Heritage Automotive Expands With Acquisition
Heritage Automotive, a dealer known for its wide range of products, including Honda motorcycles for sale, has recently expanded its representation of the Volkswagen Group, and their presence in the motorbike sector, with their acquisition of the Blade Motoroup, as well as Blade Motorcycles, in a recent transaction.
As part of the transaction, Heritage Automotive acquires 3 Skoda, 2 Seat, and Audi, Volkswagen, and Honda dealerships, expanding the company’s reach across Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Somerset and Wiltshire.
As for the Blade Motorcycles business, the dealership chain handles Aprilia, Harley Davidson, Indian, and Honda motorcycles for sale across several locations in Abingdon, Cheltenham, Stratford, and Swindon.
This acquisition by Heritage Automotive came only after three years following the company’s acquisition by the former owners of Colborne Garages; Richard Neulaender and John Walsh.
Neulaender issued a statement on the acquisition, saying that they’re pleased to be expanding their representation of VWG Brands, with more dealerships for Audi, Skoda, and VW, while, at the same time, fostering new partnerships with Seat and Honda Cars, with more representations for bike manufacturers to handle Aprilia, Harley and Honda motorcycles for sale through their operations.
He added that the former owner of the Blade group, Mike Flanagan, was adamant that the business remain privately owned, and they’re happy to help make that happen. Neulaender describes the Blade Group as a great strategic and geographical fit for Heritage, a key consideration for their business. He does, however, hope that they can be more than that; a key part of the company’s culture.
Under Neulaender and Walsh, the Heritage Group has been busy, with major developments and acquisitions.
In June 2018, the company acquired Cheltenham’s Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships from Pendragon’s Stratstone operation, which also allowed the directors coming back to the Jaguar Land Rover brands.
The Blade Motor Group’s last set of published account, covering the period ending at June 30, 2017, noted that the group had a turnover of £213.9 million, with losses before taxation sitting at £2 million, with the company pointing to the Brexit vote as one of the key factors to recent business issues, alongside the decreasing prevalence of diesel vehicles.
