CDK Global

CDK Global provides integrated information technology and digital marketing to the automotive, heavy truck, recreation, and heavy equipment industries.[3][9] The company's products help to integrate clients buying processes and include targeted advertising and marketing, as well as products for the sale, financing, insuring, parts supply, repair, and maintenance of vehicles.[9][7][11] Competitors include Reynolds and Reynolds and Dealertrack.[12][13]

The company has its origins as the Dealer Services division of Automatic Data Processing (ADP) which was formed in 1973 after ADP's acquisition of National Inventory Control System, Portland OR (NICS) and Computer System Inc., Cincinnati, OH (CSI) providing computerized Accounting, Financial Reporting, Sales Analysis, Lease Accounting, Parts Inventory Control, Customer Relations, Management Systems for both Sales and Service, and Payroll Services for automotive dealerships.[14][15] As ADP Dealer Services, the division was subsequently built up of more than 30 acquisitions completed over the next 41 years. [16]

On October 1, 2014, ADP Dealer Services division was spun-off to form the independent company CDK Global.[17] The CDK in the company's name was inspired from different acquisitions; C from Cobalt Digital Marketing,[18] D from the original ADP Dealer Services business and Kerridge Computer Company, a UK-based DMS supplier acquired by ADP in 2005, from which the 'K' stems. [19][20]

Notable acquisitions include BZ Results (Automotive Dealer Services), winner of the 2006 “Innovative Company of the Year”,[21][22] by ADP in 2006.[23]

In 2020, CDK Global announced the sale of its international operations (to be called Keyloop) to Francisco Partners, as an effort to focus more on its North American business.[24][25]

On April 7, 2022 CDK Global entered into a definitive agreement with Brookfield Business Partners and institutional partners to be acquired at total enterprise value of $8.3 billion. As a part of the agreement, CDK shareholders would receive $54.87 per share in cash upon completion of the transaction, representing a 30% premium to the unaffected closing price of CDK stock on Feb. 18, 2022. “This transaction is an exciting next step for CDK that provides our shareholders with both certainty of value and a meaningful premium. It also allows CDK to continue executing our long-term strategy to connect our industry at every level and create an open and collaborative future,” said Brian Krzanich, president and chief executive officer, CDK Global.[26]

• Official website