ADT, ADESA EYE UNION BUT NEITHER WILL BLINK

Automotive News, September, 1998 by MILLER, JOE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It's no secret auction giants ADT Automotive Inc. and Adesa Corp. would love to merge.

However, neither of their parent companies is willing to sell out to the other, say ADT and Adesa officials.

"Adesa is not for sale," said Jim Hallett, president of Adesa and executive vice president of parent Minnesota Power Inc. of Duluth, Minn. Adesa is based in Indianapolis.

Neither is ADT, according to ADT President Tony Moorby. Since last year, Nashville-based ADT has been owned by Tyco International Ltd.

Both men agree merging the two would be a great fit. "I think anyone in the industry would recognize that," Hallett said.

ADT and Adesa each own 28 wholesale auctions in the United States and Canada, ranking them both second...