Brightstar Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on partnering with families, founders, entrepreneurs and management teams, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in XLerate Group, a nationwide car auction and remarketing facilitation company. The company’s senior management team, as well as current owner Huron Capital, both will retain minority equity stakes in the business.
“We’re excited to partner with CEO Cam Hitchcock and Xlerate’s experienced and talented team to fuel the Company’s growth in this fragmented industry,” said Andrew Weinberg, founder and CEO at Brightstar. “Combining management’s unparalleled knowledge of the auto industry with our resources and network of relationships, we aim to add value for XLerate’s customers and employees as well as our investors.”
“We are thrilled to join forces with Brightstar to scale XLerate even further,” said Hitchcock. “Their team’s relationship-driven approach is perfectly suited for the auction industry, and Brightstar’s prior experience in a related vertical and operational acumen will facilitate new opportunities for us.”
“This is a time of great opportunity for XLerate and its customers,” said Gary Hokkanen, partner at Brightstar. “The automotive remarketing sector is poised for tremendous change due to an increased use of technology, evolving vehicle mix and changing expectations from both buyers and sellers. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to enhance Xlerate’s position and its customer experience through our investment and partnership with the XLerate team.”
“We are proud to have played a part in XLerate’s success to this point,” said Peter Mogk, senior partner at Huron Capital. “Huron Capital looks forward to partnering with Brightstar and XLerate’s management team as Xlerate enters into the next phase of its growth as an innovative leader in the industry.”
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to Brightstar and Honigman LLP is acting as legal advisor to XLerate and Huron Capital.