NEWS
GUD HOLDINGS STRENGTHENS ITS AUTOMOTIVE PORTFOLIO GUD Holdings has acquired Australian Clutch Services GUD Holdings Limited announced on February 10 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in the businesses of Australian Clutch Services Pty Ltd, (ACS) and subsidiaries XCLUTCH USA Inc and ACS NZ Pty Limited. Completion of the acquisition is expected to occur on 1 March 2021. “This is a strategic acquisition of a strongly performing business which complements GUD’s automotive portfolio,” GUD Holdings Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Whickman, said. “This acquisition follows in close succession to GUD’s acquisition of companies formerly comprising AMA’s ACAD business, in further demonstration of GUD’s growth strategy. “We are delighted to add ACS, a proudly Australian and Adelaide-based business with a heritage of over 30 years servicing the industry, to our portfolio. “ACS enjoyed strong sales growth over the past year and is well placed to continue that growth going forward in both ANZ and international markets. “ACS has a diverse customer base and is a leader in the traditional manual clutch, and the growing higher value dual clutch transmission replacement/repair markets. “The business is an excellent complement to Disc Brakes Australia (DBA). ACS and DBA together will form GUD’s Friction-based businesses, to be led by Mr Gideon Segal, currently Executive General Manager of DBA. “We look forward to welcoming the ACS employees to the GUD team.” With the change in ownership to GUD, ACS Founder Brenton Jordan will stay on with ACS for a short period to work alongside Gideon Segal and ACS General Manager Sales and Marketing, Simon Acton, to achieve a smooth transition.” GUD Holdings offers a very comprehensive portfolio of market-leading automotive brands for the Australian and New Zealand markets. For more information, visit www.gud.com.au 8
Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine March 2021
ACS: BRENTON JORDAN’S STORY OF SUCCESS Operating for more than 30 years under private ownership, Australian Clutch Services has grown into one of the largest clutch suppliers in the southern hemisphere Australian Clutch Services (ACS) currently distributes throughout Australia, New Zealand, Europe, The Middle East and the United States. The company says it has continued the expansion of its domestic and export programs and is a market leader in the supply of the latest in clutch technology, including Dual Clutch Transmission components. In recognition of its success, GUD Holdings recently announced the acquisition of the South Australian based Clutch, Flywheel and Hydraulic specialist, which was originally founded in a small facility in Torrensville, South Australia in 1989 and was initially focused on clutch rebuilds. In 2005, after continual growth and a changed focus to the supply and manufacture of new clutch and flywheel products, ACS moved to a purpose-built facility housing a comprehensive research and development facility as well as manufacturing, sales and marketing. ACS Founder Brenton Jordan, along with ACS’ management team, quickly recognised the potential for growth throughout Australia and reinvested heavily into the market, including the introduction of distribution centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Perth. Today, both Melbourne and Sydney have two distribution centres to support fast delivery times and stock holding.
ACS is also the owner of leading brands ClutchPro, Xtreme Clutch, Xtreme Outback, ClutchPro Commercial, AG Clutch and Classic Clutch as well as a specialist US-based performance brand, XClutch. These brands cover all aspects of the clutch market including standard replacement and performance applications for passenger car, 4x4, commercial, agricultural, industrial, forklift and marine applications. “I’m extremely proud of the business that Australian Clutch Services has become,” Brenton said. “With over 30 years of hard work and the support of a fantastic team, ACS is now an integral part of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket and this change of ownership is a new chapter in the life of the business.
