Gridiron Capital LLC has completed its previously announced sale of Dent Wizard to Dealer Tire LLC, a national leader in replacement tire distribution for automotive dealerships. Gridiron is making a significant new investment in the combined platform alongside the majority shareholder, Bain Capital, the Mueller family and the management team.
The combination of Dealer Tire and Dent Wizard creates a leading aftermarket dealer services platform focused on helping dealers grow their businesses.
St. Louis-based Dent Wizard is the largest and only national, full-service provider of automotive reconditioning services in North America providing 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 has more than 2,300 technicians who service over 7,000 customers across the dealer, auction, rental, fleet, OEM and insurance channels.
Dent Wizard will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its existing management team headed by CEO Mike Black.
Gridiron originally invested in Dent Wizard in 2015 and partnered with the company to accelerate growth across all segments of the business, both organically, as well as through 15 add-on acquisitions. Through its partnership with Gridiron, Dent Wizard expanded its suite of services, entered new channels, augmented the management team and enhanced its recruiting and training program to scale for continued growth.
“Dent Wizard’s comprehensive suite of solutions, national technician coverage, and compelling customer value proposition have resulted in strong growth and will drive significant cross-selling opportunities as part of the combined company with Dealer Tire,” Gridiron Co-Founder and Managing Partner Tom Burger said in a statement. “We have really enjoyed working with the Dent Wizard team.” said Tom Burger, Gridiron’s Co-Founder and Managing Partner.
Dent Wizard CEO Mike Black added: “Under Gridiron’s partnership, we have grown all aspects of our business, built upon our strong company culture and have very positive momentum that will continue to drive the business forward. We have benefited from Gridiron’s financial and strategic direction during our partnership and are pleased that they will continue to be our partners going forward as part of Dealer Tire.”
Dent Wizard was advised by Jefferies LLC, Robert W. Baird & Co. and Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP.
