Tenneco Automotive Acquires Business of Exhaust Systems Supplier to Harley-Davidson
Company Expands Presence in the Specialty Vehicle Market
LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 2 -- Tenneco Automotive announced today that it has acquired substantially all the assets of Gabilan Manufacturing, Inc., a privately held company that has developed and manufactured motorcycle exhaust systems exclusively for Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1978.
Gabilan, which generated $38 million in revenues in 2004, is the exclusive muffler manufacturer for all of Harley-Davidson's motorcycle families. Based in Salinas, California, the company also produces aftermarket muffler kits solely for Harley-Davidson. Tenneco Automotive has reached a long-term supply agreement with Harley-Davidson to continue these relationships.
"We are very excited to add the Gabilan Manufacturing operations to the Tenneco Automotive team," said Mark P. Frissora, chairman and chief executive officer, Tenneco Automotive. "This acquisition is the first in our company's five-year history and represents another execution of our consistent strategy to grow through niche opportunities. We are looking forward to further aligning with Harley-Davidson, a company that possesses one of the world's most recognized brands and an incredible success story punctuated by 19 consecutive years of compounded annual growth."
Tenneco Automotive purchased Gabilan's assets for $10 million in cash and expects the acquisition to be accretive within the first year. The acquisition is effective immediately.
As part of the acquisition agreement, Tenneco Automotive is acquiring nearly all the assets of Gabilan Manufacturing. The company is not acquiring the Gabilan name, Gabilan real estate at Salinas, California, its discontinued farm equipment or other businesses or certain liabilities associated with the exhaust business. Tenneco Automotive will lease the facility in Salinas and will assume the current leasing agreements at the other Gabilan facilities.
The reputation of Gabilan's motorcycle exhaust business has been built on quality and customer service. The business has about 240 employees, the majority of which are located at Gabilan's headquarters and main manufacturing facility in Salinas. The company also operates three other facilities in Lincoln, NE, Milwaukee, WI and Emigsville, PA.
"We are very pleased with this announcement," said Matt Levatich, vice president materials management, for Harley-Davidson. "The relationship we've had with Gabilan will be further enhanced by Tenneco Automotive with the addition of its broad engineering and manufacturing resources and advanced technology capabilities."
"We are confident there will be a seamless transition in terms of product quality, delivery and service, as our focus will be on achieving 100 percent total customer satisfaction for Harley-Davidson," Frissora said.
About Tenneco Automotive
Tenneco Automotive is a $4.2 billion manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and approximately 18,800 employees worldwide. Tenneco Automotive is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of ride control and exhaust systems and products, which are sold under the Monroe(R) and Walker(R) global brand names. Among its products are Sensa-Trac(R) and Monroe(R) Reflex(TM) shocks and struts, Rancho(R) shock absorbers, Gillet(TM), Walker(R), Quiet-Flow(TM) mufflers and DynoMax(R) performance exhaust products, and Monroe(R) Clevite(TM) vibration control components. Any other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
About Gabilan Manufacturing
Gabilan Manufacturing, Inc. develops and manufactures original equipment motorcycle exhaust systems, primarily mufflers, exclusively for Harley- Davidson, Inc., the world's leading heavy weight motorcycle company. The Salinas, California company also produces motorcycle aftermarket muffler kits exclusively for Harley-Davidson.
