Trade Me to buy Motorcentral dealer platform pending Commerce Commission approval
By Paul McBeth
July 11 (BusinessDesk) - Trade Me Group, the country's dominant online auction site, will buy Limelight Software, which
operates the cloud-based auto dealer management platform motorcentral.co.nz, for an undisclosed sum provided it gets
Commerce Commission approval.
Wellington-based Trade Me today signed a sale and purchase agreement to buy Christchurch-based Limelight subject to
clearance from the antitrust regulator, which has an indicative timeframe of 40 days. Limelight's Motorcentral platform
includes inventory management, customer relationship management, ad plug-ins and website functions.
Trade Me plans to run Motorcentral as a standalone business, but let dealers upload listings to a range of websites
including its Autotrader, Driven and Trade Me Motors.
"It’s well-run with an experienced and smart team, and has a proven track record of delivering great services that add
value to dealers," said Alan Clark, head of Trade Me Motors, in a statement. "The team also has high engagement with the
dealer community and we see many opportunities for continued growth. We’re excited."
The acquisition comes as New Zealand's new car sales continue to push new records on the nation's expanding population,
strong currency, and record tourism numbers stoking demand for rental cars.
Trade Me shares rose 0.4 percent to $5.36, having gained 6.6 percent so far this year.
(BusinessDesk)