The Epiris Fund III of private equity firm Epiris has acquired GSF Car Parts (GSF). This is the fourth investment for Fund III, and Epiris has not disclosed financial terms. The Ahluwalia Family Office has also co-invested in GSF Car Parts alongside Epiris, marking Sukhpal Ahluwalia’s return to the car afterparts market. Sukhpal Ahluwalia becomes executive chairman of GSF and Steve Horne chief executive officer.
National motor factor GSF Car Parts has announced a new commitment to introduce accredited mental health training to its team members. The launch of this programme yesterday ties in with World Mental Health Day, a day to raise awareness of the importance of mental health support.
National motor factor GSF Car Parts and final-mile delivery specialists Delivery Mates are partnering for a unique challenge to raise awareness and money for the automotive industry charity BEN. A team of six riders from GSF and Delivery Mates will complete a three-day rally on electric motorbikes, visiting 15 GSF branches along the way. The rally will begin at Midpoint, GSF’s National Distribution Centre in Birmingham, and conclude at its Chester Support Office in the north west.
On 3 August, LKQ Corporation (LKQ) and Uni-Select Inc confirmed that the previously-announced acquisition of Uni-Select by 9485‑4692 Québec Inc, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LKQ, officially completed on 1 August 2023. This follows a complex and ongoing monopoly-related investigation by UK authorities.
LKQ Corporation, the parent company of LKQ Euro Car Parts, is seeking to divest GSF Car Parts (GSF) following its acquisition of the factor’s Canadian owner, Uni-Select. With the transaction subject to the receipt of anti-trust clearance in the UK, LKQ Corporation made the offer as part of its application for the UK competition authority’s approval. In the interim, LKQ Corporation will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the GSF business with the existing management team remaining in place and the organisation ringfenced from LKQ. LKQ announced its plan to acquire Uni-Select for around US$2.1 billion on 27 February.
National automotive parts distributor, GSF Car Parts has been named as the headline sponsor of EV Ready, the UK’s first ever independent garage event dedicated to electric vehicle skills equipment and technology.
The Parts Alliance has enhanced its DriveTec brake friction range. The number of pads has increased 60 per cent in the last 12 months whilst the range of discs has increased 50 per cent over the same period. The company has also overhauled the packaging.
The Parts Alliance says the Vetech DPF Professional Cleaner launched in 2015 by GSF Car Parts has proved so successful that they will be enforcing recently-acquired design protection rights to help garages avoid ‘inferior copy products’, after successfully patenting the product.
GSF Car Parts’s programme to reintroduce Bendix brakes to the UK aftermarket is running ahead of schedule. The Parts Alliance, GSF’s parent company, announced a long term exclusive Western European distribution agreement for the Bendix braking brand back in October last year. Since then, GSF Car Parts has been building the range of brake pads and brake discs available for popular UK vehicle applications.
The latest edition of GSF Car Parts Garage Essentials catalogue reflects recent optimism at the company around its range of tyre equipment, which it says has “proved particularly successful… during a buoyant 2017.” The increased range of options includes solutions from Tecalemit, Bosch and Hofman, and features an all new EAE package, combining an automated tyre changer with assist arm and wheel balancer, packaged together for just over £2,000.
GSF Car Parts has continued its rolling branch refurbishment programme with Derby being the latest location to gain an upgrade, following improvements to Smethwick last month. The Derby site is located on London Road, near Pride Park; it’s less than a mile from the city centre, with strong walk-in retail counter sales. The branch employs a total of 10 staff and has 5 delivery vans servicing a thriving trade customer base with regular local deliveries.
GSF Car Parts and ZM Heaters prepared for this season with a programme of visits to help key staff members within The Parts Alliance businesses understand the workshop heating options.
GSF Car Parts has taken delivery of 5,000 of its ever-popular hardback A4 sized job diaries. They are available to customers now from the motor factor’s national branch network.
Despite digital developments, these high quality desk diaries are still a workshop essential for most garages, and are always snapped up fast.
The Parts Alliance has secured a long-term exclusive Western European distribution agreement to sell the Bendix brand of braking products. The agreement covers a full range of light vehicle aftermarket product categories. The company will initially focus on friction material products used in braking systems. GSF Car Parts, a subsidiary of The Parts Alliance, has a long history selling Bendix braking products in the UK. The new marketing programme will highlight Bendix’s historical reputation for quality, and the benefits of increasing quality options for the consumer in deciding between replacement parts.
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GSF Car Parts