Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Invista’s Apparel & Advanced Textiles business, which includes the Lycra and Coolmax brands.
Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding would acquire A&AT—one of Invista’s four major business units—in the form of stock transaction, to further solidify Ruyi’s position as a key global player in the apparel and hygiene markets.
Included in the transaction is Invista A&AT’s portfolio of differentiated fibers and brands that also includes Thermolite, Elaspan and Tactel, as well as related manufacturing assets, research and development centers, and sales offices around the globe, and all associated technical, commercial, operations and administrative staff—about 3,000 employees globally.
“Invista’s world-class assets and consumer-recognized brands are a perfect fit for our growing portfolio of textile-related products,” said Yafu Qiu, chairman of Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding. “Over the decades, the Lycra brand has transformed the apparel industry and continues to do so today. We are committed to taking this business to the next level through continued investment in innovation and the business’ portfolio of consumer-recognized brands. We also see opportunity to leverage Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding’s existing capabilities—including our spandex manufacturing assets—to further enhance A&AT’s position in the global marketplace.”
Completion of the agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances from competition authorities. Closing is expected by mid-2018. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding intends to maintain the identity of the A&AT business. The business’ current vision, strategy and organizational structure would also remain in place, while benefiting from the global textile and retailing expertise of its new shareholder.
Dave Trerotola, president of Invista A&AT, said, “This change in ownership is an exciting time for the Apparel & Advanced Textiles business as we look forward to continuing to develop our brands and broaden our capabilities and offerings to our customers. We look forward to working together with Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding to achieve our growth objectives now and into the future.”
J.P. Morgan is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding, and Latham & Watkins is acting as its legal advisor on this transaction. J.P. Morgan and Barclays are providing committed financing to affiliates) of Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Invista and Jones Day is acting as legal advisor on this transaction.
Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding is one of the largest textile manufacturers in China and ranks among the Top 100 Chinese multinational enterprises. The group predominately engages in textile offerings and owns a fully-integrated value chain with operations spanning across raw materials cultivation, textiles processing, and design and sale of brands and apparel. Headquartered in Jining, Shandong, Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding operates 13 domestic industrial parks and boasts some of the largest production lines and advanced technologies in China. Shandong Ruyi Investment Holding also has a significant distribution and point of sales network that services a global customer base with close to 5,000 points of sale across six continents.
Invista, based in Wilmington, Delaware, produces nylon, spandex and polyester used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and other everyday products. The company operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.