Tag - 2015

Ironbridge Equity Partners and Westerkirk Capital Inc. announce that they have completed the sale of portfolio company Gaspard LP

(TORONTO, October 15, 2015) – Ironbridge Equity Partners (“Ironbridge”) of Toronto, ON and Westerkirk Capital Inc. (“Westerkirk”) of Victoria, BC are pleased to announce that they have completed the sale of portfolio company Gaspard LP (“Gaspard” or the “Company”) to American Achievement Corporation (“American Achievement”). Gaspard is a leading North American manufacturer and distributor of academic regalia, clergy vestments, choral robes, and legal and judicial attire.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Gaspard, founded in 1909, was family owned until its acquisition by Ironbridge and Westerkirk in 2009. Over the course of their investment, Ironbridge and Westerkirk worked alongside management to improve internal systems and processes, reconstitute the management team through an extensive succession plan, execute multiple add-on acquisitions and strengthen the Company’s market position both domestically and internationally.

“The management team has done a terrific job executing on growth initiatives to date and we are confident they will continue their strong trajectory” said Alan Sellery, President and Managing Partner of Ironbridge. “We wish the team ongoing success and want to thank them for the productive partnership over the course of our investment.”

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Ironbridge and Westerkirk, which was essential in supporting our growth,” said David Blatt, President of Gaspard. “We look forward to the next phase in our development with American Achievement and would like to thank Ironbridge and Westerkirk for their commitment and support.”

About Gaspard:

Gaspard is a manufacturer and distributor of academic regalia, clergy vestments, choral robes, and legal and judicial attire. The Company’s products are primarily sold direct-to-user in Canada, while the U.S. market is served via a combination of company and independent representatives. Winnipeg, MB serves as the Company’s headquarters, and is its manufacturing and distribution facility for the Canadian market. A second manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico produces regalia for the U.S. and Puerto Rican markets. Additional distribution centers are located in Toronto, Montreal, Omaha, Boston, and Minneapolis.

About Ironbridge:

Ironbridge’s team of nine investment professionals invests in Canadian lower middle-market businesses operating in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, and consumer and business products and services. The Ironbridge investment team has extensive financial and operating experience and works closely with the management teams of its portfolio companies to enhance value. Ironbridge is currently investing its second private equity fund, Ironbridge Equity Partners II, LP, a fully-committed $154 million fund.

For more information, contact:

Alan Sellery
President and Managing Partner
Ironbridge Equity Partners
(416) 863-0101
www.ironbridgeequity.com

Peter Dowse
Partner and Chief Financial Officer
Ironbridge Equity Partners
(416) 863-0106
www.ironbridgeequity.com

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Ironbridge Equity Partners announces that they, together with management, have acquired Advance Engineered Products Ltd. and Dumur Industries.

(TORONTO, October 1, 2015) – Ironbridge Equity Partners (“Ironbridge”) of Toronto, Ontario is pleased to announce that they, together with management, have acquired the assets of Advance Engineered Products Ltd. (“Advance”) of Regina, Saskatchewan and the shares of Dumur Industries (“Dumur”) of White City, Saskatchewan.  Dumur was previously a 100% owned subsidiary of Advance.  Ironbridge will hold both Advance and Dumur as separate portfolio companies.

Advance is western Canada’s leading tank trailer and vacuum truck manufacturer and service center operator. It currently operates three distinct businesses: (i) designing and manufacturing aluminum and stainless steel truck tanks and trailers under the Advance and Lazer Inox brands; (ii) operating service centers for the repair, maintenance, inspection and certification of truck tanks and trailers; and (iii) manufacturing and servicing vacuum trucks under the Westech brand. Advance primarily serves the petroleum, chemical, food, oil and gas, bulk feed and dry bulk end markets. It operates two manufacturing facilities and five service centers in western Canada and an additional manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec.

Darrell Zwarych, President and CEO of Advance said “We are pleased with the result of the sale process and what it means for our future. Ironbridge brings financial stability and expertise to help us better serve our customers and grow.”

Dumur is a precision metal fabrication and machining business primarily servicing the military and aerospace sectors. It offers full-service, design-to-delivery fabrication and machining for a wide range of projects from parts production runs to complex, custom-fabricated assemblies. Dumur has specific domain expertise in manufacturing components for light armored vehicles for North America’s largest defence contractors.

Ian Harrison, President of Dumur said “We are excited to partner with Ironbridge and benefit from the expertise in helping small businesses like Dumur execute on their strategic plan and enter the next phase of their life cycle. Ironbridge’s experience in manufacturing will be beneficial to the future of Dumur.”

“Both Advance and Dumur are great, well run businesses that we are proud to have in our portfolio of investments,” said Alan Sellery, President and Managing Partner of Ironbridge.  “We look forward to working with both Darrell Zwarych, Ian Harrison and their management teams over the course of our investments.”

Advance and Dumur are the fifth and sixth investments, respectively in Ironbridge’s second private equity fund, Ironbridge Equity Partners II, LP, a fully-committed $154 million fund.

Ironbridge’s team of nine professionals invests in Canadian lower middle-market businesses operating in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, and consumer and business products and services. The Ironbridge investment team has extensive financial and operating experience and works closely with the management teams of its portfolio companies to enhance value.

For more information, contact:

Alan Selery
President and Managing Partner
Ironbridge Equity Partners
(416) 863-0101

Darrell Zwarych
President and CEO
Advance Engineered Products Ltd.
(306) 721-4803

Ian Harrison
President
Dumur Industries
(306) 337-8801

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Ironbridge Equity Partners announces that they, together with management, have made an investment in Alliance Corporation.

(TORONTO, July 31, 2015) – Ironbridge Equity Partners (“Ironbridge”) of Toronto, Ontario is pleased to announce that they, together with management, have made an investment in Alliance Corporation (“Alliance” or the “Company”) of Mississauga, Ontario.

Alliance is a leading full-service, value-added distributor and manufacturer of products and solutions including cabling, assemblies, antennas and related active and passive connectivity componentry to support wireless, broadband, broadcast and wireline networks for the North American market. Over the past 20+ years, Alliance has developed a strong, well-recognized reputation as the “one-stop-shop” for infrastructure solutions, and has played a vital role in the build-out of the telecommunications infrastructure industry in North America. Alliance provides diversified kitting and fulfilment solutions to national carriers, OEMs, system integrators and general contractors via strategically placed stocking and manufacturing facilities in Canada, United Sates and Mexico.

“The wireless and broadband infrastructure sector has experienced significant growth in recent years driven by ongoing expansion and upgrading of networks in order to meet the accelerating data demands of consumers, and businesses,” said Ron Moss, President of Alliance. “The Ironbridge partnership comes at an opportune time in our Company’s history to pursue and capitalize on these favorable industry dynamics.”

“Alliance has a long and successful history of providing excellent supply-chain solutions and value-add manufacturing to the major carriers in North America. Alliance has built a broad supply and customer base through consistent performance and strong customer service,” said Andrew Walton, Partner at Ironbridge. “We are tremendously excited to be partnering with the Alliance team and working with them in growing the business going forward.”

Alliance is the fourth investment in Ironbridge’s second private equity fund, Ironbridge Equity Partners II, LP, a fully-committed $154 million fund.

Ironbridge’s team of nine professionals invests in Canadian lower middle-market businesses operating in a broad range of industries including manufacturing, distribution, and consumer and business products and services. The Ironbridge investment team has extensive financial and operating experience and works closely with the management teams of its portfolio companies to enhance value.

For more information, contact:

Andrew Walton
Partner
Ironbridge Equity Partners
(416) 867-2274
www.ironbridgeequity.com

Ron Moss
President
Alliance Corporation
(905) 817 9226
www.alliancecorporation.ca

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Andrew Walton joins Ironbridge

(Toronto – January 26, 2015) Ironbridge Equity Partners is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Walton as a Partner.

Andrew spent the past 7 years as a Partner with two Canadian based middle-market private equity funds. Prior to that, Andrew was a Partner in the PwC Transaction Services group where he advised both private equity and corporate clients on local and international acquisitions and divestitures. Andrew has held several operational executive roles within portfolio companies including CEO of Westridge Cabinets Ltd and CFO of New Food Classics Partnership. Andrew is a Chartered Accountant (SAICA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Accounting Honours from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors from the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management.

For more information, contact:

Alan Sellery

President and Managing Partner
Ironbridge Equity Partners
(416) 863-0101
info@ironbridgeequity.com
www.ironbridgeequity.com

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