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Sema News

June 16

Vol. 10, No. 24
SEMA eNEWS
June 14, 2007

To access all of this week's eNews headlines, visit
http://www.sema.org/main/IssueDetail.aspx?issueID=13


What Has SEMA Done For You Lately?
Breaking News
Market Snapshot
Business Tools
New Products & Technology
Law and Order
Global Update
People, Places & Racing News
Exhibitor Update
Shows & Events
Hot Links to Cool Sites

The companies and links below represent the members of the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) that sponsored the council's Industry Awards Reception during the SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD events. For more information on pro, visit the council's website by clicking here.

PRO Industry Awards Reception Sponsors

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SEMA eNews is published each Wednesday evening by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and is distributed to SEMA members and industry professionals in the specialty-equipment market. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments or suggestions about the publication: Contact Jason Catullo.

Terms under which this service is provided to you: sema.org/disclaimer

SEMA's mailing address: 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Copyright 2007. Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

 

 

June 8

Vol. 10, No. 23
SEMA eNEWS
June 7, 2007

To access all of this week's eNews headlines, visit
http://www.sema.org/main/IssueDetail.aspx?issueID=12

What Has SEMA Done For You Lately?
Breaking News
Market Snapshot
Business Tools
New Products & Technology
Law and Order
People, Places & Racing News
Exhibitor Update
Shows & Events
Hot Links to Cool Sites

The links below represent members of the Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) that sponsored the LTAA Industry Awards Reception held in conjunction with the SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD in Atlanta. For information on LTAA, visit www.sema.org/ltaa.

LTAA Industry Awards Reception Sponsors

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SEMA eNews is published each Wednesday evening by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and is distributed to SEMA members and industry professionals in the specialty-equipment market. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments or suggestions about the publication: Contact Jason Catullo.

Terms under which this service is provided to you: sema.org/disclaimer

SEMA's mailing address: 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

 

 

May 31

Vol. 10, No. 22
SEMA eNEWS
May 31, 2007

To access all of this week's eNews headlines, visit
http://www.sema.org/main/IssueDetail.aspx?issueID=10


What Has SEMA Done For You Lately?
Breaking News
Market Snapshot
Business Tools
New Products & Technology
Law and Order
Global Update
People, Places & Racing News
Shows & Events
Hot Links to Cool Sites

The links below represent the automakers that are currently members of SEMA. For information on SEMA's OEM relations, visit www.sema.org/oem. Manufacturers: To see the latest vehicle CAD blue prints offered by OEMs, visit www.sema.org/techtransfer.

The Fast Tracks to Industry Information and Resources

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SEMA eNews is published each Wednesday evening by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and is distributed to SEMA members and industry professionals in the specialty-equipment market. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 HD Partners Acquisition Corporation

NHRA ASSETS SOLD

HD Partners Acquisition Corporation Announces Proposed Acquisition of NHRA Pro Racing From the National Hot Rod Association

SANTA MONICA, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 30, 2007 -- HD Partners Acquisition Corporation ("HD Partners") (AMEX:HDP - News) (HDPU - News) (HDPWT - News) and the National Hot Rod Association ("NHRA"), the world's preeminent drag racing organization, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which HD Partners will acquire all of NHRA's professional racing assets, including the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series, together with a broad set of rights to commercialize the NHRA brand. Upon consummation of the transaction, the acquired assets will be held in a wholly owned subsidiary of HD Partners named NHRA Pro Racing. The NHRA, which will remain a non-profit 501(c)(6) corporation, will retain all its non-professional racing, safety and educational activities and continue to be the sanctioning body for all NHRA racing activities, including the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Eddy Hartenstein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HD Partners, said, "We are extremely excited by this truly unique sports media and entertainment opportunity, which provides an ideal platform for our management team to leverage their skills and expertise in creating and marketing compelling entertainment experiences and building strong brands. NHRA President Tom Compton and his team have done a remarkable job positioning the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing series as one of the country's top motorsports events. We see tremendous opportunities in working closely with Tom, who will become President and CEO of NHRA Drag Racing, to take the sport of drag racing and the overall NHRA experience to the next level."

Wally Parks, Founder of the NHRA, said, "Today's announcement represents a monumental milestone in the 56-year history of the NHRA. By virtue of the agreements we have reached with HD Partners, we are positioning the NHRA POWERade Series for great future growth and success, while at the same time are assuring the long term vitality of the NHRA."

Upon closing of the transaction, Eddy Hartenstein will serve as Chairman of NHRA Pro Racing, and Tom Compton will assume the role of President and CEO and be a member of the Board. Robert Meyers, HD Partners' current Chief Financial Officer, will become the Chief Financial Officer of NHRA Pro Racing. Peter Clifford, currently Executive Vice President and General Manager of the NHRA, will become executive director of the NHRA, as well as a consultant to NHRA Pro Racing.

Dallas Gardner, Chairman of the Board of NHRA, said, "This transaction provides the best opportunity for NHRA to fulfill its core mandate to protect, preserve and promote the sport of drag racing. It provides long-term financial stability to the NHRA, an unhindered opportunity for the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series to flourish and grow, and an important strategic and long-term relationship between the NHRA and NHRA Pro Racing."

Tom Compton, president of the NHRA, said, "While we have made tremendous strides over the last eight years growing the professional side of the sport, today's announcement is the next logical step in the evolution of the sport of drag racing. This new relationship brings with it access to investment capital, additional expertise, relationships and complimentary skill sets to assist the current management team to drive key initiatives to accelerate the growth of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series."

Under the terms of the agreement announced today, HD Partners will acquire:

--  The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series and all professional NHRA drag
    racing assets and opportunities, including NHRA's existing television
    broadcast agreement with ESPN;

--  An exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to the NHRA brand for
    professional drag racing activities;

--  Broad and extensive rights to commercialize the NHRA brand, including:

      -  Exclusive professional racing and "Official NHRA" sponsorship
         and licensing rights;

      -  Exclusive media exploitation rights in broadcast television, home
         entertainment and new media;

      -  Exclusive merchandising rights relating to both professional
         racing and the stand-alone NHRA brand;

--  Four NHRA-owned race tracks, an additional long-term track lease in
    Pomona, California and the NHRA headquarters building in Glendora,
    California; and

--  A video and photo archive chronicling the history of drag racing,
    which includes more than 20,000 hours of video and film.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series currently consists of 23 national events held at locations across the country. These multi-day events, which can draw as many as 125,000 spectators over three or more days, provide fans, racers and sponsors a unique ability to interact with each other through access to the racer pit area. In addition, NHRA's Nitro Alley display and interactive area located at each national event provides fans with a race-related entertainment experience, including the ability to get behind the wheel themselves in motorcycle and funny car simulators. All 23 national events are aired exclusively on ESPN2.

The NHRA will receive approximately $121 million in total consideration, consisting of approximately $100 million in cash, approximately $9.5 million in HD Partners common stock and the assumption by HD Partners of approximately $11.5 million in debt and liabilities. In addition to retaining its non-professional racing activities and sanctioning role, the NHRA will continue to offer its membership program and publish its weekly publication National Dragster. The closing of the asset purchase and related transactions is subject to stockholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary closing conditions.

HD Partners will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which more fully describes the transaction.

In connection with the proposed acquisition, Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. served as financial advisor to HD Partners and Latham and Watkins LLC were HD Partners' legal advisors. Duff & Phelps, LLC provided a fairness opinion to the HD Partners board of directors.

A nationally recognized investment banking firm provided a fairness opinion to the NHRA board of directors in connection with the transaction and Morrison and Foerster were the NHRA's legal advisors.

 

May 23

 
Vol. 10, No. 21
SEMA eNEWS
May 26, 2007

To access all of this week's eNews headlines, visit
http://www.sema.org/main/IssueDetail.aspx?issueID=9


What Has SEMA Done For You Lately?
Breaking News
Market Snapshot
Business Tools
New Products & Technology
Law and Order

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People, Places & Racing News
Shows & Events
Hot Links to Cool Sites

The links below represent SEMA's council and committees, groups dedicated to specific market niches and professional groups within the specialty-equipment industry. For more each council and committee, click the link below, or e-mail member@sema.org to request more information.

SEMA Council and Committees

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SEMA eNews is published each Wednesday evening by SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, and is distributed to SEMA members and industry professionals in the specialty-equipment market. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

Questions, comments or suggestions about the publication: Contact Jason Catullo.

Terms under which this service is provided to you: sema.org/disclaimer

SEMA's mailing address: 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Copyright 2007. Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)

 

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