May, 2025. Peakstone Group, a leading middle market investment bank, served as the exclusive financial advisor to Thillens in connection with its recently completed sale to Edessa Growth Partners, a search fund led by Resit Melik, who will step in as the new CEO of the company.
Mr. Melik said, “This marks the culmination of a journey that started nearly two years ago, driven by a childhood dream to build and lead a business. After screening thousands of opportunities and evaluating hundreds, I couldn’t be prouder to acquire a company with the legacy, reputation, and grit of Thillens.”
“Founded nearly 100 years ago, Thillens is a known and trusted brand that has reinvented itself multiple times, delivering mission-critical cash logistics and exceptional customer service. As I’ve gotten to know the team and our clients, I’ve been overwhelmed in the best way by the talent, professionalism, and deep pride that run through this organization. This is not just a transaction. It’s a long-term commitment to the people, to the clients and to the brand, and to building something enduring.”
Darren Norkett, CEO of Thillens, said, “Navigating the sale of Thillens was a complex process, and having the Peakstone team, led by Steve Royko, made all the difference. Their expertise and unwavering dedication ensured that every aspect of the transaction was handled with precision and care. From structuring the deal to guiding us through negotiations, Peakstone demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism and knowledge. Their ability to anticipate challenges and proactively address them gave us confidence at every stage.”
Founded in 1932 in Chicago, Thillens is the Midwest’s largest independent armored service provider. Thillens provides a highly differentiated combination of logistics offerings, technological innovations, and attentive customer service that are difficult for competitors to replicate. The Company primarily serves customers in the financial services, gaming, and retail industries with strong growth opportunities in adjacent markets due to the unique business model of Thillens. The Company currently operates 7 branches in Illinois and Wisconsin, with a further two scheduled to open in 2025.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
For additional information, please contact:
Alex Fridman, Managing Partner, 312-346-7303, alex@peakstone.com
Steve Royko, Managing Director, 608-236-4490, sroyko@peakstone.com
About Peakstone
Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions, advisory, and capital raising for middle market clients. Our team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com.
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