Meineke Canada Acquires 12 CAA Car Care Centres In Ontario

Acquisition Complements Current Brand Portfolio

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Meineke Canada, part of the Driven Brands family of automotive companies, today announced that it has purchased 12 CAA Car Care Centres formerly owned and operated by CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO). The acquisition will allow Meineke to expand its presence in Canada as well as benefit from the best practices and technical expertise of the CAA brand. Three of these newly acquired locations will be owned and operated by Meineke Car Care Centre franchisee and hockey great Wendel Clark. Opening his first Meineke Car Care Centre in 2013, Clark and his partners guided the location to the honor of "Garage of the Year" as deemed by Service Station Garage Management (SSGM) in the same year. Two separate Meineke franchisees will purchase the remaining nine centres.

"At Meineke, we are committed to growing our presence through acquisitions of other brands or independents that can accelerate our exposure and growth," said Duane Arbeau, vice president and general manager, Meineke Canada. "In addition to keen industry insights across Ontario, CAA has an excellent reputation and provides the type of quality customer service we value. We are excited about this addition to the Meineke family and are confident this acquisition will result in a win-win for both customers and our brand alike."

"We would like to thank our Car Care customers for their support and patronage over the years," said Cindy Hillaby, Vice-President of Membership and Automotive Services, CAA SCO. "We are confident Meineke will continue to offer the same level of service our customers have come to expect."

Throughout the next few months, Meineke will work to integrate CAA SCO and the existing Meineke locations in Ontario. Upon completion of these efforts, Meineke will have a total of 50 Centres in Canada.

"We look forward to expanding our trademark expertise in car care and maintenance in Canada and we're excited about all of the ways this growth will allow us to help our customers Drive a little smarter," adds Arbeau.

Meineke Car Care Centers have been providing automotive services since 1972 and in Canada since 1981. To locate a centre near you, visit www.meineke.ca.

About Meineke
Founded in 1972 Meineke Car Care Centers has expanded its menu of product offerings to meet the demands of a changing marketplace. Steady growth both nationally and globally with locations in Canada, Mexico, South Korea, the Mid-East, China has seen new openings in the Caribbean and Chile. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers recognized Meineke in 2001 as its first automotive industry Franchisor to earn the coveted Fair Franchising Seal. For more information, please visit the company's website http://www.meineke.com.

About CAA South Central Ontario
CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering roadside services, automotive care, travel and insurance. There are more than 1.9 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and over 5.9 million members in Canada. For more information, visit www.caasco.com.

About Driven Brands
The Driven Brands family of automotive companies (www.drivenbrands.com) headquartered in Charlotte, NC, serves as parent company for the separate businesses: MAACO® North America's Body Shop; Meineke Car Care Centers®; Econo Lube 'N Tune; AutoQual®, Aero-Colours® and Drive N Style®.

Contact: Marilyn Luna [email protected] 305.731.2388

SOURCE: Meineke Canada

http://www.meineke.ca