Autopact Pty Ltd, which is a privately-owned dealer group, is the second purchase in the Australian automotive retail business for Optimus after it bought a 20 per cent stake in used-car group OzCar in November 2021.

Optimus Group Australia CEO John Startari told GoAutoNews Premium that Optimus would buy a majority share in Autopact. The price will be disclosed in November when the shareholding will be completed.

“Our Australian investment strategy is basically to invest in automotive assets and, where possible, have cost synergies,” he said. “But Autopact and Oz Car are two separate investments. We have a minority stake in OzCar and we continue to support its growth.”

Optimus Group Australia CEO John Startari

With Autopact, Optimus is buying the shares held by majority owners Archer Capital and John Eastham.

Archer, a private equity business based in Australia, first invested in Autopact in 2015. Autopact started as the Crick Auto Group in 1995.

Autopact operates 28 dealerships and represents 35 brands in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Its focus is on the volume, premium, luxury and commercial vehicle segments.

The sale to Optimus ends Autopact’s association with its support from Archer Capital and also that of Mr Eastham who with partner Garry Crick built Autopact into the large retail business in three states. Mr Crick will remain as Autopact’s executive director and chairman while Mr Eastham will continue as a director until settlement. However he has signalled he may pursue other business interests after the deal is signed in November.

Mr Startari said there would be no changes to the management and staff at Autopact. The company has pursued a strategy of having its various dealerships owned by the dealer principals; a practice that will remain, he said.

“We’re there to facilitate and assist in the growth of Autopact,” Mr Startari said of Optimus’ acquisition.

John Eastham and Garry Crick

“There are no changes to management, there are no changes to dealer principals. The existing structure remains in place.”

Mr Startari, who is also a director of Optimus Group in Japan, said he saw “lots of opportunities in Australia” for growth.

Autopact CEO James Welch told GoAutoNews Premium that the change centres on the controlling shareholding of the business moving from Archer Capital and Mr Eastham to Optimus.

He said the percentage of that shareholding, and other details of the agreement, will be announced in November. He said all dealer principals were 100 per cent behind the deal and were staying with the Autopact group.

“Autopact has been a success story of growth since its inception, growing to become one of Australia’s largest dealership groups. “I’d like to thank the founders Garry Crick and John Eastham as well as Archer Capital who have been pivotal in the growth of the business over the last eight years. 

“The sale of Autopact is one of the final remaining investments within Archer Capital’s Fund 5.“I look forward to welcoming the Optimus Group alongside our chairman Garry Crick as Autopact continues its growth trajectory.” 

Meanwhile, Optimus’ stake in OzCar has been raised to 30 per cent. The used-car group has also expanded to 20 outlets from the 15 it had in 2021.

Optimus Group Co. Ltd is a publicly-listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, headquartered in Tokyo. It has automotive business interests in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia it has interests in OzCar and automotive technology and analytical company Blue Flag.

In a statement, Optimus said it was “entering into agreements for the acquisition of Autopact (which) allows Optimus Group to accelerate its strategy of growth within the Australian automotive landscape and will position the company to support its OEM partners in expanding, especially with the growth in the EV segment.”

“Once completed, this agreement represents the expansion of the company’s footprint in the Australian market and aligns with the group’s global strategic direction.

“Currently, Optimus Group has automotive investments in Australia covering automotive data, automotive logistics and automotive retailing.”

Optimus Group president Nobuya Yamanaka said in a statement: “Our planned acquisition of the Autopact business will provide the opportunity to expand our route to market into Australia in line with the growth ambitions and strategic direction of the group.”

By Neil Dowling