NEW YORK, May 29, 1998 - Castle Harlan, Inc., the New York merchant bank, announced today the sale of its majority interest in U.S. Synthetic Corporation, the world's largest independent manufacturer of synthetic diamonds used in oil and gas drill bits. The price was approximately $165 million.
The company was purchased by investment funds controlled by Bain Capital, Inc., of Boston. Management will retain a 40 percent interest in the company, said Marcel Fournier, managing director of Castle Harlan.
Castle Harlan Partners II, L.P.,a private-equity investment fund managed by Castle Harlan, had acquired U.S. Synthetic in February 1997 in a transaction valued at approximately $60 million. Today's sale represents an annual compounded return on that investment of more than 165 percent, Mr. Fournier said.
He noted that synthetic drill bits have increasingly been replacing traditional tungsten bits in the marketplace, and he said this trend is expected to continue. U.S. Synthetic is one of the world's leading manufacturers of synthetic bits.
The company is based in Orem, Utah. Bill J. Pope is chairman of U.S. Synthetic, which was founded by his son, Louis M. Pope, president.
Castle Harlan Partners II is one of several investment funds totaling more than $1 billion that have been organized by Castle Harlan, Inc., and that represent major corporate and public pension funds, college endowments, foundations and individual investors. Since Castle Harlan's founding in 1987, the firm has completed acquisitions exceeding $3 billion.
Castle Harlan's portfolio companies have included Delaware Management Company, a Philadelphia money-management firm with more than $32 billion in assets under management; Indspec Chemical Corporation, a specialty chemical manufacturer; Smarte Carte, the airport luggage cart rental company; MAG Aerospace, the world's leading manufacturer of aircraft sanitation systems; Commemorative Brands, Inc., one of the leading manufacturers of class rings and other specialty jewelry under the ArtCarved and Balfour brand names; and Statia Terminals Group N.V., one of the world's largest independent marine terminal companies serving the petroleum industry.
Castle Harlan was founded by John K. Castle, a pioneer in institutionalizing private equity investing through limited partnerships and the former president and chief executive officer of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, the investment banking firm, and by Leonard M. Harlan, founder and former owner and chairman of The Harlan Company, a diversified real estate and corporate finance advisory firm.