LOOKERS acquired by GLOBAL AUTO HOLDINGS

Global Auto Holdings Ltd. (GAHL), an affiliate sharing ownership with Toronto-based Alpha Auto Group (AAG), has completed the acquisition of Lookers PLC through a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement. Following initial shareholder resistance over the summer, GAHL raised its cash offer per share to secure investor approval. The transaction takes the target private and marks its delisting from the London Stock Exchange. The operational perimeter encompasses a workforce of approximately 6,500 employees and an infrastructure network of 147 franchise dealerships across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The transaction marks AAG’s entry into the European automotive retail market. Prior to the acquisition, AAG's geographic footprint was limited to 15 large-scale vehicle dealerships across Canada and the United States. By acquiring Lookers, the group absorbs an established, century-old distributor of new and used vehicles, light vans, and aftermarket services. The post-closing industrial thesis focuses on geographic diversification and expanding global market share, positioning the combined entity to leverage Lookers' existing platform amidst broader consolidation within the British automotive retail sector.