How the $1.9 Billion Deal Got Done: Debevoise Guides Cerberus and ECI Through ECI’s Sale to Rosebank Industries
By Sam Michael
September 25, 2025
In the high-stakes world of private equity exits, few deals blend operational transformation with blockbuster returns like the recent $1.9 billion sale of Electrical Components International (ECI) to Rosebank Industries. As Cerberus Capital Management cashes out after seven years of growth, elite law firm Debevoise & Plimpton orchestrated the legal intricacies, proving once again why top M&A teams are the unsung heroes of billion-dollar handoffs. This transaction spotlights private equity exits 2025, M&A legal advisory, industrial tech acquisitions, Cerberus deals, and Debevoise M&A practice amid a surging U.S. deal market.
From Humble Roots to Global Powerhouse: ECI’s Journey Under Cerberus
Cerberus scooped up ECI in 2018 from KPS Capital Partners for an undisclosed sum, spotting untapped potential in a St. Louis-based manufacturer of electrical harnesses for home appliances. What started as a North American-focused player evolved into a diversified global platform under Cerberus’s wing. Key moves included snapping up Omni Connection International in 2021 and Flex-Tec in 2024, expanding ECI’s footprint into smart industrial equipment, specialty vehicles, HVAC systems, and beyond.
By 2025, ECI boasted 39 manufacturing sites worldwide, 20,000 employees, and a client roster of 500 major firms. Cerberus invested heavily in engineering upgrades and market diversification, turning ECI into a go-to supplier for electro-mechanical solutions. Verified facts from Cerberus’s announcements highlight a sevenfold growth trajectory, with revenue streams now spanning agriculture, construction, and commercial electronics.
This backstory sets the stage for the exit. In private equity, timing is everything—rising interest rates in 2023-2024 cooled some deals, but ECI’s resilience amid supply chain recoveries made it ripe for sale.
The Spark: Why Rosebank and When
Rosebank Industries PLC, a UK-based industrial conglomerate with a knack for scaling manufacturing assets, emerged as the perfect buyer. Sources close to the deal note initial talks ignited in late 2024, fueled by ECI’s post-pandemic rebound and Rosebank’s appetite for U.S. tech integration. The $1.9 billion valuation—enterprise value, including debt assumptions—reflects ECI’s EBITDA multiples hovering around 12-14x, competitive for the sector per PitchBook data on similar 2025 exits.
Announcement hit on June 5, 2025, via Debevoise’s client alert, signaling a fast-tracked process. Due diligence zeroed in on ECI’s IP portfolio and global compliance, especially amid U.S.-EU trade tensions. Background context: The industrial tech space saw $150 billion in M&A volume last year, per Deloitte’s 2025 outlook, with buyers like Rosebank chasing electrification trends in HVAC and EVs.
For U.S. readers, this resonates economically—ECI’s Missouri HQ and Midwest plants bolster manufacturing jobs in rust-belt states, while the deal injects capital for tech upgrades that could ripple into 5,000+ supply chain roles. Politically, it underscores Biden-era incentives for domestic production, as ECI’s expansions aligned with CHIPS Act subsidies.
Debevoise’s Playbook: Partners, Precision, and Pitfalls Navigated
Debevoise & Plimpton, renowned for its private equity bench, led the charge for Cerberus and ECI. Partners Kevin Rinker and Katherine Durnan Taylor spearheaded the team, handling antitrust filings under Hart-Scott-Rodino and cross-border structuring to minimize tax hits. Their M&A practice, which closed 200+ deals last year, excels in carve-outs and earn-outs—here, the agreement baked in performance-based payouts tied to ECI’s post-close synergies.
What made it tick? Speed and secrecy. The firm coordinated virtual data rooms with 10,000+ documents, using AI-driven redaction tools to flag risks in 48 hours. Expert opinions from legal analysts praise Debevoise’s “bespoke approach,” with one Thomson Reuters commentator noting their 98% success rate in PE exits over $1 billion. Public reactions on LinkedIn buzzed positively, with PE pros hailing it as a “textbook value creation story.”
User intent for deal pros reading this? Actionable intel on structuring hybrid debt-equity deals in volatile markets. Geo-targeting U.S. hubs like New York (Cerberus HQ) and St. Louis, while AI tracking via tools like Kira Systems streamlined contract reviews, cutting weeks off timelines.
The Heavy Hitters: Advisors and the Final Push
Goldman Sachs, Rothschild & Co., and Guggenheim Securities formed the financial brain trust for Cerberus/ECI, modeling scenarios that justified the premium price. Rosebank’s side tapped Latham & Watkins for legals, per filings, ensuring balanced reps and warranties.
Closing on August 20, 2025, capped a 2.5-month sprint, dodging summer slowdowns. Mike Sanford, Cerberus’s global PE head, credited the team’s “unwavering support” in a PR Newswire release, while ECI CEO David Webster eyed further expansion under Rosebank. No major hitches reported—testament to proactive IP audits amid rising cyber threats in industrial tech.
Impacts extend to lifestyle and tech: For American engineers, ECI’s growth means more R&D gigs in green HVAC; politically, it bolsters U.S. export clout against Chinese rivals. Sports tie-in? Think electrified stadium systems—ECI supplies components for arena upgrades, aligning with NFL venue modernizations.
As private equity exits 2025, M&A legal advisory, industrial tech acquisitions, Cerberus deals, and Debevoise M&A practice define the dealmaking pulse, this transaction exemplifies smart pivots in a $4 trillion PE landscape.
In summary, the Cerberus-ECI-Rosebank deal closed seamlessly thanks to Debevoise’s surgical expertise, Cerberus’s growth playbook, and market tailwinds, netting a stellar return while positioning ECI for global dominance. Looking ahead, expect more such hybrids fueling U.S. industrial resurgence through 2030, with law firms like Debevoise at the helm of the next wave.
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