Vance & Hines, Performance Machine, Kuryakyn owner (MAG) merges with US distribution giant Tucker Rocky
The owner of Fort Worth, Texas based distributor Tucker Rocky (Lacy
Diversified Industries/LDI of Indianapolis) has announced that it has acquired a
majority ownership position in the Irvine, California headquartered Motorsport
Aftermarket Group (MAG).
The deal to acquire a majority ownership position in MAG is being
described as a "merger" between MAG and the Tucker Rocky operation.
MAG is best known as the owner of Vance & Hines, Performance
Machine, Kuryakyn, Progressive Suspension, J&P Cycles, Mustang Seats, UK
based off-road specialist Renthall and a number of other high profile
specialist motorcycle industry parts and accessory brands and manufacturers.
Tucker Rocky is one of the largest motorcycle parts, accessory and
apparel distributors in the United States, often cited as being second only is
sales revenue and volume terms to the LeMans Group (Parts Unlimited/Europe).
Although their 'third-party' product portfolio is substantial and
involves them in all the primary powersports industry sectors in the United
States, here in Europe Tucker Rocky is probably best known for own-brand
product lines such as the MSR (Malcolm Smith Racing) off-road apparel and parts
programmes, Answer Racing off-road gear, apparel and accessories, and their
ProTaper hard parts and accessories range, which includes the top-selling
ProTaper handlebars programme.
According to the text of a March 27 statement released by all three
parties, LDI "will become the majority shareholder of the combined
company", with Leonard Green & Partners, (L.P. - the current majority
shareholder of MAG) and other existing MAG shareholders (which includes the
former owners of many of the group's subsidiary brands) retaining "a
significant minority interest in the combined company".
LDI states that it "has been a major participant in the powersports
industry for 25 years through its ownership of Tucker Rocky/Biker’s
Choice" and the company says that "when the deal is finalised J.A.
Lacy, President and CEO of LDI, will become Chief Executive Officer of the
combined company" and that the new entity "will operate under the
Motorsport Aftermarket Group name".
Brian Etter will continue in his role as President of MAG’s
"branded product, media and online retail operations", with Dan
Courtney continuing as President of Tucker Rocky.
MAG Chairman, shareholder and original founding partner Arnie Ackerman
is quoted as saying that “the strategic merit for this combination stems from
the highly complementary product and service offerings of each of these
businesses”.
For the new parent company, J.A. Lacy is quoted as saying that
“long-term success for the company will be built by bringing enhanced selection,
service and solutions to powersports dealers in order to drive retail sales
growth”.
Lacy Diversified is an American institution, specifically an
Indianapolis institution, owing its origins to a business founded there in 1912
by Howard Lacy. The Lacy Diversified name was adopted in 1972 to reflect the
evolution of the group and now, 102 years since it was founded, it is still
owned and operated by the Lacy family, with Andre Lacy as Chairman and his son,
J.A. Lacy, representing the fourth generation of the family, as CEO and
President.
Lacy say theirs is a "build and hold" business ownership
strategy, and point to their 25 year ownership of Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice
as testimony to their long-term investment approach.
Tucker Rocky owes its origins to Texan Ed Tucker's 1967 wholesale
motorcycle oil business and the subsequent expansion and diversification
following Bob Nickell's purchase of the business in 1972.
The business became Tucker Rocky (TR) in 1986 following the purchase of
Rocky Cycle, and was acquired by Lacy Diversified Industries in 1989. Tucker
Rocky is a strictly wholesale operation that claims it sells over 100,000
products to all sectors of the motorcycle and wider powersports market, through
seven domestic US distribution centres.
MAG was founded in 2000 by Arnie Ackerman and his partners and the San
Francisco based equity investor Duff Ackerman and Goodrich (DAG), with the
specific intention of acquiring, financing and developing leading motorcycle
aftermarket parts and accessory brands and manufacturers.
As the man who had largely guided the acquisition strategy and driven
development of the Group, Arnie Ackerman retained a shareholding in MAG in 2006
when DAGs interest was acquired by Leonard Green & Partners - the Los
Angeles based equity investor with current involvements in well known American
consumer brands such as Petco, The Sports Authority, J Crew, Lucky Brand Jeans,
the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the London based fashion retailer Top
Shop.
Although details are confidential, it would appear that the structure of
the deal will mean that Ackerman, and several of the former principals of the
businesses that MAG has acquired, will now, effectively, also have a stake in
Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice. The deal is subject to regulatory scrutiny but is
expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.
 |
| J A Lacy is the fourth generation of his family to head up Indianapolis based Lacy Diversified Industries (LDI) and will become CEO of the combined company, which will operate under the Motorsport Aftermarket Group name (MAG) |
 |
| Following the retirement of Steve Johnson at the end of 2012 Dan Courtney became President of Tucker Rocky and will continue in that role following the merger |
 |
| Brain Etter continues in his role as President of Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG) the parent company of well known parts and accessories brands such as Vance & Hines, Kuryakyn, Performance Machine, Progressive Suspension, J&P Cycles, Mustang Seats and UK based offroad specialist Renthall |
