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

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises USA Dawgs, Inc. on Growth Capital Transaction

October 2012. USA Dawgs, Inc. (“DAWGS”) announces completion of growth capital financing to support its expansion initiatives and drive future growth. The Peakstone Group served as DAWGS’ exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, DAWGS is an established designer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of value and comfort-positioned casual and functional footwear for men, women and children under its various brands. DAWGS, which was founded in 2006, focuses on providing ‘evergreen’ styled footwear with improved designs, comfort and quality compared to national branded footwear. DAWGS currently has over 15 different product lines. Recent new product launches include safety shoes, snappy socks, collegiate footwear and Firestone licensed footwear.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Pivotal 5, Inc. on the Acquisition of KettleWorx

September 2012. Pivotal 5, Inc. (“Pivotal 5”) announces the purchase of fitness brand KettleWorx, the dominant brand in kettlebell training. The acquisition came after Pivotal 5, Inc. had been a long-time partner with KettleWorx in both product supply and retail distribution. KettleWorx joins Pivotal 5’s portfolio of brands which also includes Rejuvenation | Prevent + Perform + Recover, Natural Fitness, and Body by Jake. The Peakstone Group served as Pivotal 5’s exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.

Click Here to read the Press Release

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Pivotal 5 is a leading developer, marketer and distributor of a broad range of fitness, wellness and consumer products. The Company’s innovative brand and product development capabilities, coupled with its retail distribution expertise, have made it one of the fastest growing suppliers of branded fitness products in the industry.

Pivotal 5 has supplied products for some of the best-known brands throughout the U.S. and Europe while also developing its own portfolio of Company-owned brands, including Natural Fitness and Rejuvination.

For more information please contact:

Eric Dziedzic
(312) 346-7314
edziedzic@peakstone.com

Mark Horita
(312) 346-7308
mhorita@peakstone.com

Peakstone Adds Tom Juedes to Lead Transportation and Logistics Industry Vertical

August 2012. The Peakstone Group, a leading mergers and acquisitions firm focused on middle market companies, today announced that Tom Juedes has joined as Senior Advisor to lead the Transportation and Logistics industry vertical. Tom will focus on advising business owners on capital transactions, including the sale of companies, acquisitions, and debt and equity capital raising. Tom will focus on companies in the transportation and logistics services sector, including all modes of transportation, warehousing, 3PLs, and other value added services.

Tom brings over 40 years of logistics industry experience, as an executive and entrepreneur. Tom is also founder and CEO of the National Carrier Network (NCN), a company that bundles the services of logistics providers in the top 200 MSA’s in the United States, and offers these services on a combined basis to large third party logistics providers.

Tom has been CEO of several third party logistics companies and an entrepreneur in various supply chain related businesses. In addition, Tom has provided consulting services to firms in the logistics industry.

Tom was the founder and CEO of Hub Group Distribution Services (HGDS). HGDS was on the Inc. Magazine 500 fastest growing companies four years in a row. HGDS was a leading provider of value-added transportation and logistics services to the pharmaceutical, retail, point-of-purchase display and manufacturing industries. Tom eventually sold his interest in HGDS to Hub Group Inc., one of the largest intermodal and logistics services providers.

Tom also has served in management positions at Coyote Logistics, Iosue Associates, Chicago Northwestern Railroad, Amoco Chemicals, FMC Corporation, and United Stationers.

Tom Holds an MBA from Loyola University – Chicago and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.

Closed Deal Announcement – Peakstone Advises Duray, Inc. on the Sale of the Company

August 2012.  Duray, Inc. recently completed the sale of the company to a private investor group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Duray, Inc., based in Chicago, Illinois, has been a leading designer and manufacturer of custom lighting solutions, serving customers in electrical distribution, display lighting, and OEM manufacturing for over 50 years. The company is well known for developing innovative lighting solutions, combining state-of-the-art components with lighting application engineering to deliver high quality products at competitive prices. In recent years, many customers have turned to Duray for its broad range of energy efficient lighting systems.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Horita
(312) 346-7308
mhorita@peakstone.com