Uni-Select adds Colorado paint supply business to FinishMaster expansion

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. – Quebec-based Uni-Select Inc. (TSX:UNS) has acquired the assets of a Colorado paint supply business as part of the expansion of its FinishMaster business throughout the United States.

Uni-Select of Boucherville, Que., is a Canadian distributor of automotive parts that has been diversifying into the paint business through FinishMaster, which has a total of 168 branches and three distribution centres in the United States.

It says the acquisition of the assets of Painters Supply Co. will provide two locations in the Denver and Fort Collins areas in addition to the five FinishMaster locations currently operating in Colorado.

Financial terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed in Uni-Select’s announcement, issued Monday.

“This acquisition aligns well with our strategy to build density in key markets like Denver,” Henry Buckley, who officially became Uni-Select’s new president and chief executive officer on Aug. 1.

Buckley succeeds Richard Roy, who retired after 17 years with the auto parts supplier.

Uni-Select completed the sale of is U.S. automotive parts distribution business to Icahn Eneterprises for US$340 million in June. Uni-Select kept its Canadian automotive parts operations and the FinishMaster paint distribution business.