Milton Keynes—Dentons has advised Group 1 Automotive UK Limited on its acquisition of a portfolio of Volkswagen car and van dealerships across the South East of England in Chelmsford, Colchester, Romford and Southend. The acquisition takes its UK operation to 49 dealerships across the Audi, BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mini, SEAT, Skoda, Toyota, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands.

Group 1 Automotive UK Limited is the UK entity of Houston-based Group 1 Automotive, Inc., an international, Fortune 500 automotive retailer and leading operator in the automotive retailing industry.

Since its initial public offering in October 1997, Group 1 has grown to become the third largest dealership group in the United States and has expanded into Brazil and the United Kingdom where it is firmly one of the largest UK wide dealers. Group 1 now owns and operates 175 automotive dealerships across 32 brands of vehicles, 230 franchises, and 48 collision centres across the United States, United Kingdom and Brazil. 

Andrew Harris, partner in Dentons' UK Corporate team, said, "We are delighted to have advised Group 1, one of the largest dealership groups in the UK, on this transaction. Its acquisition of this portfolio of Volkswagen dealerships will further strengthen Group 1’s offering in this brand across the UK."

Alongside Andrew, the Dentons team advising on the deal included Corporate senior associate Thomas Redman and associate David Rizzuto, with support from the wider UK team that included Tax partner Lorna McCaa, Real Estate senior associate Lorna Rogers, Environmental senior associate Pamela Coulthard, and associates Victoria Albon, Charlotte Stevens, Aimee Oakley, Esther Rusling, Nikki Vitiello, and Tom Elliotte.

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