Heartland: C&A Needs Strength in Europe

With its 60% share of fabric producer Collins & Aikman Corp., Heartland Industrial Partners LP wants to bolster the supplier's European presence. Cynthia Hess, senior managing director at the Heartland private equity fund, tells a Canada-U.S. Business Association luncheon crowd that C&A dominates the North American market for convertible tops, molded carpet and headliner fabric. But in Europe, the company's position is weak. She says Heartland is working on “certain acquisitions” to address that shortcoming — without competing with major Tier 1 customers. “We're looking for areas where we can grow and not step into our customers' arena,” Ms. Hess tells WAW.