The announcement follows critically-acclaimed debut of Design Miami/ Paris
Today, Basic.Space – a curated marketplace that sells a blend of pre-owned/vintage and new, exclusive products – announces its acquisition of Design Miami/, a global forum that brings together collectible museum-quality 20th and 21st-century furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from leading galleries at fairs in Miami Beach, Basel, Shanghai and Paris.
In addition to creating a robust e-commerce strategy for Design Miami/ to cultivate other categories of collectible material, Basic.Space will introduce new collaborations with designers, establish creative ways to evolve the fairs’ format and explore additional locations for fairs.
Design has become the fastest-growing category within Basic.Space, and this acquisition will further expand the company’s home and art offerings at a time when Gen Z and Millennials, the largest group of consumers, are increasingly investing in collectible design across all categories.
Craig Robins, co-founder of Design Miami/ and an early seed investor in Basic.Space, will join the Basic.Space board.
“Combining Basic.Space’s digital reach, keen understanding of curated collaborations, and community of leading-edge creatives with Design Miami/’s global forum of galleries, designers and luxury brands will invigorate the brand and position it for expansion into new territories for live experiences,” says Design Miami/ co-founder, Craig Robins. “Furthermore, benefitting from Jesse’s vision, Design Miami/ will have one of the most innovative and creative thinkers in the digital space creating new and exciting strategies for growth.”
Design Miami/ will continue to run independently with Jennifer Roberts remaining as CEO to oversee all fairs. Jesse Lee, the CEO and Founder of Basic.Space, will now serve as the chairman of the Design Miami/ board. The acquisition is an all-stock transaction signaling alignment from all stakeholders of the deal’s long-term vision and potential impact.
“Our community has become passionate about products beyond fashion, spending more on collectible design and related categories, and valuing both historic and contemporary material. This is an opportunity to both meet that demand and shape how this and future generations will consume,” says Basic.Space Founder and CEO, Jesse Lee. “To us, design isn’t just a product category; it’s a mindset and a point of view that guides you through every purchase decision. We believe that everyone should have access to exceptional products from uniquely creative individuals and brands; this partnership also helps us expand globally.”
Basic.Space has offices in Los Angeles and New York, and Design Miami/ will remain headquartered in Miami.
About Basic.Space
Basic.Space is a digital marketplace with a curated blend of pre-owned/vintage items, new limited edition products and exclusive brand collaborations. Each seller is onboarded and verified by the Basic.Space team directly – sellers consist of designers, artists, musicians, photographers and athletes. Multi-hyphenate creatives such as Emily Oberg, Purienne, Justin Reed, Agnes Azria and Dr. Woo are selling their own pre-owned and vintage pieces alongside brands like Mirror Palais, Alessi, Basketcase, Saintwoods, and Aquatic Leisure Center, selling new, exclusive products. Since officially launching in 2020 with Naomi Osaka as the featured seller, Basic.Space has over 500 active verified sellers on the platform.
About Design Miami/
Design Miami/ connects the world through extraordinary collectible design, with live fairs and experiences on three continents that bring together galleries, designers’ studios, brands, experts, collectors, and enthusiasts, and designmiami.com, a content-rich digital marketplace. Each edition of Design Miami/ features museum quality 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from the world’s top, expertly vetted galleries with flagship fairs taking place alongside Art Basel in Miami, Florida, each December, Basel, Switzerland, each June and Paris, France each October.
Leading supplier of premium truck accessories outside North America joins RealTruck family
RealTruck, Inc., the premier manufacturer of functional aftermarket accessories and an online destination for truck, Jeep®, Bronco® and off-road enthusiasts, has acquired Mountain Top, the leading designer and manufacturer of truck bed accessories outside North America. Based in Denmark, Mountain Top supplies major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sells truck accessories throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and the U.S. The acquisition accelerates RealTruck’s international expansion and complements its recent acquisition of Mexico-based brand Go Rhino.
“We’re delighted to bring Mountain Top into the RealTruck family to power our international expansion and growth,” said RealTruck CEO Carl-Martin Lindahl. “We look forward to working with the Mountain Top team to build upon their global relationships and expand the reach of our products around the world.”
Mountain Top has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Denmark, Thailand and the U.S. and is the only European truck bed cover supplier of scale certified by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), ensuring quality products to automotive consumers worldwide. Mountain Top’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and footprint provide RealTruck with more capacity to support global operations and accelerate sales into attractive markets such as Australia, Thailand and across the European continent. Mountain Top’s flagship product line is the premium retractable truck bed cover that comes in both electronic and manual versions.
“Our entire team is excited to join the RealTruck family,” said Mountain Top CEO Henrik Støwer Petersen. “Now we can provide even more value to our business partners with access to a broader range of product offerings for a wider audience. Our strong international sales, product, and manufacturing teams will make RealTruck products available for truck, Jeep, Bronco and off-road enthusiasts throughout the world.”
In August, RealTruck acquired IDDEA (Industria Diseñadora De Autopartes, S.A. De C.V.), which goes to market under the well-known Go Rhino brand. Go Rhino holds 40 issued and pending patents for the innovative premium products it develops and manufactures for truck, Jeep and SUV owners. The acquisition strengthens RealTruck’s existing portfolio of brands spanning truck bed covers, truck bed liners, steps, floor liners, fender flares, vent visors and cargo management.
RealTruck’s acquisition of Mountain Top, the leader in the OEM-focused European truck bed accessories market, further expands RealTruck’s global footprint and supply base.
About RealTruck RealTruck is the premier manufacturer of functional aftermarket accessories and digital destination for truck, Jeep®, Bronco® and off-road enthusiasts. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich. with over 5,000 associates across 47 locations throughout North America, RealTruck continuously designs, develops, manufactures and sells industry-defining products with more than 630 patents and growing. RealTruck’s extensive product offering is a leader in each of its primary categories. The company’s omni-channel approach makes it easy for people to find the right products to transform their vehicle, gain expert advice and secure professional installation whether they’re shopping for products online at RealTruck.com or through the more than 12,000 dealer locations and automotive (OEM) partnerships who sell their products. RealTruck is engineered to deliver a seamless consumer experience from idea to installation. For more information, visit RealTruck.com.
NEW DELHI, Oct. 9, 2023 — ALP Overseas (I) Pvt Ltd, a part of the Rs 2000 Cr ALP Group, today announced that its 100% USA subsidiary ALP USA Inc has acquired SoffSeal, a US based manufacturer of rubber seals and molded auto parts for leading US automotive brands. This second acquisition, will strengthen ALP Overseas’ offering in US market and its distribution. ALP Group is a market leader in manufacturing weather seals in India, and has its presence in USA, Europe, Australia, and Africa as well. Speaking of the quick acquisition, Mr Tejbir Singh Anand, Managing Director of ALP Overseas, said, “The opportunity was good for us as we have mastered the art of manufacturing weather seals in India and can apply the same manufacturing and distribution acumen in SoffSeal to gain rapid growth.This will help USA auto parts industry and will help ALP Overseas to export SoffSeal products in other geographies.”
Founded in 1980, SoffSeal, Inc., is the industry leader in manufacturing quality weatherstripping and rubber detail items. The company carries the widest selection of weatherstripping products for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Mopar and Ford applications from the 1920’s to the early 2000’s. The product line spans across full-size cars, street rods, muscle cars and trucks.
The company’s product range includes door seals, roof rail seals, convertible and t-top kits, gaskets and of course complete weatherstripping kits for Restoration applications.
SoffSeal – manufacturing capabilities include rubber transfer molding, injection molding and die cutting. The focus is in Automotive Restoration, however, the company does offer capabilities as a service; for manufacture of rubber products for the ‘Specialty Vehicle’ market segment. SoffSeal specializes in short run custom molded rubber products, with the manufacturing know-how to help all industries.
About ALP Group
ALP Group is a leading manufacturer of Rubber, EPDM, Polymer,and Silicon products for Automotive, Railways and Aerospace industries. It also has a range of Thermal & Acoustic Insulation products for HVAC, Construction industries, and packaging applications. The company manufactures several household products as well, e.g anti-skid bathroom mats, yoga mats, window and door seals, shower seals, door stoppers and anti-fatigue kitchen mats. The group turnover is US$ 240 million, while the capital employed is close to US$ 100 million. The Group, founded in 1985, has, at present, seven state of the art manufacturing units, located in India & across South Africa and Australia. It also has its presence in Europe, USA, Middle East and South East Asia with a total of 11 companies across the world and employs over 4000 trained workforce.
ALP Overseas (I) Private Limited
ALP Overseas,leverages the group’s strength in Polymer Technology to cater to various International customers. The Company utilizes manufacturing facilities in Australia, India, and South Africa and has distribution network in Europe, USA, Middle East, and Africa.The company already has a strong presence in USA, in auto glass replacement market.
Global Insurance Brokers (Global), one of the leading providers of risk management, insurance, and reinsurance broking services in the Indian subcontinent announces its acquisition by Aon plc (NYSE: AON), an internationally renowned professional services firm. The arrangement is subject to regulatory approval. Aon and Global Insurance Brokers will continue to operate independently until then.
With a strong legacy, Global provides services to over 2000 companies annually across industries through its network of 18 offices. Keeping up with time, Global has invested heavily in leading-edge technology and has developed a proprietary technology-led platform that distinguishes it. The acquisition will augment Aon’s existing capabilities in the commercial risk, health, and reinsurance markets.
Global will operate under Aon’s brand and business model, led by Mr. Jon Pipe, Chief Executive Officer of Aon India Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd. The acquisition brings together a formidable team of over 850 talented people with domain expertise. Senior Management Team of Aon and Global will work together for a smooth transition.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Prabodh Thakker, Chairman, Global Insurance Brokerssaid, “Having operated in the Indian insurance broking space for nearly five decades, Global not only comprehends the industry well but has a deep understanding of the nuances of the Indian markets. Our aim is to combine synergy and expertise of the two organisations to enhance delivery and value to our existing customers and prospects. This acquisition will empower the Indian market to access best practices followed internationally and contribute to the overall growth of the Indian insurance sector.”
Mr. Jon Pipe, Chief Executive Officer, Aon India Insurance Brokers added, “The Indian insurance market is developing rapidly, and the changing landscape means our clients are facing increasingly complex risks and evolving regulatory requirements. The combined capabilities of Global Insurance Brokers and Aon will allow us to better serve our clients across India in new geographies and industries. This acquisition will reinforce our commitment to helping our clients navigate volatility and make better decisions in today’s environment.”
Notably, Global has a presence in seven Indian cities where Aon does not currently operate, presenting the company with a unique opportunity to expand its brand using its expertise and support. Global and Aon have had a track record of successful joint venture association for more than a decade and the acquisition will further unlock the potential of both organisations, contributing significantly to the growth of the overall Indian insurance industry.
About Global Insurance Brokers
Established in 1973, Global Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd is a licensed composite broker by IRDAI, providing leading risk management, insurance, and reinsurance broking services in India. Its services cater to corporates and communities, offering risk consulting, insurance placement, claims management, and more. Operating independently, the company delivers flexible and state-of-the-art solutions that have a progressive impact on clients’ businesses. Specialising in aviation, sports, counterterrorism, and crisis management, Global is also a leader in employee benefits, liability, property, construction, and energy sectors. With over USD 3 billion in insurance premiums placed and served globally 2000+ clients annually, its 350+ skilled employees across 18 offices ensure customised solutions that meet clients’ needs.