Topic: Transamerican Auto Parts to be acquired by Polaris

[Jeffy]

Transamerican Auto Parts to be acquired by Polaris
October 12, 2016 @ 7:28 am
Reuters
     
Among products made by Transamerican Auto Parts is the Rubicon Express suspension lift kit for Jeeps.
All-terrain vehicle maker Polaris Industries Inc. said today it would buy off-road SUV accessories maker Transamerican Auto Parts Co. for about $665 million.

TAP is a leader in the fast-growing $10 billion SUV accessories market and is known for aftermarket brands such as Pro Comp, Rubicon Express and Poison Spyder.

The deal will create a leading company in the four-wheel drive off-road market and extend Polaris' presence in aftermarket accessories and attract new consumers to its existing brands, including Polaris Ranger and Sportsman ATVs.

Compton, Calif.-based TAP had sales of $740 million in the 12 months ended Sept. 30.

Privately owned TAP sells and distributes its products through multiple channels, including 75 4Wheel Parts stores and two online platforms.

Contact Automotive News

This means 4WPW, 4WDH, Pro-Comp, Smittybilt, Rubicon Express, Trail Master and Poison Spider Custom.

[neale_rs]

Strange

[Jeffy]

Strange

Not really, Polaris makes the RZR which have been gaining a lot of popularity.  They take them across the Rubicon and other trails.  By owning those companies and stores, they have a huge network of aftermarket available to them.

[neale_rs]

I guess it could work but the parts business is very different from manufacturing.

[Jeffy]

I guess it could work but the parts business is very different from manufacturing.

Smittybilt, 4WPW and 4WDH already sells ATV accessories.

[chardrc]

This is slightly exciting yet also very concerning to me. With Polaris buying a big chunk of the offroad parts industry there are less entities to support saving the trails we have. Additionally Polaris will be more inclined to fight to keep ATV/UTV trails open since they make them. I have seen countless off-road / Jeep trails be transformed into ATV only over the years and fear this is another nail in the coffin in my area (not so much out west in the rocks).