By Abigail Summerville
NEW YORK (Reuters) -The investment firm that owns Les Schwab Tire Centers is exploring options including a sale of the tire retail chain that could value it at more than $7 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Meritage (NYSE:MTH) Group has tapped investment bankers at Goldman Sachs to launch a sale process for Les Schwab Tire that is expected to garner interest from private equity firms and other tire retailers, said the sources, who requested anonymity as the discussions are confidential.
The people cautioned that a deal is not guaranteed.
Meritage Group, which was launched by billionaire Nat Simons after he left hedge fund Renaissance Technologies in 1997, acquired Les Schwab Tire from its family owners in 2020 in a deal that sources said was worth about $3 billion.
Goldman and Les Schwab declined to comment. Meritage and Nat Simons did not respond to requests for comment.
Bend, Oregon-based Les Schwab Tire could command a valuation equivalent to around 15 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $500 million, the sources said.
Launched in 1952 by Les Schwab, who was known as the "Tire King," the tire retailer has more than 500 locations across 13 states in the Western U.S., according to its website. It has more than 7,000 employees, the website said.
Les Schwab Tire, which sells tires, other auto parts and offers auto services, is one of the largest tire retailers in the United States along with retailers like Mavis Tire and Discount Tire, which are also privately held.
Private equity firms traditionally have been active investors in the tire and auto industry because of the steady cash flows generated by the businesses, which are seen as relatively recession-proof and less prone to disruption from online retailing.
Buyout firms BayPine and TSG Consumer Partners acquired Mavis Tire in 2021 for more than $6 billion.
Meritage, which manages about $12 billion of assets as of January this year, invests in areas including public and private equity, credit and real estate. It has offices in New York City, San Francisco and Greenwich, Connecticut.