centres, the apprentices will be provided with Unipart-branded clothing, protective equipment and specific tools along the way.
Parts supplier Unipart Automotive has teamed up with market leading garage equipment manufacturers to launch the latest edition of Megawisebuys offering vehicle workshops, body shops and commercial vehicle operators added-value deals on quality capital and mobile equipment.
Some of the deals in the March/April edition include: A free remote control handset with any set of Stertil Koni mobile column lifts ordered in March or April along with a free two-year warranty on the FORCE30 two post three tonne hydraulic lift from Maywood; a free set of high lift pads with the Bradbury 2903CD 2 post 3 tonne mechanical lift; a free Karcher domestic pressure washer (inc accessories) with selected Karcher hot & steam pressure washers along with a free hose storage trolley with selected Karcher cold washers for a limited period only.
Unipart Leisure is launching a new and improved Car Care proposition, which includes the introduction of many new product ranges not available through competitors. The proposition will stimulate additional sales and all products are now available through a more flexible ordering system. The Car Care business fits logically into the Unipart Leisure proposition as the company has a successful distribution business supplying the high street retailer.
Derek Howsam commented: “We are now able to provide access to the full Unipart Leisure car care proposition as well as to the entire Unipart Leisure & Marine product portfolio. This will provide opportunities for incremental product sales. The broad availability of the range will see increased sales – and in turn profitability – in a more demanding market. Not only do we have additional leisure ranges but a broader product range of leading proprietary brands and new products exclusive to Unipart Leisure, which have been introduced from suppliers such as Holts, Farecla and Osram. The full product range includes well-known brands such as WD40, Carpoint, Loctite, Castrol, Haynes, Calor; Turtle Wax Magic Tree and many others. Unipart Leisure aims to offer the complete proposition for car care customers that is adaptable and flexible providing customers with tailored solutions.”
Unipart Automotive has invested £1 million in a new branch and Area Distribution Centre (ADC) in Solihull, creating 20 new jobs. Allan McNish, 2008 Le Mans 24hr race winner, officially opened the new 14,000 sq ft Birmingham South branch on Wednesday 19 November 2008.
This major investment by the motor parts distributor will enable it to better service the needs of motor trade customers, with access to over 25,000 product lines giving excellent off-the-shelf availability. A delivery service from the largest fleet in Birmingham, comprising 27 Unipart vans, will provide fast local delivery.
Online tyre retailer Blackcircles has appointed Unipart Automotive as its preferred parts supplier. As part of the new partnership it will promote the Unipart brand and product range to its network enabling the garages to tap into better pricing on parts which can be passed on to customers. Revenue is reportedly up 40 per cent this year while visitors to its website are said to have increased by 55 per cent.
The partnership agreement also has benefits in terms of customer confidence, a key area for online businesses. Under the new deal, Unipart will conduct a 10-point quality check, on behalf of Blackcircles.com, for all garages within the network, which will provide a mark of excellence designed to create a new consumer confidence and encourage greater use of independent garages.
Mike Welch, managing director of Blackcircles.com, said: “In Unipart we are partnering with a proven and trusted name that will enable us to support our garage relationships across the UK at a crucial time for the industry. Block Exemption creates an excellent opportunity that will ultimately benefit consumers. We are confident that this new deal will increase consumer confidence and highlight the many benefits of using local independent garages to the general public whilst educating people about Block Exemption.”
Unipart Automotive marketing director, Wendy Williamson, commented: “By sourcing our service products, the garages can be more confident about the quality they are offering their customers. This will increase customer satisfaction, generating higher sales for the garages involved.”
According to the company, Blackcircles.com has developed the largest network of fitting outlets in the UK during the course of the last six years and is currently recruiting more garages to join its UK network.
Car parts supplier Unipart Automotive has teamed up with NGK to give away thousands of pounds worth of mystery prizes to workshops across the UK in an exciting lambda sensors promotion.
For every NGK lambda sensor bought at Unipart Automotive during August and September, workshops will receive a pack of NGK Playtime Cards, some of which will contain hidden lucky cards. If your pack includes a lucky prize card then you could be in with a chance of winning an ipod Nano, a Nintendo Wii, a 60 inch HD plasma screen TV with a Sony PS3 games console or one of 200 other mystery prizes.
Unipart Automotive has been voted the most recommended brand for braking in an independent aftermarket survey about brand perception that ranked Unipart brakes as the number one choice by Workshops. The survey listed six leading aftermarket brands and asked respondents what braking brand they would recommend to their customers for fitment on a vehicle; overwhelmingly 59 per cent stated the Unipart brand. GiPA, the aftermarket intelligence organisation, conducted the poll and surveyed workshops including independent garages, auto centres, national and independent fast fits.
Unipart Automotive has launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness of its braking range and the fact that all service products, supplied by Unipart Automotive, have an Original Equipment matching quality guarantee and meet the requirements of Block Exemption. This allows independent garages to carry out servicing and maintenance on a car without invalidating the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty, provided the garage follows the vehicle assembler’s schedules.
Unipart Automotive, the UK’s largest independent parts and supplier network, has re-launched its battery offerings and includes a range that beats original equipment (OE) standards.
According to the company, the Unipart Samson battery range consistently out-perform original manufacturer specifications and comes with a four year warranty while the Unipart battery range aims to equal OE standards and comes with a three year guarantee.
Aftermarket logistics specialist Nick Rayner is to head up Unipart Automotive as part of senior management changes at Unipart Automotive. Nick has been running Unipart Aftermarket Logistics for the past nine years, which handles the entire global Jaguar aftermarket parts supply chain as well as logistics for Unipart Automotive. In his new role, Nick will report directly to Unipart Group Chief Executive John Neill as Chris Etherington is leaving Unipart.
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