Eversheds Sutherland has advised US listed company Horizon Global Corporation (NYSE: HZN), the world’s leading manufacturer of branded towing and trailering equipment, on the acquisition of Brink Group from private equity investor H2 Capital Partners. The Brink Group is an industry-leading innovator and manufacturer of towbars, wiring kits and towing accessories.
Headquartered in the Netherlands and with more than 75 years of towbar expertise, the Brink Group works closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original equipment suppliers (OESs) on various programs and also serves the aftermarket channel of the towing and trailering industry. The Brink Group produces nearly one million towbars annually, its products can be found on approximately 25 million vehicles worldwide. The combined company will have approximately 5,300 employees, operating 67 facilities in 21 countries to effectively serve its global customers. The parties expect to complete the transaction by the end of the second quarter 2018, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.
Even though Brink’s headquarter is based in the Netherlands, the transaction was co-lead by Munich M&A Partner Sven Schweneke and London based M&A Partner Robin Johnson. Eversheds Sutherland teams from Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France and South Africa were involved in the transaction.
This transaction is the second transaction in which Sven Schweneke, Robin Johnson and the Eversheds Sutherland team advised Horizon Global on the acquisition of an automotive supplier from a private equity investor: In 2016, Horizon Global acquired towbar producers Westfalia-Automotive and Terwa from DPE Deutsche Private Equity.
Horizon Global is the number one designer, manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of high-quality, custom-engineered towing, trailering, cargo management and other related accessory products in North America, Australia and Europe. The company serves OEMs, dealer networks, retailers, distributors, installers and the end consumer as the category leader in the automotive, leisure and agricultural market segments. Horizon Global is home to some of the world’s most recognized brands in the towing and trailering industry, including: Reese®, Hayman-Reese™, Draw-Tite®, Bulldog®, Fulton®, ROLA®, Tekonsha®, and Westfalia®. Currently, Horizon Global has approximately 4,600 employees in 58 facilities across 21 countries.
Eversheds Sutherland Munich partner Sven Schweneke comments:
„It has been a great pleasure to serve as legal advisor to Horizon Global in connection with another large acquisition in Europe. Advising Horizon Global on this strategic transaction shows Eversheds Sutherland’s strong expertise in the automotive sector and the international coverage and capabilities of our network.“
Horizon Global has been advised by an international team under the overall lead of Munich based M&A Partner Sven Schweneke and London based M&A Partner Robin Johnson. Further team members were Dr. Christian Mense (Partner, M&A), Martin Bechtold (Partner, Competition), Dr. Tobias Maier (Partner, IP, all Munich) Rob Faasen (Partner, M&A), Wijnand Blom (Partner, HR, both Amsterdam), Tanya Waksman (Partner, M&A, Johannesburg), Franck Bourgeois (Partner, M&A), Dan Roskis (Partner, Commercial), Gaetan Cordier (Partner, Commercial), Philippe Despres (Partner, HR), Christophe Sciot-Siegrist (Partner, Real Estate), Sophie Perus (Partner, Banking), Louis-Narito Harada (Partner, Environmental/Regulatory), Frederique de La Chapelle (Partner, Litigation, all Paris), Associates: Martin Sanftleben (M&A), Fabrice Witzke (Competition), Sophie Zeiher (Litigation, all Munich), Laurine van den Bos, Marc Anker, Omar Saeed, Andrea Sindova, Nynke Corporaal-Vegter (all M&A), Titia Deurvorst IP), Taoufik Yekhlef (HR), Marian van Extel-Csillag, Jeanette Ozinga (both Environmental), Eline van Nimwegen (Competition), Jeroen Schouten (IT/Data Protection, all Amsterdam/Rotterdam), Kyle Toner (M&A, Johannesburg), Fabrice Martinez-Tournalia, Adele Seclier (both M&A), Alban Progri, Charlotte Bernier (both HR), Clemence Mace de Gastines, Anne Sophie Tournois, Marie Monteil (all Commercial), Blandine Geny (Banking), Jessica Soussan, Virginie Esteoule (both Real Estate), Tiphaine Blay (Environmental/Regulatory), Alice Gaultier (Litigation, all Paris).
