History Lookers

lookers in burnley

the lookers group established in 1908, john looker. based in manchester, , dealt sale of bicycles, parts, accessories. in 1910, business joined forces, create lookers ltd. until world war i, lookers ltd ford dealer, thrived such extent. in 1911, garage in hardman street had rebuilt, accommodate business generated ford.

in 1918, business appointed distributor of austin motor company. continued grow throughout lancashire , cheshire, through acquisition of number of garages. lookers , austin became closely associated such slogan lookers austin lasted many years. business continued prosper until world war ii, in 1939. when austin factory committed war effort, , there hard times throughout country. in 1960s, first major acquisition occurred, when group moved yorkshire.

in 1973, group s headquarters transferred chester road, remain day, , company became listed company on london stock exchange. issuing shares on stock exchange created funds, enabled company take first major steps towards expansion.

lookers strengthened vauxhall dealerships, acquisition of braid group, major dealership group based in liverpool, £3 million. purchase completed in 1983. december 1984, first full year including braid, company s sales topped £150 million.

in 1989 lookers acquired smac continental, based in south east england, £14.7 million. purchase added smac s mercedes-benz dealerships lookers portfolio of manufacturers.

in 1996 lookers bought charles hurst group, dealership in northern ireland.

meanwhile, lookers began investment program, included opening of £4.5 million dealership in stretford in 1999, sales of suzuki, seat , mazda. investments totalling £20 million, in order open new showrooms in chester, liverpool, , oldham in 2001. company added number of existing dealerships well, such 452 birmingham , spekehall vauxhall, bought vauxhall , rystar aston , selly oak vauxhall, bought ryland group. in august 2002, lookers further strengthened vauxhall network, purchase of elt brothers, based in birmingham, £900,000.

in may 2002, lookers teamed morrisons, in experiment sell cars internet displays in 3 supermarkets of morrisons. 2003, lookers network of dealerships had topped 90. company had built extensive network, throughout united kingdom. in february 2003, lookers completed united kingdom presence, move scotland. through hurst, acquired jn holdings, better known operator of taggarts motor group in glasgow , motherwell.

in august 2004, lookers made significant acquisition, time boosting presence in united kingdom aftermarket car parts circuit, when bought fps distribution.

other dealerships acquired through december 2004 included savoy honda in warrington; vauxhall dealerships in lisburn , portadown; darlington volkswagen; volkswagen dealership in northallerton; , saab dealership in chester. in february 2005, lookers added used car supermarket bristol trade center, paying £8.5 million.

in december 2005, lookers made bid larger rival reg vardy. however, pendragon plc offered counter bid, succeeded after lookers decided not raise bid. during bidding battle reg vardy, pendragon made unsuccessful hostile bid lookers.

in october 2007 lookers acquired dutton forshaw, dealership, lloyds tsb £60 million. company went on buy lomond audi group in july 2012, shields motors, , opened volkswagen van centre glasgow in may 2013 , colborne group in march 2014.

on 3 september 2015, lookers acquired tyneside based benfield motor group £87.5 million , expanded become third biggest car dealership in country. deal saw lookers plc expand further north east , cumbria. benfield brands include nissan, renault, volkswagen, skoda, kia, honda, hyundai, lexus, toyota , ford.