South Wales motorbike dealership Thunder Road Motorcycles has been acquired after nearly 70 years in family ownership.
Thunder Road, which has bases across three sites in Bridgend (head office), Cwmbran and Gloucester and is a main dealer of Honda, Suzuki, Indian and Montesa motorcycles, has been bought by Loughborough-based Completely Motoring Group.
Thunder Road was owned by David Smith and David Mobberley, having been originally founded by David Smith’s father.
Cardiff-based Lexington Corporate Finance acted for Thunder Road on its acquisition, the value of which has been disclosed.
Mr Mobberley said: “Selling Thunder Road Motorcycles was always going to be an emotional time for us. Our company has been selling and servicing motorcycles in and around South Wales and the south west of England for 68 years and was very much a family business, selling around 2,500 motorcycles a year.
"With a strong and loyal customer base and a dedicated, passionate team of employees at our three stores the decision to sell was a difficult one. Fortunately, we had the team at Lexington, led by Thomas and Pablo, to guide us through the complexities of the process to completion of the sale to the Completely Motoring Group.”
The acquisition increases Completely’s offer to 1,500 new and used motorcycles across 10 dealerships, which stretches along the English and Welsh border, including sites in Worcester, Gloucester and Hinckley. It sells brands such as Triumph, Ducati, Kawasaki, MV Agusta and Yamaha.
James Ayland, group motorcycle sales director of Completely, said: “I am honoured to welcome the Thunder Road Team to the group. We have evolved Completely with its family values into an organisation that sells cars and motorbikes all over the UK.”
Director Thomas Edwards and senior manager Pablo Shorney acted on the deal for Lexington.
Mr Edwards said: “It was a pleasure to act on the sale of the business to Completely. Thunder Road is very highly rated by Honda, Suzuki and the other brands it sold and offers Completely both geographic and brand expansion, making it a significant player in the motorcycle sector”.
Legal advice to the owners was provided by Capital Law.
