Pendragon, one of the UK’s largest automotive retailers, is to sell all of its car dealerships for £280mn and focus on software, ending a tumultuous period in which the company’s attempts to sell itself were scuppered by its largest shareholder.
US group Lithia, which already has 50 UK sites, will buy the showrooms, Pendragon said on Monday.
Lithia tried to buy Pendragon outright last year, but its £460mn bid required 75 per cent shareholder approval and was blocked by Sweden’s Hedin, Pendragon’s largest investor. Hedin then tried to buy Pendragon last autumn but was rebuffed.
Read the full story on the Financial Times here.