NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — American Securities LLC, a U.S. private equity firm, and KPS Capital Partners, a manager of special situation funds, today announced that American Securities has acquired HHI Group Holdings, a manufacturer of highly engineered, safety-critical forged components for automotive customers, from KPS. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HHI is the largest North American manufacturer of highly engineered, safety-critical forged components for automotive customers, principally in the light vehicle market, and a leading manufacturer of complex, highly engineered powdered metal powertrain components and wheel bearings.

HHI was created by KPS in September 2005 in partnership with George Thanopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, through a series of acquisitions including Jernberg Forge, Impact Forge, FormTech Industries and Cloyes Gear and Products, among others. In addition, HHI, through its subsidiary, Kyklos Bearing International, acquired Delphi Corporation’s North American wheel bearings business.

“We are proud of the significant organic growth of the HHI business and are grateful to KPS for providing our team with leadership, expertise, capital and other resources as we built this platform,” said Thanopoulos. “We look forward to partnering with American Securities to continue our commitment to quality, innovation, customer service and manufacturing excellence.”

“HHI is an excellent fit in our portfolio of companies as a leader in its market of highly specialized products,” added Kevin S. Penn, Managing Director at American Securities. “We look forward to working with a highly talented management team as we continue to strengthen and grow this business in the automotive-component market.”

Said Michael Psaros, a Managing Partner of KPS, “HHI is a validation of the KPS investment strategy, and we take immense pride in the Company’s accomplishments. HHI is the result of five unique acquisitions and subsequent turnarounds of companies that were formerly operating in bankruptcy or in distress. Under our ownership, these assets were transformed into a diversified, value-added, highly specialized company in the automotive industry. We congratulate and thank George Thanopoulos and his management team for their strategic vision and brilliant tactical execution. We also thank the United Auto Workers (UAW), the United Steelworkers (USW) and Workers United (SEIU) for their critical contributions toward the success of HHI.”

Jenner & Block served as legal counsel to HHI with respect to the transaction, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to KPS, and Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP served as legal counsel to American Securities. Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to KPS and HHI with respect to the transaction.

About HHI Group Holdings, LLC
HHI Group Holdings, LLC (“HHI”), through its Jernberg Holdings, LLC, Impact Forge Group, LLC, HHI FormTech, LLC, Kyklos Bearing International, LLC and Cloyes Gear and Products, Inc. subsidiaries, is the largest manufacturer of highly-engineered symmetrical and asymmetrical forged parts for various power train and wheel-end applications, a leading manufacturer of wheel bearings, and one of the few manufacturers of engine timing drive systems for the North American automotive industry. With over 3,000 employees, HHI is headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan and operates 15 manufacturing facilities located in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. For more information, please visit www.hhigroupholdings.com.

About American Securities
Based in New York with an office in Shanghai, American Securities is a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in market-leading North American companies with annual revenues generally ranging from $500 million to $2 billion. American Securities has over $8 billion under management and is currently investing from its sixth fund. The firm traces its roots to a family office founded in 1947 to invest and manage a share of the fortune created from the growth of Sears, Roebuck & Co in the early 1900s. More information about American Securities can be found at www.american-securities.com.

About KPS Capital Partners, LP
KPS Capital Partners, LP is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of private equity funds with over $2.7 billion of assets under management focused on constructive investing in corporate carve-outs, restructurings and other special situations. KPS has executed highly complex corporate carve-out transactions on a global basis, and has acquired businesses from numerous Global Fortune 500 companies. The KPS investment strategy targets manufacturing and industrial companies with strong market positions that are going through a period of transition or experiencing operating or financial difficulties. For over two decades, the partners of KPS have worked with the management teams and associates of its portfolio companies to improve operating and financial performance by focusing on cost reduction, efficiency, operational excellence and strategic growth initiatives. KPS Portfolio Companies, as of June 30, 2012, have aggregate annual revenues of approximately $8.0 billion, operate over 100 manufacturing plants in 25 countries, and employ over 33,000 associates, directly and through joint ventures worldwide. The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at the firm’s website: www.kpsfund.com.

SOURCE American Securities; KPS Capital Partners