Simpson Thacher is representing JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in connection with a bridge term loan facility of up to $2 billion for Genuine Parts Company (“GPC”) to finance its announced acquisition of Alliance Automotive Group (“AAG”) valued at a total purchase price of approximately US$2 billion, including the repayment of AAG's outstanding debt upon closing. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory approvals.
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. Genuine Parts Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Alliance Automotive Group is a leading distributor of light and commercial vehicle parts to the independent aftermarket in France, Germany and the U.K., trading under the Groupauto France, Précisium, Partners and Gef'Auto brands in France, Groupauto U.K., UAN and FPS in the U.K. as well as Alliance Automotive Group Germany in Germany.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Patrick Ryan, Stephanie Rotter and Javier Rivera-Alvarado (Banking and Credit); Niyati Roy and Jonathan Zane (Capital Markets); Edward Chung (Mergers & Acquisitions); John Torrenti (Tax); Larry Moss and Jake Phillips (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Linda Nyberg (Intellectual Property); and Noreen Lavan (Environmental).