Monro Inc. has entered the California market with its purchase of Certified Tire & Service Centers Inc.
The acquisition includes Certified Tire’s 40 retail stores located in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles and one distribution center in Riverside, Calif.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, and add approximately $45 million in annualized sales, representing a sales mix of 70% service and 30% tires. On a combined basis, acquisitions completed and announced to date in fiscal 2019 represent an expected total of $132 million in annualized sales.
The acquisition represents entry into a new state for Monro and expands the company’s geographic footprint to the West Coast. Monro will continue to operate all of Certified Tire’s locations.
The acquisition gives Monro a strong platform for further expansion, according to Monro President and CEO Brett Ponton. Describing the region as dynamic and attractive, he said: “The diversification of our geographic footprint in California represents a key milestone in the execution of our growth strategy, and we look forward to capitalizing on future opportunities in this market.
"We believe that the continued execution of our Monro.Forward initiatives will position us to more effectively and efficiently integrate this and other acquisitions, creating long-term shareholder value. Importantly, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the Certified Tire team who will be joining Monro.”
Monro’s press release announcing the agreement included a statement from Certified Tire President Jeff Darrow:
“As Certified Tire has expanded its footprint throughout California, our priority has always been providing superior tire and automotive service to our valued customers. We are pleased to join the Monro family, which shares these core values and is committed to expansion and growth in our geography. I’m thrilled for what the partnership with Monro means for our exceptional employees and am proud to have selected an acquirer that will sustain the level of service that customers have come to expect from Certified Tire.”
