Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Lloyd Lauw Collision Repair Center to Gerber Collision & Glass.

Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction of a collection of companies, each offering products or services that cater to the automotive space. The group of companies provides auto collision repair, scrap metal recycling and shredding, auto impound, auto sales and rental, and towing services to the Houston market.

The companies include Sterling Interest Investment DBA Elite Collision Center, McKaskle Industrial Complex DBA Fort Bend Recycling, Stor’N Texas DBA H-Town Scrap Metal Recycling Metro, Area 5 Vehicle Storage, Athena Investments DBA Area 5 Auto Sales, Athena Auto Leasing, Lockwood Vehicle Storage, and related entities.

During the first half of 2020, M&A activity in the automotive industry was down from previous years due to uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, with cross-border deals becoming more complex. However, the pandemic also resulted in new opportunities for consolidation within the industry.

There were $11.9 billion in M&A deals, which represented a 54.8% decrease in value compared to the first half of 2019. Most investments were in the pursuit of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electrified) technologies. This type of tech is predicted to drive M&A through the end of 2020. Dealmakers are expected to concentrate on securing supply chains and increasing resiliency rather than expanding globally.

Global Deal Activity

The majority of deal value in volume in the first half of 2020 took place in Asia and Oceania, followed by North America. The largest automotive transaction in the first half of the year was valued at $2.9 billion, with Traton SE, a vehicle-manufacturing subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, acquiring Navistar International Corporation. Volkswagen Group China continued to strengthen its electrification strategy by making two acquisitions valued at more than $1 billion each: Gotion High-tech Co. and JAC Volkswagen Automotive Company.