A number of Far East and Middle East automotive retail businesses are looking to enter the UK car retail market, while others from the region are looking to expand their existing presence.

DealerMatch, the buying/selling agency set up last year by Trevor Jones, has registered interest by more than 200 businesses, of which around 40 are dealers looking to sell. Eight out of the AM100 top 10 have signed up and are looking to expand.

Of the other interested parties, a handful is from outside the motor industry, including a property firm, while some are non-UK retail groups.

“The Far East and Middle East groups are looking for mid-sized businesses of around £100m-400m turnover,” says Robert Jones, partner at Trevor Jones.

“They are looking for entire groups and could make an acquisition within 12 months. They are into sustainable growth and bottom line strategies.”