The bodyshop industry believes that UK repairers will see little difference to their businesses following the acquisition of Audatex by US company Solera.

ADP sold its claims services business, which Audatex is part of, to the US outfit for £560m. The deal for ADP’s Claims Services Group (CSG) is the largest acquisition in the history of the automotive claims industry.

“For most repairers it will be business as usual and I doubt we will see much change to the estimating package as the market is very mature,” says Dave Shepherd, managing director of Deejay Accident Repair Centres.

“Solera has invested a large amount, so you can only imagine they will take the product forward. However, I expect this to be on the claims side of the business in terms of communication with insurers,” he adds.

Solera provides consulting services and technology solutions focused on the claims process. It was formed by Tony Aquila, in partnership with GTCR Golder Rauner, a US equity company.

Audatex UK has welcomed the deal as positive news and says that its customers will see no difference. “We expect Solera to support us in what future plans we already have. We are very confident,” says Sharon Wiggins, director of communications for Audatex UK.