Vertu adds fifth Skoda dealership with Leicester acquisition

(Sharecast News) - Vertu Motors announced a strengthening of its East Midlands presence on Tuesday, with the acquisition of Skoda Leicester from Marshall Motor Group, adding a fifth Skoda dealership to its UK portfolio.

The AIM-traded firm said the site started operating under Vertu ownership on 1 November, and would be rebranded as Vertu Skoda Leicester.

"We are delighted to have acquired Skoda Leicester in a move that further cements our relationship with the brand, and which also helps to boost our presence in the key East Midlands region," said Adrian Skow, Vertu Skoda franchise director.

"We look forward to working with new colleagues at the dealership, and welcoming new and existing customers at the site to Vertu."

Vertu said the newly-acquired dealership, on Groby Road, was its third site in Leicester, joining its existing Renault/Dacia and Toyota outlets.

The dealership also expanded its Skoda network alongside sites in Darlington, Derby, Chesterfield and Nottingham.

It said the acquisition further deepened its partnership with one of the UK's best-selling automotive brands, while enhancing its footprint in a key growth region.

"The East Midlands is an important area of growth for Vertu, so we are thrilled to add another dealership in the region to our portfolio," said chief executive Robert Forrester.

"Skoda Leicester is a fantastic site in a prime location within the city and will be a strong addition to the group."

Vertu Motors is the UK's fourth-largest automotive retailer, operating a network of new and used vehicle dealerships across major national and regional brands.

At 1534 GMT, shares in Vertu Motors were down 1.27% at 62.4p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.