New York firm buys stake in Louisville-based Bestop with eye on growth

LOUISVILLE — New York private-equity firm Kinderhook Industries LLC has purchased a stake in Bestop Inc., with the aim of helping the Louisville-based company expand its offerings within the Jeep and 4×4 accessories market.

Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Bestop, which employs roughly 150 people in Louisville, will stay in town, with added hiring likely over the next couple of years, Bestop director of sales and marketing Jim Chick said.

Bestop, a six-decade-old company with roots in the Longmont area, has been owned by Toronto-based automotive supplier Magna International since 1996. With the new deal, Kinderhook and Magna have equal…