HOPE, AR — Champion Parts, Inc., a remanufacturer of automotive parts, has signed an agreement to purchase the remanufactured carburetor assets of Tomco for approximately $1.5 million in cash and up to $9.5 million in contingent payments. The Tomco carburetor product line had sales of about $9.5 million in 2005.

Champion Parts will acquire the Tomco assets from a Los Angeles-based subsidiary of Cash Technologies, Inc. — TAP Holdings, LLC. The agreement provides for the sale of most of the Tomco assets, including all carburetor-related inventory and major customer accounts. TAP will retain its accounts receivables and its remanufacturing equipment and plant.

Jerry Bragiel, president and chief executive officer of Champion Parts, said, "We are extremely pleased with the agreement that, when completed, will allow Champion to significantly increase sales of its remanufactured carburetors. This acquisition will help Champion broaden its customer base and provide us with broader marketing strategies and advantages that we believe will have a positive impact on our continued profitability. We also expect the additional carburetor revenue and favorable profit margins that it provides to support the company’s pursuit of new product opportunities."

"Although industry-wide carburetor sales continue to decline overall," Bragiel continued, "the increased volume from the acquisition should provide economies of scale for Champion’s established manufacturing operations. Because the contingent payments to TAP depend upon the overall volume of Champion’s carburetor sales, the decline in the sales of carburetors caused by the maturity and gradual obsolescence of this product line will in turn vary Champion’s contingent payment obligations to TAP."

The transaction is scheduled to close in about two months.