The Business
Aston Barclay was the UK’s third largest car auction group, operating from five sites following the opening of Donington Park in 2017 and Wakefield in 2019. The business provided vehicle remarketing services to fleet, manufacturer, dealership and private vendors and handled over 100,000 cars per annum through physical and online auctions. Aston Barclay invested heavily in recent years in both its auction sites and IT systems.
Investment thesis
The core focus was transitioning Aston Barclay from a regional family-run business to a national more professional operation broadening and enhancing customer service as well as delivering operational efficiencies. A key strategic plan was to expand its geographic reach with a new Donington site. The plan was also centered on a national sales team to acquire new vendor accounts, better engage buyers and also enhance customer service with additionally investment in Aston Barclay’s IT and digital offerings, including expanding online auction capabilities and delivering innovative products.
Exit
After experiencing difficult market conditions, Aston Barclay was sold to trade buyer Constellation Automotive Group in April 2025.
