First Brands Group

First Brands Group is a portfolio company of KPS Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in manufacturing and industrial businesses. KPS formed the entity as a platform to acquire and manage a collection of automotive aftermarket brands. The firm operates it as a standalone private holding company.

The group operates as a manufacturer and marketer of branded replacement parts. It owns the product engineering and manufacturing relationships for its brands, supplying products like brake pads, wipers, and filters. Its business spans product design through to distribution to retailers and professional installers.

The portfolio includes well-known names such as Raybestos for brake components, ANCO for windshield wipers, and Luber-finer for oil and fuel filters. Other brands have been added through acquisition, creating a multi-brand platform that serves different price points and distribution channels.

KPS Capital Partners created First Brands Group specifically to execute a buy-and-build strategy in the automotive aftermarket. KPS provides strategic oversight and capital, while the group operates with its own management structure focused on consolidating brand strength and supply chain efficiency.

The group competes by holding a basket of historically independent North American brands that carry decades of installer loyalty. Unlike single-brand suppliers, it aggregates distinct product lines under a shared cost structure. This allows it to offer retailers a broad single-source program while retaining brand-specific pull with professional mechanics.