COSTA MESA, Calif. - December 3, 2004 - Hampson PLC (LSE: HAMP.LN), headquartered in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, has acquired privately held Texstars Inc., of Grand Prairie, Texas, from American Capital Strategies Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS) for a total consideration of $42.9 million.
RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC, the broker-dealer subsidiary of RSM EquiCo, led the negotiations, assisted in U.S. financing efforts and acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Hampson PLC.
"In winning the auction for Texstars, Hampson has secured a considerable strategic coup in breaking into the important but highly regulated North American commercial and military aerospace market," said Paul Teuten, managing director of international for RSM EquiCo.
"This transaction marks the first time our firm has delivered on its strategy to grow its investment banking capabilities beyond our successful sell-side model," said Hector J. Cuellar, president of RSM EquiCo Capital Markets. "It also strengthens our international reputation and demonstrates our expertise in the aerospace/defense field."
About Hampson PLC
Hampson PLC is an international group serving the global aerospace, automotive and specialist engineering markets. The company's aerospace capabilities include manufacturing small detail parts and structural components and providing complex component machining, primarily for gas turbine applications. Hampson also manufactures components and sub-assemblies for automotive turbochargers and brake and fuel-delivery systems and produces precision components and modules for packaging machinery.
About Texstars Inc.
Texstars manufactures aircraft transparencies, such as canopies, windshields and other windows for the aviation and transportation industries worldwide. The company sells the majority of its products, which include high performance polycarbonate and acrylic cockpit canopy transparencies for military fighter and other specialist aircraft, to the aerospace and defense industries. Texstars serves the commercial aerospace and mass transit passenger markets with products including vehicle interiors, molded assemblies and composite panels.
About American Capital Strategies
American Capital Strategies, Ltd. is a buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources in excess of $4.2 billion. American Capital Strategies invests in and sponsors management and employee buyouts, invests in private equity sponsored buyouts and provides capital directly to private and small public companies. Since its August 1997 IPO, American Capital has invested in nearly 150 portfolio companies.
About RSM EquiCo, Inc.
RSM EquiCo is a global investment bank serving private middle-market companies throughout North America. With more than 400 professionals and support staff in North America and Europe, RSM EquiCo specializes in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and capital raising for companies with up to $500 million in annual revenue. The firm is part of RSM McGladrey Inc., a business segment of H&R Block.