JCB Group expands with South East dealership acquisition

JCB Group has expanded with the acquisition of a dealership business based in the South East of England. Ashford Orbital represents brands including Kia, Suzuki, Mazda, Skoda, VW Commercial Vehicles, Volkswagen, Renault and Cupra.

The company occupies a 2.5 acre site in Ashford, Kent and was acquired by outgoing owners Oliver Barford and Jeff Wilson from Drake and Fletcher in 2008. Following the deal, the company will become part of the JCB portfolio, with the owners moving on to other business pursuits. Jeff Wilson commented that it was “the right time to pass the business on to a larger group who can further develop and grow it.”

The deal was managed by David Kendrick and the automotive team at UHY Hacker Young and follows JCB Group’s December 2023 acquisition of the nearby Tunbridge Wells Volkswagen dealership. JCB Group have said they are keen to continue targeting dealership acquisitions in the area.

David Kendrick commented: "The site, coupled with the franchise portfolio, was prime for being acquired by one of the bigger groups and there was a lot of interest in the business. However, it makes complete sense for JCB to bring it into their ever growing South East portfolio."

JCB Group Managing Director Jonathan Bischoff said that Ashford Orbital was a business that he has been eyeing “for some time” and that Wilson and Barford had “built a fantastic business on a very attractive freehold property that sits adjacent to some of our other businesses”, adding that it “complements the portfolio perfectly”.

Bischoff continued: "As a group we continue to grow and have been supported very well by Ian McMahon and the UHY team. Therefore, if any dealers in our region are considering an exit, we are keen they contact Ian."



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