Acquisition

Lookers PLC 11 August 2006 11 August 2006 Lookers plc Lookers acquires ten dealerships from H R Owen Plc Lookers plc, one of the leading multi-franchise motor retail groups in the UK, today announces a conditional agreement to acquire the business and certain assets of ten dealerships from H R Owen Plc, comprising two Chrysler Jeep sites at Hatfield and Romford, two Lexus sites at Hatfield and Brighton, two Land Rover sites at Acton and South Kensington and four Mercedes-Benz sites at Brighton (includes Smart), Eastbourne, Gatwick and Redhill. Completion is expected to take place by the end of August 2006 and is subject to approval by the shareholders of H R Owen and receipt by Lookers of landlords' consent to the assignment of the leaseholds of the properties. The consideration payable in cash will be £5.0 million goodwill and approximately £8.1 million of fixed assets, together with an amount equal to the net book value of stocks at completion. The acquisition is expected to add approximately £175 million to Lookers' annual turnover and in the year ended 31 December 2005 the businesses generated operating profit of approximately £1.8million. The gross assets to be acquired relating to the businesses were £34.6million at 31 December 2005. The acquisition is consistent with the Group's successful strategy of targeted acquisitions to expand existing market areas with preferred manufacturer partners. The acquisition follows Lookers' successful acquisition and integration of six Premier Automotive Group ('PAG') dealerships from H R Owen in February 2006 and significantly improves the mix of prestige brands, including the addition of Mercedes-Benz to Lookers' franchise portfolio. Commenting, Ken Surgenor, Chief Executive said: 'In line with our stated strategy these dealerships complement our existing market areas in the South East and we are confident that, as with the previously acquired H R Owen businesses, they will prosper and will be earnings enhancing in their first full year under Lookers' ownership. We are especially pleased to have been approved by Mercedes Benz as a market area partner and we look forward to operating one of the industry's pre-eminent franchises.' High resolution photographs will be available to media at www.vismedia.co.uk from 10.00am. For further information: Lookers plc 0161 291 0043 Ken Surgenor (Chief Executive) David Dyson (Finance Director) Hudson Sandler 020 7796 4133 Nick Lyon James Hill Kate Hough This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Lookers (LOOK)
UK 100

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