Driven Brands Holdings Inc. has completed the sale of IMO Car Wash, its international car wash business, to Franchise Equity Partners, LP (FEP), in a transaction that reshapes both companies’ portfolios and signals the next phase of growth for the world’s largest tunnel car wash operator.
The transaction closed Jan. 27, 2026, with Franchise Equity Partners paying approximately US$492 million in total consideration. Driven Brands plans to use the majority of the cash proceeds to pay down debt, supporting a more streamlined balance sheet and a sharper focus on its core automotive services platforms.
“The completion of this transaction is a strategic milestone for Driven Brands, sharpening our focus on what we do best—scaling our industry-leading Take 5 business and driving consistent cash generation from our franchise brands,” said Danny Rivera, president and chief executive officer of Driven Brands. “This divestiture simplifies our portfolio and further positions Driven Brands to generate long-term value.”
Founded more than 60 years ago, IMO Car Wash is the largest tunnel car wash operator globally, with approximately 720 locations. The portfolio is concentrated in the United Kingdom and Germany, with additional sites across nine other European countries and Australia. IMO is widely recognized for its high-volume model and its long-standing partnerships with major retail operators, where car washes are co-located to drive traffic for both IMO and its retail hosts.
Franchise Equity Partners views the acquisition as a platform investment and its first transaction outside the United States.
“We believe IMO represents a rare opportunity to acquire a market-leading, global brand with a highly defensible footprint and a strong operating team,” said Scott Romanoff, co-managing partner at FEP. “Our focus will be on optimizing performance across the existing portfolio while continuing to build on IMO’s strong brand recognition and customer loyalty.”
Mike Esposito, co-managing partner at FEP, added that the acquisition provides a foundation for expanding the firm’s multi-unit retail expertise internationally.
“This investment represents a natural extension of our strategy into the UK, Europe, and beyond,” he said.
Under FEP ownership, IMO will prioritize increasing wash volumes, enhancing the customer experience, and further leveraging its strategic retail relationships across Europe.
“This is an important next chapter for IMO Car Wash,” said Adam Green, president of IMO Car Wash. “FEP brings a long-term perspective and deep experience in multi-unit operations. We’re excited to work together to strengthen our market position and continue serving millions of customers worldwide.”
Driven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, remains the largest automotive services company in North America, operating across paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change and maintenance segments.
