Transaction
The Mexico-based operations of U.S. Manufacturing Corporation, a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, have been acquired by American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: AXL). U.S. Manufacturing Corporation is a leading manufacturer of highly specialized axle housings, driveline shafts and other components for the North American automotive market. Its products are used in light, medium and heavy-duty truck, SUV and commercial van platforms and sold to Tier I and OEM customers.
Quarton International acted as the exclusive investment banking advisor to U.S. Manufacturing Corporation in connection with the transaction.
Client

U.S. Manufacturing Corporation is a leading manufacturer of axle housings, driveline shafts and other components for the North American automotive market. Its products are used in light, medium and heavy-duty truck, SUV and commercial van platforms and sold to Tier I and OEM customers. USM has developed a proprietary VARI-LITE® extrusion process, which allows for the design of variable wall thickness components with reduced mass and improved performance.
Buyer

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (www.aam.com) is a world leader in the manufacturing, engineering, design and validation of driveline and drivetrain systems and related components and modules, chassis systems, electric drive systems and metal-formed products for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars, crossover vehicles and commercial vehicles. In addition to locations in the United States (Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana), AAM also has offices or facilities in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden and Thailand.

Wynnchurch Capital (www.wynnchurch.com) was founded in 1999 and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois with offices in California and Canada. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle market companies in Canada and the United States that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $2.3 billion of capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings.