Marubeni Corp is in advanced talks to acquire TiAuto Investments Ltd, the South African automotive retailer backed by Carlyle Inc and Old Mutual Private Equity, in a deal potentially valued at around ZAR2.6bn ($149m), according to a report by Bloomberg.
The transaction would mark an exit for Carlyle and Old Mutual, and give Marubeni a strategic foothold in Africa’s largest economy, where vehicle sales recently reached a decade high. Old Mutual Private Equity co-head Jacci Myburgh confirmed that discussions with Marubeni are at a “very advanced stage.”
TiAuto, the operator of Tiger Wheel & Tyre, was founded in 1967 and now has over 100 stores nationwide. The deal underscores the growing exit activity for private equity in southern Africa, which reached a six-year high in 2024 and continues to attract investor interest in 2025.
