* Auction could start this year -sources
* Linamar, Metaldyne, Mahindra seen as potentially
interested
* Deal could value Hay at 6-7 times EBITDA -source
(Adds details on potential buyers, earnings, background)
By Arno Schuetze and Alexander Hübner
FRANKFURT, Sept 10 (Reuters) - U.S.-based investor The Gores
Group has put German car parts maker Hay up for sale in a
potential 400 million-euro ($448 million) deal, several people
familiar with the deal said.
The buyout group has asked investment bank Rothschild
ROT.UL to explore options for the metal-forging specialist and
may start an auction process as early as the end of 2015, the
sources said.
Hay may appeal to peers such as Linamar LNR.TO , Metaldyne
MPG.N , BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA) BWA.N , Germany's Mahle or India's Mahindra
MAHM.NS , the people said.
Hay has annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortisation of about 60 million euros and could be valued
at 6-7 times that in a potential deal, the sources said.
Gores, Hay and Rothschild all declined to comment.
Germany's auto suppliers have seen a wave of merger and
acquisition deals over the last year as the industry's
bellwethers seek to expand their product portfolio and high
valuations make divestments lucrative for sellers.
($1 = 0.8936 euros)
(Editing by Georgina Prodhan)