Alliance Automotive Group UK (AAG), has acquired Ireland-based J&S Automotive Distributors. The acquired business, which includes its subsidiary Auto Components Northern Ireland, trades from three distribution centres in Dublin, Cork and Omagh with annual sales of approximately €35m.
READ: IRELAND’S J&SAUTOMOTIVE ACQUIRES ORIGO AUTOPARTS
Until the acquisition, J&S had been members of the AutoDistribution trading platform.
A statement from AAG said that the transaction represents the first step in building a distribution infrastructure in the Irish market to match that of what it has in GB.
J&S will continue to be run by its existing management team under the leadership of Alan Gaynor.
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Steve Richardson, Managing Director of AAG said; “Entering the Irish market has been on our agenda for some time, so we are delighted to welcome Alan and his team into our group. I believe it’s a great fit for both parties. With the strength of our brand portfolio, which customers have been asking us to bring to market for some time, there are many exciting opportunities ahead of us”.
Alan Gaynor, Managing Director of J&S said; “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue on our growth path, embracing the change our market is going through, helping our staff and customers for many years to come. I could not be more proud of my team for the business they have helped build and I’m convinced we’ve found the right home for our company and the J&S family in AAG”.
This will be great news for other independents in Ireland. There is no demand for the NAPA brand, in fact there is already some resistance to it in the UK. It seems easy to borrow Dollars, even easier to spend it. Earning enough to pay it back is the hard bit, but the current team will be long gone before the day of reckoning.