LEX Service, which owns the RAC, has bought Auto Windscreens for £112 million - strengthening its mission to provide a complete 'cradle to grave' range of services to fleets and the private sector.

Chesterfield-based Auto Windscreens, which was bought by HSBC Private Equity and the company management for £77.2 million in August 1998, will immediately be renamed RAC Auto Windscreens.

Last year the company fitted 32% of all windscreens (443,000) in the UK to everything ranging from cars and vans, to trucks and tractors and includes exclusive fleet contracts with BT, the Post Office and TNT, making it the UK's largest corporate fleet glass replacement company.The acquisition extends the high profile RAC fleet to over 2,100 vehicles.

• Full story in next week's Fleet News.