While attention of late has been focused on the recent acquisition of CSK by O’Reilly, we thought it
would be worth taking a few moments to highlight yet another acquisition that, albeit smaller, still carries some
importance. In an operating environment where high gas prices and declining miles driven have forced auto
aftermarket participants to look deeper into their own businesses to maintain a competitive edge, it has also
brought with it a heightened level of consolidation activity. The aftermarket should survive the turbulence and see
annual growth in the 2 to 4 percent range return once the operating environment normalizes, yet the competition is
intense and we continue to witness growth through consolidation — a trend that is here to
stay.
Canadian growth in U.S.
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by