Standard Motor Products, Inc., a leading automotive parts manufacturer and distributor, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire AX V Nissens III APS, a leading European manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket engine cooling and air conditioning products, for360 million Euro, approximately $388 million USD in cash from private equity firm Axcel and the Nissen family.

Nissens has annual revenues of approximately $260 million USD with a mid-teens EBITDA margin rate.

Eric Sills, Standard Motor Products’ Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are delighted to announce this acquisition, which will make our combined business the aftermarket leader in North America and Europe in thermal management products. It will also expand SMP’s portfolio of powertrain-neutral product categories.

“We plan to continue operating Nissens as a stand-alone unit, while leveraging the combined strength of the two companies to realize both cost and revenue synergies.

“Founded in 1921, Nissens has a long history of being an aftermarket leader in Europe, with market-leading brand recognition and a reputation as a high-performing supplier of premium products. Led by Klavs Pedersen, Nissens’ strong management team has demonstrated its ability to grow and thrive during challenging times. They enjoy deep market knowledge with well-established customer relationships and an operational infrastructure that has allowed them to penetrate all corners of the continent and beyond.

“We believe the combination with SMP is a powerful one. Both companies have a similar go-to-market strategy of supplying full-line professional grade product offerings, and enjoy complementary product portfolios.

“Meanwhile, the two companies largely operate in different geographic markets. As such, we believe that we are stronger together, capitalizing on synergies in both markets and strengthening our position in each. Together, we can accelerate growth through cross-selling our product offerings, realize cost reduction through combined resources, and achieve enhanced operational excellence though collaboration and best practices.

“Lastly, we believe that as two 100+ year old companies we have compatible business cultures and will work very well together. We welcome all of the Nissens employees to the SMP family.”

Klavs Pedersen, Nissens’ Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very excited to have SMP as our new owner. We have been following SMP’s activities in the US, and we see a lot of similarities in the way SMP and Nissens operate in their respective focus regions. I have personally known the SMP management team for several years, and I believe there is a very strong cultural fit that will support and accelerate the positive development of both companies. We look forward to becoming part of the SMP family.”

Transaction Details

The transaction values Nissens at approximately $388 million USD, representing approximately 7.5x Adjusted EBITDA after factoring estimated run-rate cost synergies at the mid-point of $10 million. The transaction is expected to be accretive to SMP’s GAAP EPS in the first full year.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2024, and is subject to certain closing conditions, including receipt of applicable antitrust and other regulatory approvals.