Littlejohn & Co., LLC, a private investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, completed selling Henniges Automotive, Inc., a provider of vehicle sealing and anti-vibration solutions for the global automotive industry, to Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC).
Doug DelGrosso, Chief Executive Officer of Henniges, said, “The Littlejohn team provided us valuable assistance and support that enabled us to secure nearly $500 million of new business over the last three years and to drive substantial operational improvements throughout our organization. With AVIC’s support, Henniges remains well-positioned to capitalize on OEMs migrating towards global platforms where few players can match the company’s worldwide footprint and capabilities.”
Henniges Automotive designs, manufactures and sells vehicle systems for doors, windows, trunks, lift-gates, sunroofs and hoods. Through its global network of 15 manufacturing plants and five engineering and technical centers, Henniges has the full service design, test, prototype, and manufacturing capabilities for its blue chip customer base throughout the world. The company has nearly 7,000 employees in six countries.
Littlejohn acquired Henniges in 2010 and recruited auto industry veteran Douglas DelGrosso as CEO and has since worked closely with him and the senior management team to expand Henniges’ global manufacturing capabilities, secure substantial new business, and execute several strategic acquisitions and alliances to solidify the company’s leading position as a supplier of premium and cost-competitive sealing solutions.
Under Littlejohn’s ownership, Henniges completed a strategic add-on acquisition in Eastern Europe, fully consolidated ownership of its joint venture operation in China, and launched production in four new state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in China and Mexico.