UK-based, family-owned publisher takes over at OATS.
Peter van der Galiën and Sebastian Crawshaw seal the deal Image: OATS |
The end of 2016 brought a major step-change for OATS - one of only two lubricants database specialists in the world - as it was acquired by Haynes Publishing Group.
The family-run publishing house, known worldwide for its highly detailed technical service manuals which have become automotive 'bibles' for millions of car mechanics and enthusiasts, bought OATS for a total of £2.4m ($2.9m) in cash and debt.
OATS will be run as part of HaynesPro - the professional division of Haynes Group - under the stewardship of MD, Peter van der Galiën.
In a letter to OATS Bulletin subscribers, he described HaynesPro as: "the leading provider of online automotive technical data in Europe. The company has about 140 employees across Europe who are dedicated to provide our partners and customers the best possible solutions."
According to van der Galiën, HaynesPro technical data is used by a large number of companies including leading automotive parts distributors, fleet owners, diagnostic equipment manufacturers and over 50,000 workshops in Europe.
In response, OATS' former owner and Chairman, Sebastian Crawshaw, stated: "In selecting Haynes as the trustee for my business, I was mindful that Haynes remains a British family-controlled business which has a long-term commitment to both its customers and its people. Haynes also has a track record of investing in and growing the businesses that it has acquired.
The outlook for our sector is positive as lubricants companies continue to re-shape, do more with less, and seek more sophisticated solutions from their suppliers.
I believe that OATS will be better placed to provide you, our stakeholders, with better solutions and invest faster in next phases of development by uniting with HaynesPro."