Carlyle Japan in Walbro Engine Management SBO

Headquartered in Arizona, Walbro has significant sales, R&D, and production capabilities in Japan and the US, and also has manufacturing facilities in Thailand, China and Mexico. It is the world's largest manufacturer of carburetors and a major manufacturer of fuel and air management components primarily targeted at the outdoor power equipment industry.

"Walbro is led by a strong management team with outstanding global presence," said Kazuhiro Yamada, managing director and co-head of Carlyle Japan. "We will harness Carlyle's global network and financial resources to help Walbro expand to the next stage of product innovation and realize global growth."

Walbro employs 2,200 people.

Carlyle Japan Partners II received JPY215.6 billion ($1.9 billion) in commitments in 2006, making it the largest Japan-focused vehicle ever raised, but it was subsequently reduced it to JPY165.6 billion.

The Walbro deal comes after Tsubaki Nakashima, the Japanese steel ball-bearings maker 95% owned by Carlyle, called off plans for a $555 million IPO earlier this week. This made it the second Carlyle-backed company in Japan to try and fail to list within six months. Earlier this year, LCD glass manufacturer AvanStrate abandoned its attempt to raise as much as $266 million.

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• Topics
• Buyouts
• Industrials
• North Asia
• Japan
• The Carlyle Group