Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Inc., a predominantly commercial tire distribution and service company based in Erlanger, Ky., has acquired five Northeast Ohio locations from Kauffman Tire Inc. The transaction is expected to close on May 2, 2014.
The locations, formerly a part of Kauffman Tire's Commercial Division, include four combination retail/commercial and farm tire service centers located in Wooster, Ravenna, Orwell and Medina. A Bandag retread plant, also located at the Wooster facility, is part of the acquisition.
"This acquisition has no impact on the wholesale distribution side of Kauffman's distribution network that is in northern Ohio," said Bob Sumerel Tire in a statement. "This addition strengthens (our) service presence for commercial fleets and transportation companies in northern Ohio and gives (us) more opportunities to strengthen our entire servicing network."
When the transaction is finalized, Bob Sumerel Tire will run 17 commercial dealerships and one retail shop, good for 62nd place on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list. The retread plant, the company's sixth, will add 150 truck tire retreads to its daily total, jumping the company from 16th to 14th on the MTD Top 100 Retreaders in the U.S. list.
"This acquisition will add to the servicing geographical footprint already in place for fleets in Kentucky, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, Indiana and West Virginia," said the company. "The Kauffman stores will add approximately 70 employees and approximately $25 million in revenue in the first year."
With the divestment of its only four commercial outlets, Kauffman Tire will own 50 retail tire dealerships, placing it 21st on the MTD 100.
Bob Sumerel Tire is a founding member of the American Commercial Tire Network (ACTN), a nationwide network of 18 member companies that operate more than 1,870 service vehicles in 43 states. ACTN members own more than 75 retread plants and 434 service locations with over 7,500 employees.
