Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Kickapoo Valley Cheese on Sale to Biery Cheese

November 2013. Kickapoo Valley Cheese Corporation (“Kickapoo”) has completed the sale of the company to Biery Cheese Company of Louisville, Ohio. Kickapoo, based in Sherry, Wisconsin, is a cheese packaging company that provides a variety of specialty slicing and packaging services.  Kickapoo’s services include slicing and packaging cheese in shingles and stacks, party trays, cubes, chunks and wedges. Kickapoo works with standard commodity cheeses as well as with a variety of specialty, organic, kosher, and rBGH free cheeses. 

“The sale of my business was the most significant and complex transaction of my career,” noted Jim Leytus, president and owner of Kickapoo. “Steve Royko and the rest of the team at The Peakstone Group were invaluable to the process.  They guided the development of a successful sell strategy; defined, identified and contacted potential buyers; solicited bids, evaluated interested candidates, negotiated letters of intent, helped with the selection of the strongest and most likely buyer; and coordinated the process from letter of intent to purchase agreement.  Steve and The Peakstone team were indefatigable in their efforts to manage the process towards the goal we all desired, the close.”

Biery Cheese Co. was started in 1929 by Norman F. Biery, who started out making Swiss cheese in Louisville, Ohio. The company has evolved from a manufacturing company to a packaging, processing, and distributing company providing chunks, shreds, slices, diced, cubes, and snacking cheeses to its customers.  For over 84 years, Biery Cheese has been servicing customers in all sectors of the cheese business: retail, foodservice, and ingredient.

The Peakstone Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Kickapoo in connection with this transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information about this transaction, contact:
Steve Royko, Managing Director, 608-236-4490, sroyko@peakstone.com

About The Peakstone Group

Peakstone is an investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients.  The Peakstone team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. Please visit our website, peakstone.com.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises GMSP on Sale to Hoffmaster

September 2013. Graphic Management Specialty Products, Inc. (“GMSP”) has completed the sale of the company to Hoffmaster Group, Inc. GMSP, based in Oconto, Wisconsin, is a leading provider of high-quality tabletop products to the healthcare and food service markets, as well the food packaging and contract manufacturing industries.

Hoffmaster Group, Inc., a portfolio company of Metalmark Capital, is a leading North American paper converting business focused on the design and manufacture of premium paper tableware including napkins, plates, cups and complementary items.

The Peakstone Group served as exclusive financial advisor to GMSP in connection with this transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information about this transaction, contact:

Nick Clementi, Managing Director, 312-204-7300, nclementi@peakstone.com
Eric Dziedzic, Managing Director, 312-346-7314, eric@peakstone.com

About The Peakstone Group

Peakstone is an investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients.  The Peakstone team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. Please visit our website, peakstone.com.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Pivotal 5, Inc. on the Acquisition of Lifeline USA and Arranged the Financing for the Transaction

September 2013.  Pivotal 5, Inc. (“Pivotal 5”) has announced the purchase of fitness brand Lifeline USA, a leading supplier of professional-grade functional fitness training equipment.  Pivotal 5’s marketing, commercialization and sales capabilities will enable Lifeline to continue expanding its brand worldwide.  Pivotal 5 and Lifeline have been long-time partners in both product supply and retail distribution.  RLJ Credit Opportunity Fund provided the financing for the transaction.  

The Peakstone Group served as Pivotal 5’s exclusive financial advisor in connection with this transaction and also arranged the financing for the transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The Peakstone Group has been a great partner to Pivotal 5 as we have continued to expand our platform via acquisitions,” noted Adam Schumacher, President and CEO of Pivotal 5.  “Peakstone’s unwavering commitment to Pivotal 5’s continued success has helped us achieve our strategic objectives.”

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Based in Chicago, Illinois, Pivotal 5 is the industry leader and trendsetter in wellness and handheld fitness products and was founded in 2002 by Adam Schumacher.  The company has a dynamic portfolio of products in yoga, prevention & rehabilitation, general fitness, athletic training and specialty fitness categories.  It’s brands include Natural Fitness, Rejuvenation | Prevent + Perform + Recover, KettleWorX, PER4M and Lifeline USA. In addition, Pivotal 5 has developed product lines under licensed brands including Body By Jake, Iron Gym and Kathy Smith Healthy Living.  Pivotal 5 has built a talented, competitive infrastructure focusing on innovative brand/product development, direct to consumer product supply and retail distribution through retail, infomercials and fitness facilities worldwide.   More information is available at www.Pivotal5.com.

For more information about this deal, please contact:

Eric Dziedzic, Managing Director, (312) 346-7314, eric@peakstone.com
Mark Horita, Managing Director, (312) 346-7308, mhorita@peakstone.com

About The Peakstone Group

Peakstone is an investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients.  The Peakstone team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. Please visit our website, peakstone.com.

The Peakstone Group Adds Managing Director

July 2013.  Cathy Jaros joins The Peakstone Group as a Managing Director focusing on food and consumer products companies.  Cathy has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and strategic corporate development.  Her clients include food and packaged goods, healthy ingredients, technology and manufacturing companies.  She has led engagements for Fortune 500 and smaller companies, public and private companies and has been involved in many cross-border transactions.  Cathy works closely with family and privately-owned companies to explore transition and value maximization opportunities.

Prior to joining The Peakstone Group, Cathy was Managing Partner at First Chicago Advisors and was Managing Director for Amherst Partners where she headed the firm’s food and consumer industry practice groups.  She also Chaired the global food and beverage industry group for IMAP, a fifty-member network of international investment bankers.

Cathy previously served as Vice President of corporate marketing and development for Tribune Company.  She spent nineteen years in the food industry where she held senior strategy and acquisition positions at Kraft and a variety of senior and officer level positions in marketing, general management, venture, and corporate development at The Quaker Oats Company, now part of Pepsi.  She is the former Chief Executive Officer and President of several early stage consumer-focused technology companies.

Cathy earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University with dual concentrations in marketing and finance.  She graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a BS degree.

Peakstone Creates Real Estate Investment Banking Practice led by David R. Brown

March 2013.  The Peakstone Group, the Chicago-based investment bank, has created a new Real Estate Investment Banking Practice headed by industry veteran, David R. Brown, joining Peakstone as Managing Director.

Over his 27-year professional real estate career, David has been in a leadership position with some of the world’s top real estate companies including ORIX Real Estate Capital (where he was President and CEO), Lehman Brothers, Jones Lang LaSalle and Jones Lang Wootton.  Under David’s leadership, Peakstone will be advising property developers, investment companies, brokerage firms, property management firms, construction companies, investment managers and other real estate companies on mergers and acquisitions, strategic alternatives and capital transactions.

David is also president of Harrington Brown LLC, a commercial real estate investment and services firm that advises clients nationwide on asset management, property management, leasing and brokerage, while also pursuing principal investment and development opportunities.

David has a breadth of relationships throughout the real estate industry and has completed billions of dollars of transactions both as advisor and principal, involving office, retail, industrial, hotel and multifamily assets.  He has advised real estate operating companies, real estate investment trusts, pension fund advisors, private equity firms and banks and has experience throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Peakstone co-founder, Alex Fridman said, “When Peakstone made the decision to build a platform to service real estate clients nationally, we knew that David was the right person to lead this effort.  We are now coming out of a difficult time for the real estate sector and anticipate increased M&A activity, consolidation, restructuring and recapitalization.”

David received his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, majoring in Urban Studies and Political Science. He also received a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, with a concentration in Housing and Community Development. David has long been active in his community on the north side of Chicago, serving as a volunteer and board member with several community groups and non-profit organizations.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Wind Tower Manufacturer on Growth Capital Transaction

February 2013. Johnson Plate & Tower Fabrication, Inc. (“JPTF”), a steel fabricator with a significant focus on the wind power industry, has completed a growth capital financing to support a forecasted increase in wind tower production following the recent extension of the Production Tax Credit and other strategic initiatives. The Peakstone Group served as JPTF’s exclusive financial advisor in connection with this transaction.

Based in Canutillo, Texas, JPTF is an established manufacturer of fabricated steel products, including towers for the wind energy industry.  JPTF began manufacturing tubular steel towers for commercial wind farms in 1987 and has since grown to become one of the major suppliers of fabricated towers for a variety of wind turbine companies contracted to construct wind farms in North America, South America and Europe.  The company remains well-positioned as the wind power generation industry enters a new era of growth.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information about this transaction, please contact:

Eric Dziedzic, Managing Director, (312) 346-7314, eric@peakstone.com
Stephen Sleigh, Managing Director, (312) 346-7318, ssleigh@peakstone.com

About The Peakstone Group

Peakstone is an investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients.  The Peakstone team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. Please visit our website, peakstone.com.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Paine & Partners on Acquisition of Northwest Agri Products

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Wafra Partners on Acquisition of Phelps Industries

January 2013.  The Peakstone Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Wafra Partners, LLC (“Wafra”) on its acquisition of Phelps Industries, LLC. 

Peakstone worked closely with Wafra to identify a platform acquisition in the fast growing pet treat and chews segment of the multi-billion dollar pet food industry.

Ryan Wierck, Managing Director of Wafra said, “Phelps is an ideal platform for us to launch a consolidation in the high growth and very attractive pet treat and chews segment.  We have been eager to partner with a leading pet treat manufacturer and look forward to pursuing a variety of organic growth initiatives and highly strategic add-on acquisitions. We were very pleased to work with Peakstone because they understand the pet industry and our strategy. Peakstone delivered a highly strategic and compelling acquisition target in Phelps and advised us in navigating the transaction to close.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Wafra Partners

Wafra Partners, LLC is a private equity firm that seeks to invest in and build successful middle-market companies.  They target platform acquisitions of between $4 and $15 in EBITDA and revenues of $20- $150 million.  Wafra purchases control or significant minority positions in companies with strong management, high-upside, discernible value and growth drivers.  For more information about this transaction, please visit www.wafrapartners.com.

About Phelps Industries

Phelps Industries, LLC is a manufacturer and marketer of pet treats and chews with a diversified customer base, selling to the grocery, mass and pet specialty trades. Phelps manufacturers products under their own brands as well as for private label and contract manufacturing customers. Phelps is headquartered in Wakefield, MA and maintains its manufacturing facility in Rockford, IL.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Protectoseal on Acquisition of Electronic Systems Design

December 2012. The Peakstone Group served as exclusive financial advisor to The Protectoseal Company (“Protectoseal”) on its acquisition of Electronic Systems Design, Inc.

Jim Honan, President of Protectoseal said, “Electronic Systems Design is a strategic acquisition that adds a complementary product offering that we can sell to our existing customers throughout the world. Peakstone understood our business and strategy, delivered a strategic and compelling acquisition candidate, and assisted us in navigating the transaction to close.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About The Protectoseal Company

For over 85 years, Protectoseal has been an industry pioneer and leading manufacturer of products that conserve and control volatile emissions and protect low pressure storage tanks, vessels, processes and ancillary equipment from fire and explosion. Protectoseal’s integrated line of pressure and vacuum relief vents, flame arresters and related vapor control devices are most often used in liquid storage and processing applications found in numerous manufacturing industries.

For additional information about this transaction, please contact:
Alex Fridman, Managing Director, 312-346-7303, alex@peakstone.com
Mark Horita, Managing Director, 312-346-7308, mhorita@peakstone.com
Stephen Sleigh, Managing Director, 312-346-7318, ssleigh@peakstone.com

The Peakstone Group Adds Managing Director

November 2012.  Brad Curtis joins The Peakstone Group as a Managing Director primarily focusing on the consumer sector. Brad has spent most of his career working with privately-held, middle market businesses in a wide range of consumer segments including consumer healthcare, personal care, OTC pharmaceuticals, pet products, juvenile products, food and beverage, private label, and apparel.

Prior to joining Peakstone, Brad opened the Chicago office for a national middle market investment bank. Earlier in his career, Brad was a senior operating executive for two Jordan Industries’ portfolio healthcare companies where he led organic growth initiatives and completed strategic acquisitions prior to their successful sale to a strategic buyer. Brad also worked for Hilco, a financial advisory, business valuation and specialty finance company based in Northbrook, IL. Brad then launched a boutique investment banking firm with a dedicated focus on the consumer products sector.

Prior to his financial advisory career, Brad served as the Political Director for Texas Congressman Sam Johnson, leading his fundraising and campaign operations. Brad received his A.B. from Brown University and holds an MBA in Finance, with distinction, from DePaul University.

Brad Curtis can be reached at:
(312) 204-7300
bcurtis@peakstone.com