Member Article

Leeds-based Andrew Page deal saves 350 Unipart Automotive jobs

Vehicle parts distributer Andrew Page has bought part of Unipart Automotive, which entered into administration, saving 350 jobs.

However not all sites were saved, those closing include those in Hull, Leeds, Scunthorpe, Bradford, York, Wakefield, Harrogate, Grimsby, Keighley and Doncaster.

Mark Orton, Will Wright and Jonny Marston from KPMG were appointed joint administrators to Unipart Automotive Ltd, one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop consumables and garage equipment, earlier today.

The company operated a network of 180 branches and distribution hubs trading under the Unipart Automotive, Partco Autoparts, and Express Factors brands. It employs 1,813 staff.

Leeds-headquartered Andrew Page has acquired 21 branches while The Parts Alliance has taken on 12. A total of 361 staff employed across these sites have transferred. They include sites in Northallerton, Sheffield and Barnsley.

John Neill, chairman and chief executive of the Unipart Group, said: “We are saddened by the Unipart Automotive situation and even though we sold control of this business years ago, we are concerned for the future of the employees.”

“We have recently been able to work constructively and collaboratively with Andrew Page and are pleased that they have been able to save 33 branches and around 350 jobs.”

The Unipart Automotive distribution business, previously known as Partco, was sold by Unipart Group in 2011. Unipart Group retained a passive equity stake, and a condition of the sale was that Unipart Group exercised no control over the business.

Unipart Automotive progressively established itself as a stand-alone entity with the exception of some distribution services provided by Unipart Group. Less than 1% of Unipart Group employees provided services to Unipart Automotive.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .