Nic. Christiansen Group acquires Sondrup Bilcenter
The agreement to acquire Sondrup Bilcenter and its 80 employees, located in Risskov and Viby near Aarhus, is another step in the Nic. Christiansen Group’s business strategy to expand its dealership network.
“With the acquisition of Sondrup Bilcenter, we are taking a new step toward securing the dealership network that we have been working to build for several years. Sondrup Bilcenter provides us with a strong foothold in and around Aarhus, where we aim to have a solid presence. That’s why we’re very pleased with the agreement we’ve now reached,” says CEO of Nic. Christiansen Group, Niels Vrist Bertelsen.
The acquisition is subject to approval by the competition authorities.
Part of something bigger
Nic. Christiansen Group is one of Denmark’s largest players in car import and retail sales, and the prospect of having a strong partner has been crucial in finding the right ownership structure for Sondrup Bilcenter.
“I’m incredibly satisfied with the agreement we’ve made with Nic. Christiansen Group. It means that Sondrup Bilcenter and our many skilled and dedicated employees will become part of a team with the strength needed to succeed in a market currently marked by unpredictability and major changes,” says owner and CEO Ole Sondrup.
Sondrup Bilcenter has been selling and servicing cars since 1972. The company was founded by then-director and owner Peter Sondrup, who in 2007 handed over the business to his son Ole Sondrup, who has now chosen to enter into a sales agreement with Nic. Christiansen Group.
A future with Ford and Hyundai
Today, Sondrup Bilcenter is an authorized service partner for brands such as Volvo, Renault, and Polestar, and also handles sales of Nissan.
Subject to approval by the competition authorities, the plan is for the Viby branch of the dealership and workshop chain to also handle sales of Ford and Hyundai as part of Nic. Christiansen Group.
“In addition to the expertise and many skilled employees that Sondrup Bilcenter brings to Nic. Christiansen Group, the acquisition gives us the opportunity to bring our own import brands like Ford and Hyundai to even more customers. Together with our existing branch in northern Aarhus, Sondrup Bilcenter will clearly strengthen our sales organization for these two important brands,” says CEO Niels Vrist Bertelsen.
The agreement follows Nic. Christiansen Group’s announcement earlier this week of the largest acquisition in the group’s history – the purchase of the nationwide dealership and workshop chain Autohuset Vestergaard.
Once the necessary approvals from the competition authorities are in place, this acquisition will also form the framework for the integration of Sondrup Bilcenter.
About Nic. Christiansen Group
Nic. Christiansen Group is one of Denmark’s largest automotive companies. Since its founding in 1967, the family-owned group has operated in vehicle import and retail, as well as financing and leasing.
Headquartered in Kolding, the group is responsible for the Danish import of brands including Hyundai, Ford, BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, Land Rover, Jaguar, NIO, and firefly, as well as Honda in Finland and the Baltics. The group also owns five dealership chains – Bayern AutoGroup, ERA BILER, May & Olde (12 BMW dealerships in Schleswig-Holstein), Terminalen, and British MotorGroup – along with the workshop chain Skorstensgaard and the leasing and financing company NCG Importer Finance.
Nic. Christiansen Group employs more than 1,600 people across operations in Denmark, Germany, Finland, and the Baltics.
About Sondrup Bilcenter
Sondrup Bilcenter has two Eastern Jutlandic branches placed in Viby and Risskov.
The company is an authorized dealer of Nissan and authorized service partner of the brands Renault, Dacia, Volvo and Polestar.
Sondrup Bilcenter was founded in 1972 by then-CEO Peter Sondrup. In 2007, the company went through a generational change to Ole Sondrup. Today, Sondrup Bilcenter has 80 employees.