Dentons has advised Marshall Motor Holdings plc (Marshall), the AIM-listed motor dealer group with over 100 franchises in the UK, on its £106.9 million acquisition of Ridgeway Group (Ridgeway), the Newbury-based motor dealer group.  The acquisition represents the largest motor retail deal that has been completed in the UK for more than 10 years. 

The acquisition sees Marshall increase its geographic footprint in England to 25 counties, adding 30 franchised dealerships across southern England to its portfolio.  It also makes Marshall the seventh largest UK motor dealer group with pro forma total revenue of circa £2.1 billion.

Ridgeway is a leading  multi-franchise motor dealer group operating across the South of England representing 12 brands through 30 franchised dealerships.  Its brands comprise Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz Commercials, MINI, SKODA, smart, Volkswagen and Volkswagen commercial vehicles. The deal follows Marshall's £24.4 million acquisition of SG Smith, a motor dealer group based in Surrey, Kent and London, in November 2015, on which Dentons also advised Marshall.

The Dentons team was led by automotive specialists Matthew Wilmot and Francesca Bettermann.
Commenting on the deal, Matthew Wilmot said, "We are delighted to have acted for Marshall, a long-standing client of the Firm, on this significant and strategic deal.  Marshall has expanded its portfolio since its IPO in April 2015 and this deal is in line with its growth strategy."

Dentons' market-leading automotive practice provides advice to automotive manufacturers and motor retailers in the UK on issues ranging from corporate and commercial transactions through to dispute resolution, real estate, tax and employment matters and government regulation.