Wheels Partners With Marubeni and Lithia, Enhancing Fleet Management Solutions
Wheels Partners With Marubeni and Lithia, Enhancing Fleet Management Solutions
Wheels, a leading fleet management company in North America, announced that it received a significant minority investment from Marubeni Corporation ("Marubeni") and Lithia & Driveway ("Lithia"). The strategic investment aligns Wheels with notable players in the mobility space as it continues to innovate, building upon its best-in-class product offerings to corporate clients. As the pioneer in fleet leasing and services, Wheels recognizes that the automotive industry is constantly evolving and welcomes the deep industry knowledge that Marubeni and Lithia collectively contribute to our business.
北美领先的车队管理公司Wheels宣布，收到了Marubeni Corporation（“Marubeni”）和Lithia & Driveway（“Lithia”）的重大少数投资。这一战略投资使Wheels与移动领域的知名企业家保持一致，同时继续创新，构建其面向企业客户的最佳产品系列。作为车队租赁和服务的先驱，Wheels认识到汽车行业在不断发展，并欢迎Marubeni和Lithia共同为我们的业务贡献深厚的行业知识。
Marubeni has a strong track record of investing in companies across the US automotive value chain, dating back to 1958. Current Marubeni portfolio companies in the mobility sector include businesses focused on consumer auto finance, refrigerated trailer rental & leasing, and short-term commercial vehicle rentals. As an investor in Wheels in partnership with Apollo-managed funds focused on origination platforms and asset-backed finance strategies, Marubeni is aligned with Apollo's long-term vision for Wheels, and in addition to providing expertise in the automotive sector, Marubeni enables further access to diversified funding channels through its longstanding relationships in Japan. Lithia, as one of the largest dealership groups in the US, shares Wheels' commitment to delivering valuable offerings across the vehicle lifecycle, from vehicle acquisition and financing to maintenance and repair.
丸红有着在美国汽车价值链各个领域的投资强大的跟踪记录，可以追溯到1958年。目前，丸红在流动性行业的投资组合公司包括专注于消费者汽车融资、冷藏拖车租赁和短期商用车租赁的业务。作为在与Apollo管理的基金合作的Wheels投资方，专注于起始平台和资产支持金融策略，丸红与Apollo为Wheels的长期愿景保持一致，并且除提供在汽车行业中的专业知识外，丸红还通过其在日本的长期关系提供了进一步获取多样化资金渠道的机会。作为美国最大的经销商集团之一，Lithia与Wheels共同致力于提供全生命周期的有价值的项目
Shlomo Crandus, the CEO of Wheels, said, "We are excited to receive the backing of two highly sophisticated investors. Our clients are always at the heart of everything we do, and that will continue as we innovate and grow with Marubeni and Lithia. While Wheels operates as a fleet management company today, the legacy business began in 1939 from an auto dealership, so we have a deep appreciation for the world-class business that Lithia has built and its dedication to customer satisfaction. We look forward to the strategic partnership and collaborative thinking with both Marubeni and Lithia."
Wheels的CEO Shlomo Crandus说:"我们很高兴获得两位高度复杂的投资者的支持。我们始终将客户放在我们所做的一切的核心，这将继续随着Wheels与丸红和Lithia创新和发展。虽然今天的Wheels作为一家车队管理公司，但其传统业务始于1939年的汽车经销商，因此我们对Lithia已经建立的世界一流业务和其对客户满意度的承诺深表感激。我们期待与丸红和Lithia建立战略伙伴关系和协作思维。"
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of calendar year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
交易预计在2024财年第三季度结束，须符合通常的交割条件。