New York, NY (September 2, 2014) -- KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) announced today that its portfolio company Expera Specialty Solutions, LLC (“Expera” or the “Company”) has completed a successful recapitalization. Expera raised $270 million of financing, including a $75 million cash flow revolving credit facility and a $195 million term loan. The proceeds of the recapitalization were used to refinance outstanding debt, to fund a $35 million cash distribution to stockholders and to support the Company’s continued growth.
Following the recapitalization, Expera remains conservatively capitalized with the continued support of its controlling shareholder, KPS, a private equity firm with more than $6.1 billion of assets under management. KPS and Expera management continue to own 100% of Expera’s common stock following the recapitalization.
Russ Wanke, Chief Executive Officer of Expera, said, “In our first year under KPS’ ownership, Expera’s performance exceeded expectations. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of Expera’s employees, we are now a fully integrated, independent and more profitable company focused on innovation, new product development and growth. This recapitalization validates the successful transformation of Expera, and we are pleased to return capital to our stockholders. Our objective is to continue to consolidate the North American specialty paper industry. Our conservative capital structure and the financial support of our stockholders provide us with the resources to support our customers and further expand the Expera platform, both organically and through acquisitions.”
Financing for the recapitalization was provided by a syndicate of banks with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and GE Capital Markets, Inc. acting as the Co-Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners on the $75 million cash flow revolving credit facility and the $195 million term loan.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to Expera with respect to the recapitalization.
About Expera Specialty Solutions, LLC
Expera is the leading North American manufacturer of specialty paper products for use in the tape, pressure-sensitive release liner, industrial and food packaging segments. Expera’s manufacturing platform includes machines at four mills located in Rhinelander, WI, Mosinee, WI, Kaukauna, WI and De Pere, WI. For more information, visit www.experaspecialty.com.
About KPS Capital Partners
KPS, through its affiliated management entities, is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of investment funds with approximately $21.4 billion of assets under management (as of December 31, 2023). For over three decades, the Partners of KPS have worked exclusively to realize significant capital appreciation by making controlling equity investments in manufacturing and industrial companies across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. KPS creates value for its investors by working constructively with talented management teams to make businesses better, and generates investment returns by structurally improving the strategic position, competitiveness and profitability of its portfolio companies, rather than primarily relying on financial leverage. The KPS Funds’ portfolio companies generate aggregate annual revenues of approximately $20.3 billion, operate 222 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries, and have approximately 48,000 employees, directly and through joint ventures worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at www.kpsfund.com.
