Thompson Street Capital Partners, a St. Louis private equity firm, said today it has partnered with management to acquire Custom Wheel House LLC, a Los Angeles, California-based designer, marketer and distributor of branded automotive aftermarket wheels, performance tires, and accessories through its brands: Method Race Wheels, Tensor Tires, GMZ Race Products, and Dusty Times, a desert racing enthusiast-focused publication. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Founded in 2010, Method Race Wheels designs, develops and distributes high-performance wheels and accessories for race and street applications. As racing enthusiasts and participants, the Method team looks beyond conventional ideas of industry standards. Engineering, rigorous testing, data collection and proven performance redefines what is possible in the creation of Method wheels and accessories. The application of Method race knowledge separates it from other wheel companies, according to a statement issued by Thompson Street.
Tensor Tires designs, engineers and produces ATV & UTV tires.
GMZ Race Products designs and manufactures wheels and tires for the ATV and UTV markets.
Dusty Times is a desert racing enthusiast magazine with content from industry contributors.
“This is an exciting new chapter for CWH. Thompson Street has a proven track record of building companies through improved digital marketing, sales force expansion, and add-on acquisitions,” said Kevin Fitzgerald, CEO of Method. “It was very important to me that we partnered with a growth-focused equity partner that understood the founder mentality”
Jeff Aiello, Director of Thompson Street Capital said, “Method is by far the most attractive off-road wheel brand in the automotive aftermarket, as demonstrated by their rapid growth and unparalleled social media footprint, as well as its grassroots enthusiast following.”
Thompson Street Capital Partners is focused on investing in founder-led middle market businesses in the healthcare and life science services, software and technology services, and business services and engineered products sectors. Founded in 2000, the firm has acquired more than 100 companies and has managed more than $2.6 billion in equity.