Klarius, the automotive aftermarket manufacturing and distribution business has bought the Quinton Hazell automotive group (QH) from US-based Affinia.

Quinton Hazell is headquartered in Leicester, with manufacturing and distribution operations in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The purchase brings a range of automotive aftermarket and OEM brands together, with manufacturing resources from both companies with global sales and distribution networks, boosting the group’s annual turnover to over £350 million.

Further planned acquisitions should soon see the group’s turnover accelerate to over half a billion Euros.

“This acquisition is ideal for both companies as Quinton Hazell products are largely complementary to the existing Klarius range – with very little crossover,” said Klarius' chairman, Tony Wilson.

“We have the opportunity to grow the business in two ways: by developing new channels for our wider product range globally; and by exploiting our existing channels to the full, by providing customers with a wider range of quality products from a single source.”

As it's privately owned, Klarius believes it is better placed to be flexible in terms of product and business development; focussing on strategic investment in increasing efficiency and optimising production rather than being driven by short-term shareholder returns.

Klarius will now offer more than 100,000 parts, covering the majority of the European car parc, supplying more than 40,000 parts every day, to over 5,000 delivery points in more than 136 countries.

Klarius Group was advised on the acquisition by the law firm Hill Dickinson.