CSN Collision partners and sells some founder centers to ONCAP
ONCAP, a lower mid-market private equity platform, has partnered with CSN Collision and purchased various centers owned by CSN’s founders, who will remain shareholders of the company.
Ryan Bruno, CSN Collision’s CEO and president, told Repairer Driven News in an email that the partnership makes capital available for the company to invest in its existing network and for acquisitions going forward.
As remaining shareholders, the founders still own the network business, existing corporate stores, and the stores that have merged with CSN, he said.
The partnership merges the majority of the collision centers owned by its shareholders into the corporate network, he said.
“This move helps us bring these locations under one operational structure while keeping the same leadership and values that have guided CSN since its foundation,” Bruno said. “Our founders remain the shareholders of the business, so the continuity and culture that built CSN stay in place.”
CSN Collision was founded in Oakville, Ontario, in 2022. Today, there are more than 400 global locations.
ONCAP’s support will strengthen the CSN platform, he said. This includes investing in technology, systems, and processes that benefit the network.
“The structure allows our corporate and licensee networks to complement one another, creating more stability, efficiency, and consistency across the brand,” he added.
Bruno said independent licensees remain at the core of the CSN business model.
“The corporate expansion doesn’t change that, it enhances it,” Bruno said. “By growing our corporate store network, we can test new innovations, refine processes, and strengthen insurer and OEM relationships in ways that benefit every shop in the network. It also allows CSN to build a stronger national footprint, which improves brand visibility, attracts new business, and gives independent owners access to better tools, training, and partnerships. The goal is to make every CSN shop, be they corporate or licensee, more competitive and successful.”
The structure also provides a pathway for shop owners who are considering retirement or transitioning out of business, he said.
“Instead of selling to a third party or a competitor, they now have the option to sell directly to CSN – keeping their shop, their people, and their reputation within the network,” Bruno said. “It’s a solution that protects the legacy of independent owners while ensuring continuity for employees, customers, and partners.”
A press release about the partnership says that CSN is now in a position to pursue the acquisition of collision repair businesses of any size.
“This is an exciting time for CSN and the entire collision repair industry,” Bruno says in the release. “This partnership is about building a stronger foundation for the future. ONCAP brings deep experience scaling multi-site businesses in the automotive aftermarket, and with their support, CSN will be able to accelerate its growth plans, while continuing to deliver exceptional value to our licensees, insurance partners, and, most importantly, customers.”
Rene Boissonnault, ONCAP principal, said CSN has an exceptional reputation for leadership and innovation in the collision repair industry.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the company as it embarks on its next phase of growth, pursuing both organic initiatives and acquisition opportunities, while building on CSN’s unique culture and long-standing commitment to excellence in collision repair.”
ONCAP was founded in 2000 and is a platform of the Onex Corp. It manages $3.5 billion in assets across offices in Toronto and New York.
Origin Merchant Partners served as exclusive financial advisor, and Stikemen Elliott served as legal counsel to CSN Collision and its shareholders, the release says. Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor, and Torys served as legal counsel to ONCAP.
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CSN logo courtesy of CSN