Driven Brands Acquires Auto Glass Operation

Driven Brands has acquired the Quebec-based Clairus Group, a vertically integrated auto glass distribution, replacement, and claims management company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The move adds 240 physical service locations, more than 330 mobile locations, 22 distribution centers and a claims management platform to Driven Brands’ portfolio.

Marquee brands include Uniglass, Vitro Plus, Go Glass and Docteur du Pare-Brise on the service side, PH Vitres d’Autos on the distribution side, and Conversense on the claims management side.

According to a Nov. 18 announcement from Driven Brands, Clairus will form a newly created glass vertical for the Charlotte-based organization. Additionally, Driven Brands plans to aggressively grow in the auto glass market, the announcement states.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Clairus Group into the Driven Brands family. It’s a terrific platform offering great sought-after expertise,” Jonathan Fitzpatrick, CEO of Driven Brands, said in the announcement. “We are excited to add and invest in a new vertical in order to expand our family of brands and generate more growth not only in this market but in the rest of North America.”

Driven Brands is the parent company to Carstar, Meineke, Take 5 Oil Change, ABRA, MAACO and Econo Lube N’ Tune shops, as well as 1-800 Radiator locations, to name a few.

Jefferies LLC was the sole financial advisor to Clairus, which was a portfolio company of Ridgemont Equity Partners, in its sale to Driven Brands, which is a Roark Capital Group portfolio company.

The deal marked the 47th overall transaction for Jefferies’ automotive aftermarket team and the team’s 17th transaction involving an automotive service-related business since joining Jefferies in 2015. Further, Clairus is the fourth business sold by Jefferies bankers to Driven Brands, following 1-800 Radiator, Take 5 and Lube Stop.