Sidwell Motor Company Joins The Vosper Group
South West motor dealers Vospers have acquired Sidwell Motor Company, the Fiat dealer in Exeter.
Peter Vosper of Vospers said, “Fiat is now recognised as a quality range and some exciting new products are on the way with Bravo and 500. Their new Scudo and Ducato vans are making a great impact and we look forward to the future with confidence”.
This means Vospers have comprehensive coverage of Devon and Cornwall for Ford, Fiat, Mazda and Subaru.
Vospers will continue to operate under the Sidwell name in the short term offering new Fiat cars and vans with full service and parts back up, along with Alfa Romeo servicing and are delighted to welcome Sidwell customers and ensure continuity from the current excellent team at Marsh Barton.
Richard Coombs, Partner at South West law firm Foot Anstey said “We are delighted to continue working with Vospers as they have grown to be a major employer and motor dealer in the region. This deal continues the trend we are seeing, both in the South West and nationally, as the market reorganises into larger groupings.”
Andy Wilton, relationship director for Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets explained: “Vospers is a long standing and valued customer of Lloyds TSB and I am delighted to have been able to provide funding for this key acquisition which further consolidates their enviable market position in the South West. I look forward to continuing our close working relationship with the Vospers team and to supporting them again in the future.”
Stones Solicitors (Rachel Atherton) and Bush & Co Accountants (Keith Steer) acted for the vendor Keith Hoskin and Lloyds TSB’s Plymouth Andy Wilton funded the deal.
Sidwell Motor Company was originally an Austin Morris dealership and switched to Fiat in the late 1980’s and left its city centre site in 1990 to move into new premises in Hennock Road East.
Peter Vosper said “Sidwell has an established team and we will be providing the necessary investment to grow the business, meet the standards required by the manufacturer and give excellent customer satisfaction in the future”.
With a turnover of £183 m in 2006, Vospers is one of the 50 biggest car dealers in the UK with 670 staff. The business was started in 1946 by the late Frank Vosper, father of the current Managing Director Peter Vosper and grandfather of Nick, Director and General Manager. Expansion into Exeter started in 2005. The firm took over EMG, a company operating Rover dealerships in Exeter and Tiverton, a Subaru dealership in Exeter, a Ford dealership in Exmouth and Exeter Ford and Torbay Ford from the Pendragon Group. Last year, Vospers bought Carrs of Exeter’s Mazda business and relocated Mazda to Honiton Road alongside Ford, who are now also in Tiverton.
Published 18/07/2007
