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Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco private equity firm, has acquired a majority interest in K&N Engineering (Riverside, CA), which makes washable performance air filters and air intake systems. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Jerry Mall, a K&N co-founder, along with current management, continue to hold a “significant investment” in the company. Steve [...]

Goldsboro, NC-based AP Exhaust Technologies has acquired the assets of Macon, GA-based ANSA Automotive Parts Distributors with the sale finalizing Dec. 23, 2011. While the terms of the transaction were not disclosed, we know that all assets of ANSA, including inventory, were sold to AP Exhaust and have been relocated from Macon to Goldsboro. The [...]

The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance added two new members late in 2011: National Auto Parts Warehouse (NPW) and Autopartes El Progreso. NPW of Miami joined as a Bumper to Bumper shareholder, while El Progreso of La Paz, Mexico came in as an Auto Value shareholder. El Progreso has one warehouse facility in La Paz, along [...]

Funds affiliated with ESL Partners, a hedge fund controlled by former AutoZone director Eddie Lampert, has reduced its stake in the Memphis-based company from 21.7 percent to 12.6 percent. A little more than a year ago, according to Bloomberg, ESL held 33.8 percent of AutoZone’s outstanding stock.

Decatur, IN-based Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has introduced a new purchase program for aftermarket performance dealers, distributors and tuners that’s called the LPE Parts Dealer Program. As part of the program, authorized LPE parts dealers will be able to purchase Lingenfelter-developed components at a discounted rate. Products range from CNC cylinder heads and ZR1 front supercharger [...]

Clinton, MO-based Champion Brands has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule 51-V contract to provide products and services to the U.S. government. Under the five year contract, Champion will be listed as a preferred government-approved vendor and can provide numerous types of gasoline and diesel motor oils, brake fluids, greases, aerosols, and engine [...]

Southern Car Parts (Marietta, GA) and San Diego-based Marshall Genuine Products (MGP) have announced a master wholesale distribution agreement allowing Southern Car Parts to become a distributor of MGP caliper cover products for a variety of vehicles, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

The San Francisco office of DDB Worldwide is now the marketing agency of record for STP fuel and oil additives. The agency has been tasked with creating, developing, executing and managing the STP integrated marketing communications plan, which includes TV, radio, digital, store associate programs and race track efforts. STP is part of the Armored [...]

Mast Motorsports (Nacogdoches, TX), best known for its high-performance engines and components for the automotive aftermarket, is branching out into powertrains. The company has launched a new division to design and manufacture powertrain products for multiple markets, including automotive, marine, motorcycle and industrial. This move coincides with the groundbreaking for a new 10,000-square-foot facility to [...]

Registration is now open for the 2012 AASA Vision Conference (VisCon), which will be held March 29 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. This year’s theme, “Turning Insights Into Action,” will build on the association’s landmark report, “Aftermarket Outlook 2020,” which was produced by Booz & Co. and released at the 2011 conference. [...]