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TPG Capital, the global buyout group of the private investment firm TPG, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire American Tire Distributors Holdings (Charlotte, NC) from a group of private equity firms. The transaction, which is expected to close this quarter, is valued at roughly $1.3 billion. The deal is subject to customary conditions, including [...]

The Tires, Wheels & Equipment section of the SEMA Show has been eliminated. In its place will be the newly-created Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA, which is being billed as a “tire industry only” part of the SEMA Show. Only those in the tire industry will be permitted to exhibit, and it will [...]

Lionel Spiro, who has served on the Monro Muffler Brake board of directors since 1992, has informed the Rochester, NY-based company that he intends to retire from the board at the end of his current term. Therefore, he will not be standing for re-election to the board when his term expires at the annual meeting [...]

The cost to own and operate an average sedan has risen 4.8 percent to 56.6 cents per mile, or $8,487 per year, based on 15,000 miles of annual driving, according to the latest edition of AAA’s annual “Your Driving Costs” study.

The Halfords Group — a U.K.-based auto parts, accessories and electronics retailer with roughly 470 stores — is expanding into the vehicle service and repair market by acquiring the Nationwide Autocentres auto repair chain for roughly $112.50 million in cash. Halfords plans to change the name of the auto repair chain to Halfords Autocentres and [...]

Poway, CA-based Mitchell 1 has signed a partnership agreement with National Roadside Service (NRS) to provide Mitchell 1 repair information and shop management systems to NRS service providers for use in their businesses.

ASA has launched a new member benefit program with ContactPoint, a St. George, UT-based company that provides sales and service training approved for credit by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). ContactPoint is offering a free customer sales and service appraisal to ASA members. As part of the appraisal, ContactPoint will make three calls posing as [...]

The Car Care Council is working with Demandforce, a company that specializes in consumer demand creation for small-business, to make content from the “Be Car Care Aware” campaign available within the Demandforce D3 platform. The partnership is designed to give shop owners access to the “Be Car Care Aware” content library from within their Demandforce [...]

Following a challenge lodged by rival tiremaker Bridgestone, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended that Michelin modify or discontinue certain advertising claims for the Hydro-Edge tire. Michelin is appealing the NAD decision to the National Advertising Review Board.

Santa Paula, CA-based BendPak is sticking with celebrity endorser Jesse James, according to a statement posted on the company’s blog (http://www.bendpak.com/blog/). It states that, though Bendpak does not condone James’ alleged actions, their ten-year business relationship is based solely on James’ skills as a fabricator and entertainer. “Regardless of his personal indiscretions, Jesse has been—and [...]