May 18, 2011
Frankfurt and New York offices advise 3i on acquisition of a majority stake in Hilite International Inc., a global supplier of automotive products that enhance fuel efficiency and emissions control.
On May 17, it was announced that Willkie client 3i, an international investor focused on private equity, infrastructure and debt management, and funds managed by 3i, have signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Hilite International Inc., a global supplier of automotive products. 3i is acquiring the company from a consortium of investors. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Hilite supplies automotive products that enhance fuel efficiency, transmission operation and emissions control. With six manufacturing plants across North America, Europe and Asia, Hilite’s key customers are major automotive manufacturers Volkswagen, Daimler, General Motors, Chrysler and BMW.
The deal was handled by a multidisciplinary team in Willkie’s Frankfurt and New York offices. The team, led by partners Mario Schmidt (Frankfurt) and William Gump (New York), included partners Dr. Patrick Meiisel, Richard Reinhold and William Hiller; national partners Dr. Stefan Joergens, Dr. Christian Rolf, Jan Wilms and Rolf Huenermann; and associates Kathrin Schwesinger, Dr. Matthias Werner, Thomas Mark, Ingo Bednarz, Tobias Dietrich, Laura Franklin, Amanda Granacher, Elizabeth Rich, Jochen Riechwald, Dr. Maximillian Schwab and Sabine Weber.
