KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) announced today that its portfolio company Expera Specialty Solutions, LLC (“Expera” or the “Company”) has completed its second successful recapitalization. Expera raised $335 million of financing, including a $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility and a $285 million senior secured term loan. The proceeds of the recapitalization were used to refinance outstanding debt, to fund an $85 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 KPS to pursue organic and strategic growth initiatives. KPS is a private equity firm with approximately $5.5 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, “Expera’s successful recapitalization validates the incredible transformation Expera has experienced under KPS’ ownership, and we are pleased to return capital to our stockholders. 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.”
In August 2014, Expera completed its first recapitalization, the proceeds of which were used to fund a $35 million cash distribution to stockholders. As a result of the two recapitalizations, Expera has distributed $120 million of cash to its stockholders since its creation.
Financing for the recapitalization was provided by a syndicate of banks with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Barclays acting as the Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners on the $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility and the $285 million senior secured 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 a leading North American manufacturer of specialty paper products for the industrial & technical, food, and pressure-sensitive release liner segments. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Expera employs approximately 1,800 people across four manufacturing facilities located in Rhinelander, WI, Mosinee, WI, Kaukauna, WI, and De Pere, WI. Additional information regarding Expera, its manufacturing facilities and its product offerings can be found at 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.
