Dains advises on the cross-border sale of leading international automotive remanufacturer ATP to US-based ATC Drivetrain

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 17 May 2019

UPDATED: 17 May 2019

Dains Corporate Finance has advised ATP Industries Group Limited on the sale of ATP Automotive Transmission Remanufacturing Specialists Limited, ATP Electronic Developments Limited and ATP Holdings USA LLC (collectively “ATP”) to US-based ATC Drivetrain (“ATC”), a leading independent remanufacturer of automotive drivetrain components. ATP’s founder and major shareholder Alan Smart was advised on the cross-border sale by Roy Farmer and Rob Wilson of Dains Corporate Finance and Lodders Solicitors.

Founded in 1969 by former coal mining engineer Alan Smart, Cannock-based ATP is a leading European remanufacturer of automatic transmissions, including torque converters and automated manual transmissions, electronics and mechatronics, as well as a manufacturer of diagnostics systems and provider of associated services.  ATP achieved revenues of £12.6m and EBITDA of £2.1m in the year ended 30 April 2018, which represented sales growth in the year of 24%.  ATP's client base includes various European and global automotive OEMs, including Ford, Volvo, Fiat-Chrysler, Aston Martin, JCB and many others.

ATP has achieved significant external recognition in recent years which has included being awarded the ReMaTec News International Remanufacturer of the Year (2013), Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Business Award Manufacturer of the Year (2015) and Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Award for Excellence in International Business (2016).  ATP was also granted a Queen’s Award for Innovation (2016) and a Gold Award Winner at the Ford Supplier Excellence Awards (2018), all of which reflects the standing ATP has in its markets and the wider business community.

Alan Smart said:

"Having founded ATP in 1969, this year marks ATP's 50th year in business and I felt it was an appropriate time to secure the next phase of ATP's continued growth. The exciting combination of ATC and ATP will allow for ATP to increase the ways in which we can serve our customers and secures the future of ATP's employees, many of whom have over 30 years of service.  I am confident that ATC is the right home for my life's work and that ATP will continue to flourish under its new ownership."

“The team at Dains provided me with exceptional advice and guidance throughout the entire process and have achieved a very successful outcome. Their experience and expertise in managing the complex sale process was invaluable and I would not hesitate to recommend them to others in my position.”

Lead advisor Roy Farmer from Dains Corporate Finance added:

"As a firm we have worked with ATP for over ten years and have been working closely with Alan during this period to develop his exit plans.  We identified the US-based remanufacturer ATC as a potential acquirer at an early stage and it quickly became apparent once we had met with them that they would be a great fit with ATP, both strategically and culturally.  We are delighted to have now completed the transaction, which will allow Alan to enjoy his retirement in the knowledge that ATP will continue its growth strategy under new ownership.  The combination of ATP and ATC has created a group with over 130 years of global automotive remanufacturing experience and allows it to better provide products and services to its growing customer base around the world.”

Greg Heald, ATC's President and CEO and member of its board of directors said:

"The teams at ATC and our private equity sponsor Crestview Partners have a great deal of respect for Alan Smart and for the decades of hard work he has committed to building ATP as its founder and chairman.  Alan’s vision has driven the growth and evolution of ATP from its beginning 50 years ago to its position today as a leader in the remanufacturing industry.  We are excited to bring together these two companies which complement each other in the areas of technology, footprint and customer base, and also shares common core values focused on providing market leading service to our customers.”

Corporate finance advice was provided to ATP by Roy Farmer & Rob Wilson of Dains Corporate Finance and tax advice by David Bradshaw, Caroline Bland and Chris Weston of Dains LLP. Legal advice was provided by Mark Lewis, Nicole Romera and Steven Baker of Lodders Solicitors. Greenberg Traurig provided legal advice to ATC, with financial due diligence provided by PwC.

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