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Acquisitions

LKQ Acquisitions

6

Major Deals Covered

$1.8B

Disclosed Deal Value

What are LKQ's biggest acquisitions?

LKQ's largest disclosed acquisition here is Stahlgruber GmbH for $1.8B in 2018. This page covers 6 major deals from 2007 to 2018, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.

Major deals covered
6
Largest deal
Stahlgruber GmbH ($1.8B)
First deal
2007
Most recent
2018
CompanyYearPricePurpose
Keystone Automotive Industries2007UndisclosedLKQ acquired Keystone Automotive Industries, then a public company operating 137 warehouses and 13 depots in 39 states and Canada. This was the 'biggest company-changing event' in LKQ's history, giving it dominant scale in aftermarket collision parts distribution and establishing the template for national expansion.
Euro Car Parts Holdings Limited2011UndisclosedLKQ acquired Euro Car Parts, the largest aftermarket hard-parts distributor in the UK, with nearly 90 branches and a national distribution center. This acquisition served as LKQ's entry into the European automotive aftermarket.
Sator Beheer B.V. (Fource)2013UndisclosedLKQ acquired Sator Beheer, a vehicle mechanical aftermarket parts distributor based in the Netherlands with operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. This expanded LKQ's geographic presence into continental Europe.
Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia2016UndisclosedLKQ acquired Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia in 2016, a B2B distributor of aftermarket parts in Italy and Central and Eastern Europe.
Stahlgruber GmbH2018$1.8BLKQ acquired Stahlgruber, a wholesale distributor of aftermarket spare parts with operations in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Switzerland, for approximately $1.8 billion. This was one of LKQ's largest acquisitions and expanded its presence in the largest European automotive aftermarket.
Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW)2016UndisclosedLKQ acquired PGW, an automotive glass manufacturer and aftermarket glass distributor.
What companies has LKQ bought?
Major acquisitions by LKQ documented here include Stahlgruber GmbH (2018), Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia (2016), Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) (2016), Sator Beheer B.V. (Fource) (2013) and Euro Car Parts Holdings Limited (2011).
What is LKQ's most recent acquisition?
The most recent LKQ acquisition documented here is Stahlgruber GmbH, in 2018, for $1.8B.

Stahlgruber GmbH

2018

$1.8B

Why

LKQ acquired Stahlgruber, a wholesale distributor of aftermarket spare parts with operations in Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Switzerland, for approximately $1.8 billion. This was one of LKQ's largest acquisitions and expanded its presence in the largest European automotive aftermarket.

Impact

Stahlgruber became a strategic hub for LKQ's European operations, particularly in Germany, the largest European market for automotive spare parts. The acquisition added over 200 storage and sales sites.

Outcome

Mixed. Stahlgruber gave LKQ scale in Germany, but European margins remain below North America (9.3% vs 14.4% segment EBITDA margin in FY2025), and a 2026 ERP implementation in Germany disrupted Q2 2026 results.

Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia

2016

Why

LKQ acquired Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia in 2016, a B2B distributor of aftermarket parts in Italy and Central and Eastern Europe.

Impact

Rhiag expanded LKQ's European presence into Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, and Spain. It became a key component of the pan-European distribution platform.

Outcome

Rhiag remains part of LKQ Europe, which posted a 9.3% segment EBITDA margin in FY2025, below North America's 14.4%.

Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW)

2016

Why

LKQ acquired PGW, an automotive glass manufacturer and aftermarket glass distributor.

Impact

PGW gave LKQ entry into automotive glass manufacturing, a complementary product category. However manufacturing was a departure from LKQ's core distribution model.

Outcome

Divested. LKQ sold PGW in 2022 as part of a portfolio simplification strategy, returning focus to distribution.

Sator Beheer B.V. (Fource)

2013

Why

LKQ acquired Sator Beheer, a vehicle mechanical aftermarket parts distributor based in the Netherlands with operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. This expanded LKQ's geographic presence into continental Europe.

Impact

Sator (now Fource) gave LKQ a foothold in the Benelux and Northern French markets, complementing Euro Car Parts' UK presence. The acquisition added distribution infrastructure and supplier relationships in continental Europe.

Outcome

Successful. Fource remains part of LKQ's European operations and contributes to the segment's revenue and margin profile.

Euro Car Parts Holdings Limited

2011

Why

LKQ acquired Euro Car Parts, the largest aftermarket hard-parts distributor in the UK, with nearly 90 branches and a national distribution center. This acquisition served as LKQ's entry into the European automotive aftermarket.

Impact

Euro Car Parts became the foundation of LKQ's European operations. The UK business now operates over 300 branches and has been expanded through subsequent acquisitions. It provided LKQ with a platform for pan-European growth.

Outcome

Successful. Euro Car Parts remains the anchor of LKQ's European operations, which generated $6.31 billion in revenue in FY2025.

Keystone Automotive Industries

2007

Why

LKQ acquired Keystone Automotive Industries, then a public company operating 137 warehouses and 13 depots in 39 states and Canada. This was the 'biggest company-changing event' in LKQ's history, giving it dominant scale in aftermarket collision parts distribution and establishing the template for national expansion.

Impact

Keystone became the foundation of LKQ's North America collision parts business. The acquisition gave LKQ immediate national scale, relationships with major insurance carriers, and a distribution infrastructure that smaller competitors could not match.

Outcome

Successful. Keystone remains a core part of LKQ's North America operations and contributed to the segment's $5.65 billion in revenue in FY2025.

LKQ Corporation's Growth & Acquisition Strategy

LKQ's current strategy is less about acquisitions and more about productivity: cutting costs in Europe, raising alternative-parts utilization in North America, expanding private-label parts, and selling non-core assets such as Self Service (2025) and potentially Specialty. Capital returns continue, with $207 million returned to shareholders in the first half of 2026.

How LKQ Corporation Makes Money

LKQ is a B2B distributor with three reporting segments. North America ($5.65B FY2025 revenue) sells aftermarket collision parts, recycled OEM parts harvested from salvage vehicles, paint and body supplies, and remanufactured engines and transmissions to collision and mechanical repair shops, with much of the demand steered by auto insurers seeking lower claim costs. Europe ($6.31B) distributes mechanical and maintenance parts to independent garages across more than 20 countries. Specialty ($1.69B) distributes RV, marine, towing, truck and off-road accessories. Smaller 'other' revenue ($345M in FY2025) comes from scrap metal and precious metals recovered from dismantled vehicles. LKQ makes money on the spread between procurement cost (salvage cars, supplier contracts, private-label sourcing) and the price repairers pay, delivered through dense local delivery networks.

LKQ Acquisitions FAQ

What was LKQ's landmark $811 million acquisition of Keystone Automotive in 2007?

In October 2007, LKQ acquired Keystone Automotive Industries for $811 million, uniting North America's largest recycled OEM parts distributor with the nation's largest aftermarket collision parts distributor, creating an unassailable collision repair leader.

What was LKQ's transformative entry into Europe with Euro Car Parts in 2011?

In October 2011, LKQ acquired UK-based Euro Car Parts Holdings for £225 million ($360 million), establishing a premier foothold in the European mechanical maintenance parts market and launching LKQ's multi-billion-dollar European distribution division.

What was LKQ's $1.8 billion acquisition of Stahlgruber GmbH in 2018?

In May 2018, LKQ acquired German mechanical parts distributor Stahlgruber GmbH for €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion), expanding LKQ's wholesale footprint into Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Central Europe.

What was the acquisition of Italian parts distributor Rhiag Group in 2016?

In March 2016, LKQ acquired leading Italian, Swiss, and Eastern European aftermarket distributor Rhiag-Inter Auto Parts Italia S.p.A. for €1.04 billion ($1.14 billion), securing leading market share across Southern and Eastern Europe.

What was the acquisition of Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) in 2016?

In 2016 LKQ acquired Pittsburgh Glass Works, an automotive glass manufacturer and distributor, for about $635 million. It sold PGW in 2022 to refocus on distribution.

What was the acquisition of Dutch parts distributor Sator Beheer (Fource) in 2013?

In April 2013, LKQ acquired Netherlands-based distributor Sator Beheer B.V. (Fource) for €206 million ($268 million), establishing market leadership in mechanical replacement parts distribution across the Benelux region.

What companies has LKQ acquired?

LKQ is built entirely on a highly aggressive M&A "roll-up" strategy. In 2007, they bought Keystone Automotive for $811 million, instantly dominating the aftermarket (non-OEM) collision parts sector. In 2023, they executed a massive $2.1 billion acquisition of Uni-Select, vastly expanding their footprint in Canada and the UK, further consolidating their absolute global dominance in auto parts.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.