Montreal and Vancouver, November 7, 2005 — Belron Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Belron S.A., the vehicle glass repair and replacement company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of the Canadian glass operations of Autostock International Inc., a division of TCG International. The completion of this transaction follows regulatory clearance from the Competition Bureau.
Autostock International�s Canadian glass operations, based in Burnaby, B.C., include Speedy Glass, Apple Auto Glass, Novus Repair and Replacement, Autostock Distribution and 1st Report Claims Services. Autostock International has 260 service centres and 33 distribution facilities across Canada.
By acquiring the assets of Autostock�s Canadian glass operations, Belron Canada customers will now have access to an extensive corporate and franchise network as well as an improved wholesale distribution network across the country.
�We are delighted to welcome the employees and franchisees of Autostock�s Canadian glass operations and look forward to working with a fantastic team that can help deliver added value to our clients,� said Claude Lalonde, President of Belron Canada. �Together we have an ideal platform to launch new services, which will benefit auto, residential and commercial glass consumers across the country.�
�We are really confident about the great people, terrific brands and the assets we have acquired through this deal. It is an important element of our global strategy, as it will show our commitment to North America,� said Gary Lubner, Chief Executive Officer of Belron S.A.
About Belron Canada
Belron Canada provides services and solutions for auto glass repair and replacement, as well as commercial and residential glass replacement. It operates under the banners: Apple Auto Glass, DURO vitres d�autos, Lebeau Vitres d�autos, Novus Repair and Replacement, Speedy Glass and Standard AutoGlass. The company conducts its wholesale activities under the trade names of Autostock Distribution, Technicentre Plus and Vanfax. It also offers claims management services.
