Motor dealership Essex Auto Group has been sold to South Africa-based firm Super Group for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition includes the entire Essex Auto Group portfolio, which is made up of five Ford franchises at Southend, Rayleigh, Thurrock Lakeside, Billericay and the Basildon head office, Kia sites in Southend and Thurrock Lakeside, and Fiat and Mazda in Southend.

Essex Auto Group shareholders were advised by Ipswich-based law firm Birketts on the deal, which sees Super Group add to its existing Allen Ford network of dealerships.

Former Essex Auto Group chairman Philip Maskell said they chose the law firm because of its track record in automotive mergers and acquisitions, and it was “expertly handled” by Birketts’ Adam Jones and his team. “I set an ambitious time line and the deal was delivered with efficiency. The Birketts team did a great job,” he said.