AMBITIOUS USA-backed auction group CMA/ICA has bought BRS Car Auctions after months of speculation. BRS Car Auctions last month denied industry rumours that it was a takeover target for the acquisitive auction group after closing its Stoke auction centre, but the deal was finalised this week.

The 20,000sq ft BRS Coventry site takes CMA/ICA's total number of centres to 10 and has been bought along with an adjoining 3.5-acre site with a view to further expansion in the future. The acquisition is expected to increase CMA/ICA's combined throughput by some 25,000 vehicles a year to 250,000 vehicles next year.

Before the sale was agreed, former BRS Stoke general manager Jonathan Holland left to join CMA/ICA as director of manufacturer operations where he has a brief to build on the Coventry site's established portfolio of closed sales. CMA/ICA also wants to start fleet operator sales at Stoke once new computer systems have been introduced.