Lawfuel.com – Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is advising the Alliance Tire Group on its acquisition of the U.S. operations of GPX International Tire Corporation, including its U.S. assets, customer relationships and warehouse footprint, worldwide rights to the Galaxy and Primex brands, its medium radial truck tire distribution business and its South African subsidiary. GPX has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and Alliance’s acquisition will be conducted under Section 363 of the Code and subject to bankruptcy court approval. The transaction is expected to close in 2009 and is subject to other customary closing conditions.
Headquartered in Malden, Massachusetts, GPX is one of the largest independent global providers of specialty off-the-road tires for the agricultural, construction, materials handling and transportation industries. Alliance is headquartered in Hadera, Israel, and is a global leader specializing in the development, manufacture and sale of highly engineered agricultural, forestry, construction and earthmover tires. Alliance is owned by India’s Mahansaria family and Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm.
The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners Kirtee Kapoor of the Hong Kong office and John K. Knight and Carole Schiffman of the New York office, associates Sam Kelso, Shaoyun (Anna) Xu, Lindsey Finch, Steven Sha and Prachee Bijalwan (not yet admitted) of the Hong Kong office, and legal assistants Ji-Hee Shin and Alexius Ying Ming Chong of the Hong Kong office. The Davis Polk credit team includes partner E. Waide Warner Jr., associates Kenneth J. Steinberg and Florian Feder and legal assistant Sonya Jackman, all of the New York office. Associates Brian M. Resnick, Wei Deng and Peter Sunil Kim (not yet admitted) of the New York office are providing insolvency and restructuring advice. Partner Gail A. Flesher, counsel Betty M. Huber and associates Hayden Baker and Steven Schuh (not yet admitted) of the New York office are providing environmental advice. Partner Jean M. McLoughlin and associates Gillian Emmett Moldowan and Margaret Chow of the New York office are providing employment advice. Partner Frank J. Azzopardi and associate David R. Bauer of the New York office are providing intellectual property advice. Counsel James P. McIntyre and associate Aaron M. Sacks of the New York office are providing real estate advice. Partner William H. Weigel and associate Kevin J. Brogan of the New York office are providing tax advice.
