Wynnchurch Quickly Adds to Wheel Group

February 10, 2021

2 minute read

The Wheel Group, a recently acquired portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, has completed the add-on acquisition of Tuff Stuff Overland.

Tuff Stuff is a direct-to-consumer e‑commerce platform of outdoor accessory products including rooftop tents, truck bed racks, awnings, and related accessories. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.

The Wheel Group (TWG) is a designer and distributor of branded aftermarket wheels, and specialty tires for the truck, sport utility vehicle, and car markets. The company’s products are sold to more than 8,000 customers including independent installers, national and regional retailers, e-commerce retailers, and wholesale distributors.

TWG, headquartered near Los Angeles in Ontario, California, operates a network of 20 distribution facilities located in major cities throughout the US and Canada. The company was founded in 1997 by Philip “Billy” Young and today is led by CEO David Williams.

“Tuff Stuff is an outstanding company with an excellent product portfolio that we believe perfectly complements our existing business,” said Mr. Williams. “This acquisition will give our combined company the products to help continue our growth in the truck, SUV and car enthusiast markets.”

“The Wheel Group has a long history of innovation with market-leading products and a strong focus on the customer,” said Monica Bonin, the president of Tuff Stuff. “As Tuff Stuff looked to the future, we specifically chose TWG for their innovation and industry leadership.”

“The acquisition of Tuff Stuff will strengthen TWG’s product offering as the TWG management team continues to provide exceptional service to its customers,” said Neel Mayenkar, a managing director at Wynnchurch. “We are excited to partner with the Tuff Stuff team and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Wynnchurch makes investments in middle-market companies that have revenues of $50 million to $1 billion. The firm was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont with additional offices in Los Angeles (El Segundo) and Toronto.