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Automotive Holdings

March 2023

Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics, which transports frozen foods to supermarkets, was placed into voluntary administration last month.

Out in the cold: How Scott’s came undone

The decision by Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics to upgrade its IT systems at the busiest time of the year caused pallet and delivery chaos.

  • Updated
  • Carrie LaFrenz, Aaron Weinman and Jenny Wiggins

February 2022

A Tesla Model 3 sits in a dealership in the US. Tesla is recalling 54,000 cars equipped with its Full Self-Driving software.

Tesla recalls cars over ‘rolling stop’ feature

The rolling-stop problem is the latest in a series of safety issues involving Tesla.

  • Neal E. Boudette

January 2021

New-car sales rebounded in November and December after a long slump stretching back to 2018, not just in COVID-19 times.

Eagers Automotive may go up another gear

Some analysts think Australia’s biggest car dealership group with 220 showrooms is still a ‘buy’ after a strong rise.

  • Simon Evans

January 2021

Sales of new cars have rebounded strongly.

Profits keep rising for car retailer Eagers Automotive

Australia’s biggest car retailer has delivered its second profit upgrade in six weeks following a strong finish to calendar 2020.

  • Simon Evans

July 2020

AP Eagers CEO Martin Ward says there's been a partial rebound in June after a rough April and May.

Profits plunge at AP Eagers in feeble new car market

The CEO of Australia's biggest new car dealer, with 200 showrooms, says sales have tumbled in Victoria since the renewed lockdowns in that state.

  • Simon Evans
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May 2020

Sheree Burke

AP Eagers' frozen transport fire sale

From a $400 million bid in 2017 to a $75 million sale in 2020, refrigerated trucking has lost its appeal.

  • Tom Richardson

April 2020

Australia's biggest car dealer group axes 1200 staff

A severe downturn in the new car market prompted mass sackings to save $6m, while about 50 per cent of landlords have agreed to a rent waiver or deferral.

  • Simon Evans
AP Eagers CEO Martin Ward has taken a practical view in negotiations rather than watch the deal fall over like so many other M&A transactions which have been put on ice.

AP Eagers takes $25m haircut on sale to Anchorage

Private equity firm Anchorage will now only pay $75m for a logistics business Virgin Airlines shareholder HNA almost bought for $400m in 2018.

  • Simon Evans

February 2020

Legendary dealmaker Phil Cave is poised to acquire AP Eagers' refrigerated logistics division.

PE to drive off with AP Eagers' refrigerated logistics unit

A deal long trapped in the deep freeze of corporate Australia is ready to be thawed out.

  • Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd

December 2019

Gumtree is set to buy Carsguide.

Gumtree confirms Carsguide acquisition

The purchase of the Carsguide and Autotrader brands is in line with a global strategy eBay has been implementing over the past 12 months.

  • Max Mason and Simon Evans
AP Eagers chief executive Martin Ward.

AP Eagers underpaid car dealer staff $4.5m

'Wage theft' has been rife in retail and restaurants, and now Australia's biggest car dealership group has confessed to underpaying 6200 employees.

  • Simon Evans

eBay, Gumtree rev up Carsguide bid

A purchase of the Carsguide and Autotrader brands would be in line with a global strategy eBay has been implementing in the last 12 months.

  • Max Mason and Simon Evans
AHG's new owner AP Eagers' chief executive Martin Ward.

Second round bids due for AHG's logistics division

Buyers of Automotive Holdings' refrigerated logistics business have another chance to firm up their offers. 

  • Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd

November 2019

AP Eagers chief executive Martin Ward needs some extra grunt in a car industry suffering with 19 consecutive months of downturn.

AP Eagers heartburn from weak AHG in $2b merger

Size isn't helping in the short term amid a car sales slump for Australia's biggest vehicle dealership group with 229 outlets.

  • Simon Evans

US strategic battles PE for Automotive Holdings' logistics

It's a battle between PE and strategic buyers in sale 2.0 of Automotive Holdings' refrigerated logistics business.

  • Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd
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September 2019

The boss of AP Eagers is headed to Perth for high-level meetings with dealer principals in WA as part of a $30 million cost-cutting plan for an enlarged company with 12 per cent of Australia's new car market.

AP Eagers razor gang heads to WA in $2.3b deal

The top executives of car dealer group AP Eagers are readying for the first phase of $30m in cost-cutting as a $2.3 billion auto merger revs up.

  • Simon Evans
Nick Politis has enjoyed a handsome windfall in the past two months from his stake in auto dealership group AP Eagers.

Rich Lister Nick Politis makes $290m in two months

The Sydney Roosters chairman's wealth has accelerated as car dealership group AP Eagers closes in on full control of rival AHG.

  • Simon Evans
New vehicle sales have been going backwards for 17 consecutive months.

New car sales plunge in August as loans dry up

The new vehicle market has suffered 17 months of consecutive declines and even tradie favourite the Toyota HiLux ute is in reverse.

  • Simon Evans
AP Eagers CEO Martin Ward won't be accepting firesale prices for AHG's refrigerated logistics unit.

Car dealer's cold storage sale out of deep freeze

AP Eagers will pocket the cash as the sale of Automotive Holdings Group's refrigerated logistics operations accelerates.

  • Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald

August 2019

Banks are being much tougher on car loan customers.

Bank credit tightening squeezes auto sales

The boss of AHG says its a ''brutal reality'' that banks are being much tougher with customers wanting car loans.

  • Simon Evans

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/company/ahg-7n