Marking the transfer of ownership of TiAuto Investments to Marubeni Corporation of Japan, from left to right: Alex Taplin, CEO, TiAuto; Eric Kump, MD, Alterra Capital Partners; Kazumichi Watanabe, COO, Marubeni Corporation, Lifestyle Division; Jacci Myburgh, Co-Head, Old Mutual Private Equity; and Charl Drury, CFO, TiAuto Investments.
Image: Supplied
Marubeni Motor Corporation has acquired South Africa's R4.5 billion-a-year Tiger Wheel & Tyre owner TiAuto Investments from investment firm Carlyle, advised by Alterra Capital Partners, in partnership with Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE).
Marubeni is a large Tokyo-listed global trading and investment conglomerate in Japan, and the deal for an undisclosed sum, marks one of Marubeni's most significant investments in South Africa and its first entry in the local vehicle parts retail market.
It is also an endorsement of the quality of TiAuto’s management, while also reflecting the strength and international appeal of local enterprises, a statement said Wednesday.
The exit by Carlyle and OMPE ends a decade-long partnership with TiAuto, a business that generates annual combined group and franchisee sales of R4.5bn. TiAuto is a leading multi-brand retailer and wholesaler of tyres, wheels, batteries and automotive products, which operates through its Tiger Wheel & Tyre and Tyres & More outlets.
During Carlyle and OMPE’s ownership, TiAuto transformed from a well-known local player into a pan-African operation, with more than 160 retail outlets today across five African countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Alterra Capital Partners managing director, Eric Kump said this represents another successful Alterra exit to an international strategic investor.
“TiAuto is a world-class Southern African company, and we are pleased Marubeni is investing to make it a pan-African champion and to continue the commitment we made to creating jobs during our holding period,” he said.
Old Mutual Private Equity Co-Head Jacci Myburgh said the exit represented not just the realisation of a successful investment, but was evidence of the power of partnership and the value created through patient, hands-on stewardship.
“The management team’s focus on service and operational discipline has set new benchmarks in the industry, and we are confident Marubeni’s acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter not only for the business, but also for the sector,” said Myburgh.
TiAuto CEO Alex Taplin said this was a significant milestone.
“We are delighted to be joining forces with Marubeni, one of the leading trading firms in Japan with significant experience in the tyre retail sector in Asia. This partnership will help us reach our goal of growing our presence significantly across Africa,” he said.
“We are proud of the business we have built over almost six decades and of the trusted brands, talented people and loyal customers that have contributed to our success. Marubeni's investment is a strong endorsement of our strategy, our market position and the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Taplin added that the transaction will provide TiAuto with access to global expertise, additional resources and international best practices, while maintaining the local leadership, customer focus and entrepreneurial culture that have been central to the group's success.
Nasdaq-listed Carlyle is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest, and it had $475bn of assets under management as of March 31, 2026.
Alterra is an experienced pan-African private equity firm that partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to grow their businesses. Alterra has invested $1.9bn of capital into 20 companies across Africa.
Marubeni said in a statement it had entered the car maintenance business in Thailand in 2006 through the acquisition of B-Quik, which offers one-stop sales and replacement of tyres, oil, batteries, and other items, while handling a wide range of products from multiple brands. Since the acquisition, the number of B-Quik stores had expanded to 241 from 44.
Marubeni had also expanded its car maintenance business to Indonesia and Mexico, where store openings had progressed steadily, reaching 43 stores and 94 stores, respectively.
In seeking further expansion of this business, Marubeni studied regions where automobile-related markets—including new car sales, vehicle ownership, and replacement tyre sales—are growing.
"Focusing on the accelerating motorisation of Africa, Marubeni has been examining investment opportunities in the region for several years. Marubeni thus determined that South Africa is an optimal market to deploy the B-Quik business model and decided to acquire TiAuto,” it said.
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