Strategic investments are always exciting, and in 2007 AP Eagers invested in Adelaide based but publicly listed Adtrans Group Limited (ASX: ADG).
This gave AP Eagers entry into the South Australian car market and nationally into the Heavy Truck market, many years after the Green family had private interests in South Australia in the early days. AP Eagers agreed with GD Bignell Nominees Pty Ltd to purchase 3.6 million shares in the publicly listed entity for $14.4 million. GD Bignell Nominees was the family company of Adtrans’ Founder and Chairman, Graeme Bignell.

The purchase was settled on 1 May 2007 by the payment of $3.6 million in cash and 939,131 shares in AP EAGERS which lifted AP Eagers’ holding in Adtrans to 19.6%.

And so the Company became the major shareholder in Adtrans.

Graeme Bignell’s origins are in Melbourne, and it was there as a young man in the 1960s that he worked firstly for Preston Motors Ltd selling motor vehicles before moving into management. In August 1968 Graeme joined Bermar (Bib) Sellars Stillwell who had founded the Stillwell Automotive Group in 1950. Originally starting as General Manager, Bib had head hunted Graeme to join his group as Graeme had already established himself as one of the fastest rising talents in the Victorian automotive industry. Graeme and Bib became lifelong friends. In 1971 Graeme Bignell moved to Adelaide when he and Bib bought the Davitt Ford dealership including cars and Ford Bedford Trucks, which they renamed B S Stillwell Ford Pty Ltd and opened on 1st April 1971. Graeme Bignell, the Dealer Principal, had a 25 per cent interest, while his partner, friend and financial backer held the remainder.

Stillwell Ford quickly became a power house in the South Australian market, establishing itself as market leader and becoming a major player in the state’s new and used car business. In 1975 Graeme established a standalone Stillwell Trucks dealership in Adelaide, at Regency Park, to sell the just released Ford Louisville. They subsequently leased land at Milperra in Sydney (which they later purchased) AND STARTED ANOTHER SPECIALIST Heavy Truck dealership there in 1979. Stillwell Trucks, Sydney, became the largest retail outlet for heavy trucks in Australia.