The major UK parts supply chain Unipart Automotive has gone into administration after failing to find a buyer. Parts and workshop equipment distributors Andrew Page has acquired 21 branches and The Parts Alliance a total of 12 saving 361 jobs.

Unipart Automotive operated a network of 180 branches and distribution hubs trading under the Unipart Automotive, Partco Autoparts, and Express Factors brands. The company employed 1813 people with 1244 of these now facing redundancy.

Speaking on behalf of administrator KPMG, Mark Orton said, “Despite intensive efforts over recent weeks, a sale of the whole Unipart Automotive business could not be reached, and a buyer could only be found for 33 of the sites on a going concern basis. Unfortunately, the business had been experiencing financial stress for a number of years, so the level of cash and further operational restructuring required to rescue a more substantial part of the business posed too much risk for most interested parties.”

Unipart Automotive also supported over 700 independent garages through its Unipart Car Care Centre programme. These companies fall outside of the administration and will continue to operate as normal.

Unipart Automotive is the branch network which was previously known as Partco, which was sold by the Unipart Group to H2 Equity Partners in 2011. Unipart Group retained an equity stake, but exercised no control over the business. Unipart Automotive was granted a restricted licence to use the Unipart brand on a limited range of wholesale outlets. Parts supplier the Unipart Group continues to trade and says it has a strong balance sheet.