The European Innovation Council (EIC) has awarded Easelink €11.5 million in funding for its pioneering EV Matrix Charging® technology. This financial support underlines the strategic fit between Easelink’s goal of setting the standard for automated EV charging with the European Union’s objective to drive carbon neutrality by promoting EVs and their integration into a smart energy system.

Easelink succeeded in the most competitive EIC funding round to date. The 2nd phase of the EIC Accelerator closed in October 2024 with 1,211 submitted applications. Of these applications, the jury invited 431 (36%) to interviews in Brussels and 71 companies received funding.

“We are delighted about the EIC support. It underlines that our standardisation efforts are in line with the EU’s electrification strategy.” says Hermann Stockinger CEO and founder of Easelink. “When it comes to automated charging interoperability is key. At Easelink we are not only tech innovators in the field of charging. We also see ourselves as a reliable entity that ensures and protects the global cross-brand interoperability of Matrix Charging.”, he further emphasizes. To achieve this, Easelink is establishing worldwide partnerships in the automotive and energy sectors with great progress currently being made in Europe, China and Japan. Together with selected OEMs and other key players, Easelink is working on the next necessary standardisation steps alongside the ongoing Matrix Charging® series development.

To prepare Matrix Charging®’s commercialisation and its market launch Easelink is now seeking further technology funding in the form of venture capital. Easelink’s Matrix Charging® system provides a fully automated charging experience, eliminating the need to manually plug in an EV. The system consists of a vehicle unit and a charging pad installed on the parking space. It is compatible with most major electric vehicle platforms and is available in retrofit and factory-installed options. This cost-effective and energy-efficient automated charging system is suitable for both premium and volume segment vehicles.

About Easelink

Easelink is a high-tech company headquartered in Graz, Austria, and dedicated to the development of the automated conductive charging solution “Matrix Charging®” for electric vehicles. The innovative character of Easelink can be seen in its many patents and trademarks. Easelink, with sites in Austria and China, currently has 40 employees and actively contributes to various standardization bodies for charging technology, such as the relevant working groups of the Charging Interface Initiative (CharIn), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Within the framework of cooperative projects, a number of leading automotive manufacturers and suppliers, infrastructure providers and vehicle fleet operators are already making use already of the innovative Matrix Charging® technology.

About Matrix Charging® by Easelink

With the Matrix Charging® technology, the electric vehicle is charged automatically without the need to manually plug in a charging cable. As soon as the vehicle is positioned above a fixed charging pad in the parking lot, the Matrix Charging® Pad, a so-called Connector is lowered from the underbody of the vehicle. The Connector connects to the Matrix Charging® Pad fully automatically.

Patricia Krenn, MSc
Head of Marketing & Communications
Mobil: +43 (0) 676 848 741 220
Email: patricia.krenn@easelink.com
Webpage: www.easelink.com

The deal underscores Carlyle’s commitment to invest in world-class advanced manufacturing enterprises in India and globally

Mumbai and New Delhi, India, February 13, 2025 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced it has completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in Highway Industries Limited (“Highway”) and Roop Automotives Limited (“Roop”) (together “the Platform” or “Platform Entity”) through a proprietary and exclusive transaction. Equity for the investment will come from investment funds affiliated with Carlyle Asia Partners (CAP).

Highway and Roop are among the leading players in manufacturing forged and precision-machined components, steering system assemblies, transmissions and other powertrain applications for electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles. Over the last 30 years, the Platform has built a comprehensive product range of over 1,500 products, an extensive global clientele of 55 customers across 17 countries, and an expansive manufacturing footprint of 12 plants and 14 international warehouses. Carlyle intends to deepen its investments in the auto components space and will seek to add synergistic assets to the Platform.

The founders of Highway and Roop will continue to hold stakes in the Platform, underscoring their commitment to the long-term success of the companies. Carlyle will work with Highway and Roop to help them leverage operating synergies and create capabilities and capacities, to deliver enhanced value for their customers.

Amit Jain, Managing Director and Head of Carlyle India Advisors, said: “We believe India offers a tremendous opportunity in the advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in the auto components supply chain for both domestic and export markets. In our view, this provides a large-scale opportunity for the Platform. We believe creating scale with consolidation will enable investments in technology, talent and systems, which will allow the Platform to deliver an enhanced value proposition for its customers. We are excited to partner with Highway and Roop to build this Platform. Carlyle is well-placed to accelerate the growth of the Platform by leveraging our worldwide network and investments in the automotive sector globally.”

Mohit Oswal, Managing Director of Roop, said: “Roop has been an industry pioneer in the manufacturing of steering components and assemblies. For over 30 years, we have built strong expertise in our target applications and established deep relationships with our customers globally. Our partnership with Carlyle and Highway makes us even stronger and allows us to provide holistic solutions to our customers and value-add to all stakeholders.”

“At Highway, we have been at the forefront of driving technology-led growth for our customers globally and in India. With Carlyle’s investment and the partnership with Roop, I am confident that we will deliver on our collective commitment to drive innovation and broaden offerings for our clients,” said Umesh Munjal, Managing Director of Highway.

Mr. Oswal will serve as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board for the Platform Entity. Additionally, Mark Blaufuss, Operating Executive at Carlyle with over 30 years of leadership experience in the automotive and manufacturing sectors; and Kishore Saletore, former Executive Director and Group CFO at Bharat Forge Limited, with over three decades of diverse industry experience, will join the Platform Entity’s Board of Directors.

KPMG, Trilegal, Kotak and Deloitte acted as advisors to Carlyle for the transaction. Singhi Advisors and KPMG acted as the financial advisors to Highway and Roop shareholders, respectively.

Carlyle’s buyout funds, including Carlyle Asia Partners, have deep experience investing in the Advanced Manufacturing or Industrial sector, and have invested over US$32 billion of equity in over 125 deals globally as of December 31, 2024, with approximately US$1.1 billion of this in Asia.

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Global Investment Solutions. With US$441 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs over 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

About Highway

Founded in 1971, Highway is one of India’s fastest growing manufacturers of mission critical powertrain sub-systems and components for global automotive customers across North America, Europe, and Asia. Highway’s focus on engineering excellence, innovation and customer service for more than 50 years has enabled it to establish multi-decade relationships with global automotive clients that are based on quality and trust. Highway has more than 3,000 skilled employees.

About Roop

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Haryana, Roop is an industry leader in the manufacturing of steering sub-systems and assemblies, and the largest manufacturer of steering yokes globally. Roop has developed unique engineering strengths and expertise in manufacturing critical automotive parts through decades of R&D and a team of more than 400 engineers. Roop prides itself as a leading solutions provider for steering system manufacturers globally for over 30 years. Roop exports largely to North America and Europe.

Media Contacts:

Carlyle

Lonna Leong

Tel: +852 9023 1157

E-mail: lonna.leong@carlyle.com

Adfactors PR 

Manibalan Manoharan

Tel: +91 9833949919

E-mail: manibalan.manoharan@adfactorspr.com

CHICAGO, IL, November 4, 2024 – Worldpac, Inc. is announcing the completion of its acquisition by Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), a global investment firm, from Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP). This strategic move marks a significant milestone for Worldpac, positioning the company for enhanced growth and innovation.

Effective immediately, John Hamilton is appointed as the new President and CEO of Worldpac. Hamilton brings a wealth of experience across a variety of industries, having served as President and CEO at Veyance Technologies, Electro-Motive Diesel, and the Tokheim Corporation, as well as Executive Chairman of the Board at EDAC Technologies and Nordco Inc. Hamilton has also been an advisor to Carlyle for several years.

As part of this leadership transition, Bob Cushing, currently serving as President of Worldpac, will assume the role of Strategic Advisor. “I want to extend my thanks to Bob for his leadership and vision,” Hamilton said. “His guidance has been instrumental in shaping Worldpac’s important role in the industry and I look forward to working closely with him as Strategic Advisor.”

“I want to thank the Carlyle team for recognizing Worldpac’s achievements and potential with their investment in Worldpac’s future. Carlyle’s investment will accelerate Worldpac’s growth and continued focus on delivering ‘The Right Part at the Right Time’,” said Cushing.

“We are thrilled to invest in Worldpac,” said Wes Bieligk, Partner at Carlyle. “Worldpac is a great business, and we are confident that our experience in the automotive aftermarket and with industrial carve-outs will support its growth as an independent company. We look forward to supporting John and the Worldpac team in achieving its strategic goals and unlocking its full potential.”

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the benefits of the sale, the anticipated timing of closing, and the expected use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Please refer to Advance Auto Parts’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for a description of these risks.

For further information, please contact:

Carlyle

Brittany Berliner

(212) 813-4839

Brittany.Berliner@carlyle.com

Worldpac

Jay Potter

(800) 888-9982

About Carlyle:

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with $435 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2024. Carlyle operates through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Global Investment Solutions. The firm employs over 2,200 people across 29 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.carlyle.com.

About Worldpac:

Worldpac is a leading distributor of original equipment automotive replacement parts, serving the independent automotive repair community with over 160,000 part numbers from 45+ import and domestic car manufacturers. With over 100 facilities in North America, WORLDPAC ensures fast delivery and superior service, complemented by their speedDIAL ordering software, training programs, and technical support. For more information, visit www.worldpac.com.

Sale simplifies Advance’s enterprise structure and sharpens focus on the blended box business

Net proceeds to be used primarily to strengthen balance sheet and invest in the business

RALEIGH, N.C., August 22, 2024 – Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installer and do-it-yourself customers, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Worldpac, Inc., an automotive parts wholesale distribution business, to funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) for $1.5 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year.

“We are pleased to announce the sale of the Worldpac business,” said Shane O’Kelly, president and chief executive officer. “The sale enables our team to sharpen their focus on decisive actions to turn around the Advance blended box business. Proceeds from the transaction will provide greater financial flexibility as we continue our strategic and operational review to improve the productivity of the company’s remaining assets and better position the company for future growth and value creation. On behalf of everyone at Advance, I would like to thank the more than 5,000 Worldpac team members for their dedication over the last ten years.”

“We are excited to partner with Worldpac, a great business operating in attractive markets,” said Wes Bieligk, a Partner, and Katherine Barasch, a senior member of Carlyle’s Global Industrials investing team. “Our proven track record in executing complex carve-outs position us uniquely to support Worldpac and its team as an independent company.”  Carlyle’s investment in Worldpac builds on the firm’s extensive carve-out experience in the Industrials sector, having invested ~$13 billion in industrial carve-outs over the past two decades, including in such companies as Axalta, Nouryon, Atotech, Signode, and Allison Transmission.

Transaction Details

• Over the last twelve months, at the end of the second quarter of 2024, the Worldpac business generated approximately $2.1 billion in revenue and approximately $100 million in EBITDA.

• Advance expects net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion after taxes and transaction fees.

Centerview Partners is serving as financial advisor and Hogan Lovells US, LLP, is serving as legal advisor to Advance on the transaction. BofA Securities is acting as lead financial advisor to Carlyle and BMO Capital Markets is also acting as a financial advisor to Carlyle.  Latham & Watkins is serving as legal advisor to Carlyle.

Investor Conference Call 

As previously announced, the company has scheduled a webcast to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time today, to discuss results for the second quarter ended July 13, 2024. During the webcast, the company will provide additional information on the Worldpac transaction. The webcast will be accessible via the Investor Relations page of the company’s website (ir.AdvanceAutoParts.com).

About Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. As of July 13, 2024, Advance operated 4,776 stores and 321 Worldpac branches primarily within the United States, with additional locations in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company also served 1,138 independently owned Carquest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean islands. Additional information about Advance, including employment opportunities, customer services, and online shopping for parts, accessories and other offerings can be found at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.

About Carlyle

Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across its business and conducts its operations through three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $435 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,200 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lavesh Hemnani

T: (919) 227-5466

E: invrelations@advanceautoparts.com

Media Contacts:

Darryl Carr

T: (984) 389-7207

E:  AAPCommunications@advance-auto.com

Carlyle

Brittany Berliner, (212) 813-4839

Brittany.Berliner@carlyle.com

Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain statements herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are usually identifiable by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast, “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “possible,” “potential,” “probable,” “project,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” or similar language. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the sale of Worldpac, including statements regarding the benefits of the sale and the anticipated timing of closing, the expected use of proceeds and expectations for economic conditions, future business and financial performance, as well as statements regarding underlying assumptions related thereto. Forward-looking statements reflect the company’s views based on historical results, current information and assumptions related to future developments. Except as may be required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. They include, among others, the company’s ability to hire, train and retain qualified employees, the timing and implementation of strategic initiatives, deterioration of general macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical conflicts, the highly competitive nature of the industry, demand for the company’s products and services, the company’s ability to consummate the sale of Worldpac on a timely basis or at all, including failure to obtain the required regulatory approvals or to satisfy the other conditions to the closing, the company’s use of proceeds and ability to maintain credit ratings, access to financing on favorable terms, complexities in the company’s inventory and supply chain and challenges with transforming and growing its business.  Please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as updated by the company’s subsequent filings with the SEC, for a description of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by the forward-looking statements.