American Driveline Systems, Inc.

About American Driveline Systems, Inc.

Whether you make musical instruments or mints, salon appliances or safes, this company has a strategy for you. Founded in 1986, American Capital invests in a diverse selection of middle-market companies both directly and through its global asset management business. It typically provides up to $300 million per transaction to companies for management and employee buyouts and private equity buyouts. The firm also directly provides capital to companies. Other investments include financial products such as commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized loan obligations. American Capital's portfolio consists of stakes in more than 150 companies and has a focus on manufacturing, services, and distribution. The firm develops long-term relationships with its portfolio companies and takes an active role in their oversight. One of the largest publicly traded US private equity firms, American Capital has approximately $101 billion of assets under management through its asset management business, American Capital, LLC. The company has seven offices in the US, Europe, and Asia. Its European Capital affiliate pursues a similar strategy. It provides capital directly to early state and older private and small public companies in Europe. It has made investments in more than 50 companies. American Capital has plans to build its global middle-market platform by expanding its presence in Asia. However, when the recession hit the company primarily focused on restructuring itself in order to secure a better position for the future. The global financial crisis hit American Capital hard in 2008 and 2009. The company incurred substantial losses and was severely limited in its ability to access the debt needed to maintain its portfolio. Management took major steps to cut costs in 2008. The following year it looked to reduce debt. It entered into talks with creditors in order to restructure more than $2 billion of unsecured debt -- a transaction it closed in 2010. The company also divested some of its holdings, including child care franchise Primrose Holdings in a sale to Roark Capital; and People Media, which operates about 30 targeted dating Web sites, to Match.com for $57 million. Other divestitures have included Imperial Supplies, Narus, HomeAway, and Aptara. In 2012 American Capital received $215 million from the sale of portfolio company CIBT Solutions. In order to raise additional capital, the company offered new shares of itself to institutional investors. Also, one of its top portfolio companies, Mirion Technologies, filed to go public in order to repay its borrowings to American Capital. However, those plans were shelved due to market conditions. American Capital's efforts to raise capital and restructure debt were rather successful. The company increased its assets under management and operating income edged up slightly in 2011. That year American Capital made invested more than $315 million to help its existing portfolio companies grow. Billionaire John Paulson's hedge fund, Paulson & Co., owns about 9% of American Capital.