Leeds West buying 3 Big O stores in Ky., Ohio

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Leeds West Groups (LWG) is acquiring a pair of Big O Tire stores in Kentucky and one in Ohio currently operated by Ed Reynolds, a franchisee based in Florence, Ky.

The deal will expand LWG's holdings to 104 retail stores nationwide, including 26 Big O Tires locations and 74 Midas International and/or Speedee stores.

The three stores — in Georgetown and Lexington, Ky., and Hamilton, Ohio — are operated by Big OKI L.L.C., a division of Eagle Finance Services Inc.

LWG said it assume ownership and control of these locations Aug. 1, and plans to keep all of the stores' employees. Financial details are not being disclosed.

"Entering into the Ohio and Kentucky market … allows us to continue to create consolidation and more expansion opportunities for us in the Mid-West and Eastern region with the Big O Tires brand," LWG CEO Judd Kyle Shader said.

"As we are committed to nationwide growth across all of our automotive platforms, this deal aligns perfectly with our growth objectives and operational strengths under our COO Derek Wessels and Big O Division Vice President James Gould," he added.

With this deal, Greenwood Village-based LWG will be active in 18 states, including five where it has Big O stores.

The acquisition comes three months after LWG announced it had acquired Midas presence in Nebraska, taking over five locations.

In September of last year, LWG acquired six Big O Tires locations in New Mexico from a long-time Big O franchise group, extending its reach into New Mexico and expanding its network of Big O and Midas stores to 102.

LWG is capitalized by Family Office funds that acquires, owns and manages national automotive repair franchise brands Midas, Big O Tires, and SpeeDee Oil in the U.S.