Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, has acquired Driven Performance Brands (DPB), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty automotive aftermarket performance products for car and truck enthusiasts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
DPB offers a variety of products for automotive lifestyle enthusiasts. DPB’s product line touches almost every part of the undercar, according to Sentinel – from exhaust to transmission, drivetrain and electronic tuning products, and is marketed under five leading brands: Flowmaster, B&M Racing and Performance, Hurst Shifters, Hurst Driveline Conversions and Dinan Engineering. DPB sells through online specialty retailers, warehouse distributors, auto dealers, traditional auto parts retailers and OEMs, as well as directly to consumers. Founded in 1953, the company is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California.
“DPB is a strong, consumer-focused company with a portfolio of iconic brands and an unmatched distribution network,” said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. “As a result of significant past investments in systems and infrastructure, DPB is an excellent platform for industry consolidation and organic growth. We’re very excited about this investment and the opportunity to work with DPB’s talented management team.”
“We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we set our course toward future success,” said DPB CEO Brian Appelgate. “DPB benefits from highly favorable market dynamics. We operate in a large and fragmented industry, yet we sell to a committed and loyal customer base of devoted automotive enthusiasts. The appeal of our products has an intangible quality and we are extremely well positioned to add similarly compelling brands to our portfolio.”
Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty consumer businesses. Current and prior investments include: Hollander Sleep Products (specialty bedding); Spinrite (craft yarn); Strategic Partners (medical uniforms); and WellSpring Pharmaceutical (OTC products). Sentinel also has specific experience investing in the automotive aftermarket through its investments in Cottman Transmission (transmission repair centers) and Vintage Parts (distribution of slow moving automotive OEM parts).
