Vertu expands operations in Scotland  09 | 06 | 2010

VERTU MOTORS has expanded its operation in Scotland following the £2.5 million acquisition of two dual-franchised Ford and Mazda dealerships in Glasgow and Hamilton operated by Shields. The deal, which is expected to be completed on June 30, will see the properties — in which the two businesses generated a turnover of £27.1m in the year to June 30, 2009 — purchased leasehold.

This expansion sees Vertu increase its operations in Scotland to four, and all four have been acquired this year. Like the previous two dealerships, the Glasgow and Hamilton outlets will operate under the Macklin Motors banner, the brand established this year for dealership acquisitions in Scotland.

Vertu, which operates 64 dealerships in the UK, now includes 19 Ford dealerships and four Mazda outlets in its portfolio.

"We are pleased to have agreed to acquire a further four sales outlets in Scotland, Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors said. "This demonstrates continued delivery of our strategy to grow a scaled motor retail group across the country in targeted regions.

"We are excited by the opportunities this acquisition brings with our manufacturer partners, Ford and Mazda and both dealerships are in prime retail locations representing an excellent geographic fit with the group's existing Scottish dealerships. We will now have six sales outlets in Scotland and we look forward to continuing to grow the Macklin Motors brand."