ARI Network Services has acquired Direct Communications Inc. (DCi), a provider of differentiated product content and electronic catalog software serving manufacturers, distributors, jobbers and independent retailers in the automotive aftermarket. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“The acquisition of DCi will accelerate ARI’s growth in the automotive aftermarket and is consistent with our strategy to grow the business both organically and through strategic acquisitions,” said Roy Olivier, ARI president and CEO. “The acquisition allows ARI to further expand the reach of our data-driven eCommerce websites and automotive point-of-sale software and will propel the development of new technologies to serve the 500,000 businesses in the automotive aftermarket.”
DCi was founded in 1981 by Nile Cornelison. The SEMA Hall-of-Famer played an important role in the establishment of many industry data standards, including ACES and PIES, as well as proprietary data formats used by major resellers, according to ARI. DCi’s product data and enhanced product content is delivered to every automotive distribution channel, reaching more than 60,000 resellers and millions of consumers.
DCi will maintain its headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, under the continued leadership of Mark Toebben, who will assume the role of vice president and general manager of DCi, an ARI Company.
“At DCi, our mission is to link buyers and sellers and provide solutions for every type of business in the automotive aftermarket,” said Toebben. “For almost 35 years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to that mission, and I’m excited to come together with ARI to provide a much wider range of complete solutions for businesses across the aftermarket – from a single-location speed shop to a multi-location warehouse distributor to large and small manufacturers.”
ARI Chief Financial Officer William Nurthen said the company expects the DCi acquisition to generate incremental revenue of approximately $4 million and be accretive to EBITDA for fiscal year 2016
