Seller administration system developer Dragon2000 has been bought to France-based Lacour Group.
Northamptonshire-based Dragon2000, which has grown from its inception in 1995 into a serious participant within the UK’s automotive DMS market, partnering greater than 1,000 automobile sellers together with Williams Vehicles, additionally specialises in automobile seller web sites, storage software program and used automobile seller software program solely for the retail motor commerce.
Its acquirer Lacour Group, based mostly in Saint-Doulchard in France, has been offering digital options for the automotive aftersales sector because it was based in 1985, together with workshop and bodyshop administration methods and a elements database.
Dragon2000’s founder and managing director Mark Cooper stated: “Becoming a member of forces with Lacour is an thrilling accomplishment for Dragon2000. Our shared imaginative and prescient of offering main aftersales software program options to the automotive sector makes this partnership a pure match.
“The size of the mixed enterprise gives a spread of alternatives by way of each the suite of merchandise out there to our prospects in addition to the service we’re capable of present them.”
Lacour Group, which itself bought a majority stake to world funding agency Carlyle in 2023, will help Dragon2000 to proceed its development trajectory within the UK.
Angelo Maida, Lacour Group’s chief govt, stated: “This acquisition is a serious step ahead for us, enabling entry into the dynamic UK market. We’re excited in regards to the alternatives to develop our presence and introduce our modern options to a wider viewers.
“Collectively, we’ll proceed to deal with innovation, product-led development, and additional integrating AI into our product suite to reinforce worth for our prospects.”
Advisor Cooper Parry has labored intently with Dragon2000’s founder and managing director Mark Cooper for a number of years, culminating within the acquisition which helps Lacour safe a strategic cross-border development potential.
Mark Cooper stated: “The Cooper Parry deal workforce labored tirelessly to barter and ship a superb transaction for us as shareholders and for our devoted administration workforce. Their sector experience and partner-led method offered invaluable help all through the method.”
David Kendrick, head of automotive at Cooper Parry, commented: “Having identified the enterprise for a very long time and labored with Mark Cooper, we see implausible synergies between Dragon2000 and Lacour. We’re assured the mixed enterprise will thrive sooner or later.”
