On Feb. 2, automotive aftermarket manufacturing and distribution business Klarius completed the purchase of the Quinton Hazell automotive group from U.S.-based Affinia.
Quinton Hazell is headquartered in Leicester, England, with manufacturing and distribution assets in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The purchase brings a wide range of automotive aftermarket and OEM brands together, combining extensive manufacturing resources from both companies with global sales and distribution networks, boosting the group’s annual turnover to over £350 million.
According to Klarius, further acquisitions, which should the group’s turnover pass half a billion euros, are planned.
“This acquisition is ideal for both companies as Quinton Hazell products are largely complementary to the existing Klarius range – with very little crossover,” said Klarius chairman, Tony Wilson. “We have the opportunity to grow the business in two ways: by developing new channels for our wider product range globally; and by exploiting our existing channels to the full, by providing customers with a wider range of quality products from a single source.”
By adding the extensive Quinton Hazell (QH Group) product range to its portfolio, Klarius now offers over 100,000 parts, covering the majority of the European car market, supplying over 40,000 parts every day, to more 5,000 delivery points in more than 136 countries.
Since its acquisition of the emissions control activities of ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Aftermarket Europe in 2007, Klarius has grown quickly in the European automotive aftermarket, turning around a £7 million operating loss on the emissions control division in its first full year of trading.
The combined product range includes: Engine electrics, cooling system parts, pumps, filters and drive belts; emission control systems – catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters, exhausts, silencers and lambda sensors; drive-train components including: clutches, bearings, suspension and braking systems; as well as a wide range of accessories.
As part of the deal, Klarius will now offer the following QH Group brands which now come under the Klarius Goup Company: Quinton Hazell, Lip (Lipmesa), Commercial Ignition, Krooklok, Moprod Friesen and the distribution of Wix (Big X in Germany) filter products and FTE Automotive products in Europe. (Tyres & Accessories)
