GHP Funds

SVP I

SVP I, the debut fund for the firm, closed in December 2002 and invested with four highly successful leveraged buyout funds. SVP I is diversified by sector and geography.

Learn More
SVP II

SVP II is a leveraged buyout fund of funds which closed in December 2006. SVP II represents a continuation of the successful strategy utilized by the predecessor fund, primarily investing with large, top tier LBO and growth equity firms. SVP II is diversified by sector and geography.

Learn More
SVP RE I

SVP Real Estate I, LP ("SVP RE I"), closed in February 2008, is a private real estate fund of funds. As with SVP I & II, SVP RE I received allocations with historically successful, highly sought after underlying fund managers who pursue compelling investment strategies. The fund is diversified by sector (Office, Hotel, Industrial/Warehouse, Retail and Residential) and geography (U.S., Europe, and Asia/Pacific).

Learn More
GHP COF

The GHP Credit Opportunity Fund (“GHP COF”) is a fund of alternative credit and distressed debt funds that is being raised and invested to pursue two specific investment themes: (1) the de-leveraging of European Banks, and (2) the potential for a distressed cycle in U.S. High Yield Credit. GHP COF will pursue complex liquid and illiquid credit opportunities in the U.S. and Europe.

Learn More

GHP Library

Continental to Buy Veyance for $1.9 Billion

Posted on by Granite Hall Partners

Continental AG agreed to buy Veyance Technologies Inc. from Carlyle Group LP for about 1.4 billion euros ($1.9 billion), adding the maker of industrial hoses and conveyor belts to expand beyond the auto business.

Europe’s second-largest maker of car parts expects the purchase of Fairlawn, Ohio-based Veyance to boost profit of its ContiTech unit immediately upon completion, Hanover, Germany-based Continental said today in a statement. The deal can be financed from available cash and credit lines and is expected to close by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“The acquisition can be beneficial for Continental to become more independent of auto manufacturers and the tire business,” said Frank Schwope, a Hanover-based analyst with NordLB. “Continental has reduced debt as planned and now has the opportunity to invest again.”

Continental, also Europe’s second-largest tiremaker, is targeting a fifth consecutive year of record sales in 2014 after deliveries of parking-assistance systems and braking electronics helped lift sales last year. The ContiTech unit, which makes hoses, conveyor belts and artificial leather, employs 29,700 people and generated about 3.9 billion euros in sales last year, or about 12 percent of the group’s revenue.

Combined with Veyance, the Continental unit will have sales of about 5.4 billion euros and employ 39,000 people globally. Veyance, previously known as Goodyear Engineered Products, was bought by Carlyle for $1.5 billion in 2007. It generates about half its sales in the U.S.

Savings Target

The combination of the two companies is expected to generate savings of about 75 million euros over four years, ContiTech chief Heinz-Gerhard Wente said on a conference call.

The German manufacturer’s shares rose 0.5 percent to close at 159 euros in Frankfurt trading. Washington, DC-based Carlyle’s stock gained as much as 1.8 percent to $35.24.

“This acquisition will enable Continental to come a step closer to its strategic goal of increasing further our proportion of sales to industrial customers and private end users,” Chief Executive Officer Elmar Degenhart said in the statement. “The planned integration of Veyance into our ContiTech division will expand our position in rubber and plastics technologies on a worldwide basis.”

Continental intends to increase business to industrial customers to 40 percent of group sales from 28 percent currently. After the acquisition, the rate will rise to 32 percent, ContiTech’s Wente said today.

Credit Impact

The company narrowed net debt to about 4.6 billion euros at the end of 2013 from 5.32 billion euros a year earlier. Standard& Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service all raised Continental’s credit rating last year to investment grade after borrowings stemming from the takeover of the former Siemens AG car-electronics unit VDO in 2007 were reduced.

Fitch said today that the acquisition of Veyance will not have an immediate impact on Continental’s ratings.

“The negative effect on credit metrics is modest and should be offset by the mildly positive impact on the group’s business profile,” the credit-rating company said.

Continental aims to outpace growth in the auto market by focusing on components that help reduce vehicle emissions, increase auto safety and facilitate in-car communication links and expanding sales to other manufacturers. Continental in January forecast that 2014 sales will grow about 5 percent this year, more than double a 2.4 percent expansion in global car production.

Leave a Comment