South Coast: Hendy becomes £1b company after Westover acquisition

Hendy Group, which has dealerships across the South Coast, has become one of the UK’s largest dealership networks after buying Dorset and Wiltshire-based Westover Group.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, sees Hendy become a £1 billion turnover company with 2,000 employees and operations from Exeter to Eastbourne and Kent.

Hendy chief executive Paul Hendy said the acquisition was a key milestone for the company, which this year celebrates its 160^th anniversary.

“Westover is a hugely successful group and shares our philosophy of delivering a premium service and putting the customer and its employees at the heart of operations,” said Hendy.

“It’s very much business as usual and all the dealerships will continue under the Westover name for the immediate future as the business is integrated into the Hendy Group.”

The acquisition means Hendy Group now operates 26 franchises from 83 outlets and reinforces the group’s portfolio in Dorset and Wiltshire.

Westover chairman Peter Wood said: “Westover has been my passion now for more than 40 years and to find a suitable company to hand it over to which has the same ethos of looking after its staff and customers has not been easy."

Paul Hendy said he was delighted to add the Westover Group to the Hendy portfolio. “Our investments and acquisitions in the last few years have put us in an extremely good position for the future and the integration of Westover will strengthen this position still further as we continue to look to the future.”