Private Exits

Advanced Accessory Systems Inc., a Sterling Heights, Mich.–based maker of automotive roof racks and towing systems, has sold its towing systems business in the U.S. and Europe to Thule AB of Sweden for $203 million. AAS is a portfolio company of Castle Harlan.

Argus Capital Partners has sold Czech commercial printer Svoboda Press to EuroDruck Service AG for an undisclosed amount.

Fenway Partners has agreed to sell its remaining minority interest in jeweler Harry Winston to Aber Diamond Corp. (Nasdaq: ABER) for approximately $99 million. The deal is expected to close later this month.

FTI Consulting Inc. (NYSE: FCN) has agreed to acquire FD International Ltd. (a.k.a. Financial Dynamics), a UK-based business communications firm controlled by Advent International. The deal is valued at approximately $260 million, including $215 million in cash, $20 million in notes and deferred purchase obligations and $25 million of restricted FTI stock. To finance the acquisition of FD, FTI plans to offer $215 million of senior unsecured notes.

H.I.G. Capital has sold Cable Express Holding Co. to Dycom Industries Inc. (NYSE: DY) for $54.7 million (including $8.7 million of assumed debt). Cable Express is a Westerville, Ohio-based installer and maintainer of customer premise equipment.

H.I.G. Capital has sold Transtar Metals Holdings Inc., a Torrance, Calif.-based manager of an alloy supply chain for the aerospace and defense industries, to A.M. Castle & Co. (AMEX: CAS). No financial terms were disclosed. Edgeview Partners advised Transtar on the sale.

KPS Special Situations Funds has sold its controlling equity ownership interest in Blue Heron Paper Co. to an employee stock ownership plan formed by the company. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, which creates a 100% employee-owned company. Blue Heron Paper is a producer of newsprint and other specialty paper products from a predominantly recycled fiber base. It was formed by KPS in May 2000 to acquire the newsprint assets of the Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. in Oregon City, Oregon.

Oak Hill Capital Partners has agreed to sell Westlake, Ohio-based truck stop operator TravelCenters of America Inc. to Hospitality Properties Trust (NYSE: HPT) for approximately $1.9 billion. Oak hill acquired TA in November 2000.

UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., has agreed to acquire Red Hawk Industries from Florida Capital Partners. The deal is valued at just under $142 million, and is expected to close within 30 days. Red Hawk is a Denver-based integrated security solutions provider, and was advised on the sale by Harris Williams & Co.

Veronis Suhler Stevenson has agreed to sell stake in Solucient Inc. to Thomson Corp. (NYSE: TOC). No financial terms were disclosed. Solucient is an Evanston, Ill.-based provider of information products for the healthcare industry. Its predecessor company was acquired by VSS in 1999, and then merged with businesses owned by VNU Group and the VHA to form Solucient.