CHICAGO – LKQ Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. (not to be confused with Keystone Automotive Industries Inc., which is already a subsidiary of LKQ), for $450 million. Keystone Automotive Operations is a distributor and marketer of specialty aftermarket equipment and accessories in North America. The transaction is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2014 and is subject to customary closing conditions and necessary regulatory approvals.
Established in 1971, Keystone has more than 1,500 employees with 25 locations serving more than 20,000 specialty retailers and equipment installers throughout North America, offering a broad product line of more than 300,000 SKUs from more than 800 suppliers. Keystone markets products to serve the following six category segments: truck and off-road; speed and performance; recreational vehicle; towing; wheels, tires and performance handling; and miscellaneous accessories.
"LKQ will become a leading player in the specialty aftermarket equipment and accessories business with this acquisition," said Robert Wagman, president and CEO of LKQ Corp. "In addition, our addressable market opportunity in North America will be significantly expanded. The entire specialty aftermarket equipment and accessories industry is a highly fragmented $31 billion market, and Keystone’s current product categories represent about $5 billion of the industry."
LKQ expects the transaction to be accretive to its earnings in 2014. Keystone’s revenue for 2014 is expected to be approximately $700 million with an EBITDA margin of approximately 10 percent. These projected results exclude restructuring and acquisition related expenses.
The company intends to finance the acquisition with borrowings on its revolving credit facility and asset securitization program. As of Sept. 30, 2013, the company had approximately $1.2 billion available from these sources.
