Mexican Supplier Alfa Acquires J.L. French

Mexico's Alfa ABA has completed the purchase of closely held J.L. French Automotive Castings Inc. for $215 million.

Sheboygan, Wis.-based J.L. French generated about $500 million in annual revenue from supplying aluminum transmission parts to such customers as Ford and General Motors. Alfa says J.L. French's technology will help it enter other the market for suspension and structural parts.

Alfa says its Nemak unit is the world's largest independent producer of aluminum engine heads and blocks. Nemak reported revenue of $3.6 billion last year and employs 18,000 people.

The deal was announced in April.