BOUCHERVILLE, Québec (March 12, 2014) — Aftermarket replacement parts distributor Uni-Select Inc. has agreed to buy substantially all of the assets of J.K. Distributors Inc., a Falls Church, Va.-based auto parts distributor.
Boucherville-based Uni-Select said its Uni-Select USA Inc. unit expects the transaction—subject to usual conditions—to close on March 17 and will complement and strengthen its activities on the East Coast, especially in Virginia. Financial terms were not disclosed.
J.K. Distributors, established in 1971, is involved in the wholesale distribution of automotive replacement parts, maintenance items and accessories. Its team of 150 employees serves a clientele of service centers and fleet accounts from its warehouse and nine corporate stores located in Virginia.
“This strategic acquisition will bring significant value to our activities,” said Brent Windom, president and CEO, Automotive USA at Uni-Select.
“We will combine the acquired assets and expertise of J.K. Distributors to the activities of our newly inaugurated distribution center in the Washington, D.C., area to offer our new customers access to highly efficient services and access to a wide array of products.
“This acquisition will further leverage recent investments made to our network and systems and will provide attractive synergy opportunities.”
Mr. Windom added that Uni-Select's team “was very successful in the past months in optimizing our operations. Their commitment and efforts allowed Uni-Select to be positioned for solid and sustainable growth. Our industry continues to consolidate and we intend to capitalize on this trend while continuing to deliver solid results and preserving our healthy financial position.
“We welcome this consolidation opportunity that will contribute to the strengthening of our presence on the U.S. East Coast.”
Uni-Select claims to be the fifth largest distributor of replacement parts, equipment, tools, accessories, etc. for motor vehicles in the U.S. and a leading independent distributor of automotive paint and related products. It generated $1.79 billion in sales last year, including $1.3 billion in the U.S.
Founded in 1968, Uni-Select has 5,500 employees servicing a wide network of independent installers and wholesalers, including more than 6,600 that operate under one of the company's banner programs in North America.