Delphi's vision: to become a major manufacturer of electrical components

Delphi Corporation is preparing to get rid of the four-year bankruptcy protection dilemma and re-emerged as North America's leading automotive electrical component manufacturer.

In its plan to get out of the bankruptcy Chapter 11 restrictions, Delphi hopes to sell its assets under its name to private equity fund Platinum Equity. Delphi’s product portfolio and Alcoa Inc. indicated at the end of April that the electronics components business to be sold to Platinum is roughly the same.

In a statement, Delphi announced that Parnassus Holdings II LLC, a subsidiary of Platinum, will operate its global business with $3.6 billion in capital and capital commitments, including $250 million from General Motors.

However, the Wall Street Journal quoted an unconfirmed statement that General Motors would provide more than US$2.5 billion in funds for the 3.6 billion funds. The newspaper also said that according to trading conditions, Platinum's investment is expected to not exceed 750 million US dollars, while General Motors will provide financing balances.

Spokesmen for General Motors and Delphi declined to comment.

Delphi Corporation stated that GM has agreed to purchase Delphi's four plants in Kokomo, Indiana, Wyoming, Michigan, and Lockport, New Jersey, and Rochester. Delphi was a company that was separated from General Motors in 1999.

Delphi stated that a hearing was scheduled to be held in the U.S. bankruptcy court in New York on July 23rd to approve the plan.

Company spokesperson Lindsey Williams said that CEO Rodney O'Neal and his team will retain their positions.

Scale is only half the time when it was separated from GM

He said that the global Delphi company under the management of Platinum management will receive approximately $14 billion in revenue, compared with $27 billion in Delphi’s income from GM in 1999.

Delphi’s business in the United States will include only four factories. However, sales, technical departments and its headquarters in the suburbs of Detroit will remain. In Mexico, Delphi will have more than 40 factories and more than 40,000 employees.

Delphi's Warren, Ohio facility manufactures metal stampings, cables, sensors, battery cable assemblies, and wiring harnesses.

The factories in Brookhaven and Clinton, Mississippi, specialize in wiring and connection systems. The fourth plant in Vandalia, Ohio, specializes in non-electrical parts: airbag systems, door panels, and interior trim.

Last year's income was $6.55 billion

According to Hoovers Inc., a business research firm, Delphi’s electrical/electronic systems business generated $5.65 billion in revenue last year.

Alcoa's product portfolio for sale includes capacitors, battery cables, and other components. A manager at Alcoa said that the deal, expected to be reached in the near future, involved businesses in 13 countries and regions, affecting 17,500 employees.

Platinum Equity, headquartered in Beverly Hills, Calif., was founded in 1995 and has a global portfolio of operating companies. For two years, it has been actively investing in automotive-related companies.

Delphi ranks No. 2 in the list of top 150 North American market vendors. Its sales to the North American market of automakers reached US$7.58 billion in 2008.