Compton, Calif. Kraco Enterprises, a leading distributor of automotive aftermarket floor mats, announced June 9 that it has signed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire Auto Expressions. Auto Expressions is the automotive aftermarket accessories business of Pennzoil-Quaker State Company dba SOPUS Products, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Auto Expressions product line includes air fresheners, seat covers, sunshades, steering wheel covers, floor mats and auto organizers, with leading positions in the interior accessories and air care categories. Additionally, the Auto Expressions business has a powerful licensing platform, and demonstrated success in distributing products featuring pop culture icon Ed Hardy® beginning in 2008.
“By uniting the No. 1 leader in the floor mats category and the No. 1 leader in automotive air care and accessories products category, the combined entities will create an integrated, single source distributor and position us to better serve our customers,” said Bob Brocoff, Chief Executive Officer of Kraco Enterprises, who will lead the combined company. “Our customers will experience the benefits of a broader product offering, and we will work with retailers to help them maximize their ROI in their retail space.” Kraco Enterprises, which is owned by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., said it has no plans to change the Auto Expressions brand.
Auto Expressions is headquartered in Moorpark, California, and has offices in Manchester, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Substantially all of the current employees of Auto Expressions are expected to join Kraco upon completion of the sale.