CLIENT:
Crash Champions (“Crash”) is a leading Illinois-based collision repair group that has formal direct repair program relationships with leading national insurance carriers. As a Certified Collision Repair center operating approximately 40 locations across Illinois, Ohio, and California. Crash utilizes state-of-the-art facilities, highly trained repair technicians, and refinish teams to retain vehicles value and safety while ensuring the car is repaired back to its original factory standards.

SITUATION:
Crash was a multi-location collision repair operator with a strong market position in Chicago. Crash had grown organically and through the acquisition of several shops with strong operations and management. Having built a 13-location business in Chicago. Crash was well positioned to accelerate its disciplined acquisition strategy and explore geographic expansion opportunities into new markets outside of Chicago.

ENGAGEMENT:
G2 Capital Advisors, LLC (“G2”) served as the exclusive buy-side advisor to Crash Champions, leading a tailored buy-side effort focused on engaging with companies that have a strong reputation for auto collision repair and customer service across targeted geographies. Crash CEO, Matt Ebert, asked G2 to look into several markets with a small presence from some of the largest national auto body chains, such as Caliber, Boyd-Gerber, Service King and AutoNation. Having identified Central Ohio as key target market, G2 went shopping for the best way for Crash enter that market.

OUTCOME:
G2’s search ultimately led to the acquisition of Auto Body Collision and Glass (“ABCG”), which added three new locations in Columbus, OH, additional capabilities, and a strong brand in the market. This ABCG acquisition is the first of what the Company hopes will be several expansions in the market either via further purchases or new shop openings. Together Crash Champions and ABCG will leverage their newly combined talent, service offerings and geographic footprint to deliver a more integrated solution of auto collision repair services to individuals and insurers across Illinois, Ohio and California.

CEO of Crash Champions, Matt Ebert, said, “We are very excited about entering the growing Columbus area and I feel that the acquisition of Auto Body Collision and Glass was the best platform for our organization as we grow throughout Ohio. ABCG was the largest multi-site operator in the Columbus area with a great history and strong insurance relationships. We look forward to bringing our corporate culture, cutting-edge industry training and certified collision repair services to Columbus and surrounding areas.”

About G2 Capital Advisors (www.g2cap.com)
G2 Capital Advisors provides M&A, capital markets and restructuring advisory services to the middle market. We offer integrated, multi-product and sector-focused services by pairing highly experienced C-level executives with specialist investment bankers. We aspire to be the trusted advisor of choice to our clients including corporations and institutional investors.

About Crash Champions (www.crashchampions.com)
Crash Champions began in 1999 with a small shop in New Lenox, IL, called New Lenox Auto Body. After over 15 years of owning a small neighborhood collision center, Matt Ebert wanted to bring his vision to towns throughout the Chicagoland area. In 2014, the company’s name was changed to Crash Champions-New Lenox and the brand began to grow. Since 2014, the Crash Champions organization has grown to have close to 40 collision centers throughout the Midwest and West Coast and became a regional leader in collision repair.

About Auto Body Collision and Glass
Auto Body Collision and Glass has been a market leader throughout the Columbus, OH area for more than three decades. ABCG, a three-location collision group has been an outstanding performer for local insurance carriers and customers alike.

CONTACTS ON THIS DEAL:
Peter Reed, Vice President of Buy-side: T: 617.918.7972 E: [email protected]

Andrew Keleher: Vice President: T: 617.918.7982 E: [email protected]

Matthew Ball: Associate: T: 617.918.7933 E: [email protected]

Ben Crawford: Research Analyst: T: 617.918.7940 E: [email protected]