Dealer Tire LLC has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dent Wizard, the largest national provider of automotive reconditioning services and vehicle protection products. The combination of the two companies is expected to create the leading aftersales dealer services platform in North America. Dealer Tire, backed by majority shareholder Bain Capital, is acquiring Dent Wizard from Gridiron Capital.
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in St. Louis, Dent Wizard is North America’s largest provider of automotive reconditioning services and vehicle protection products. The company services the light vehicle needs of over 7,000 customers – including over 5,000 car dealership accounts – in 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Their 2,300 highly trained technicians deliver paintless dent repair, minor wheel and paint refinishing, interior repair and key replacement, in-transit repair, hail and catastrophe services, as well as related F&I products.
Dent Wizard will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its existing management team headed by CEO Mike Black.
“The combination of Dent Wizard’s reconditioning capabilities and Dealer Tire’s service lane presence offers greater opportunities to help car dealers increase their fixed operations sales and profits and to increase customer retention,” Dealer Tire Partner and CEO Scott Mueller said in a statement. “This acquisition aligns with our strategy of making it easy and profitable for dealers to sell more tires, parts, services and accessories.”
The transaction, which is expected to close in Q1 2020, is subject to customary closing conditions, including requisite regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial adviser to Dealer Tire, and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel. Jefferies LLC and Robert W. Baird & Co. acted as financial advisers to Dent Wizard, and Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP served as legal counsel.
