Articles from The Stephens Group, LLC

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) announced today that Spitzer Industries (“Spitzer” or the “Company”), a portfolio company majority owned by affiliates of Stephens Group, has been sold to Race Rock, a nationwide infrastructure solutions leader. Spitzer is a long-standing provider of engineered equipment and modular solutions for energy and industrial markets. The Company will now operate as a standalone division within Race Rock and maintain headquarters in Houston, TX. Together, the companies will leverage their respective strengths – Race Rock’s agility, operational expertise, and deep relationships in utility and highway infrastructure, and Spitzer’s technical capabilities, manufacturing footprint, and track record of delivering high-spec engineered products.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced Frank Kumpuris as an Executive in Residence with the firm. In this capacity, he will partner with Stephens Group’s investment team to identify and evaluate new opportunities, conduct due diligence, and support the growth and transformation of its portfolio companies.

Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC (“Kalkomey” or the “Company”), a leading provider of online recreational safety education in North America, today announced an investment from The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”). Stephens Group’s investment marks a significant step in Kalkomey’s continued expansion and reinforces its mission to enhance outdoor safety education. Aaron Clark, Senior Managing Director at Stephens Group, will join Kalkomey’s Board of Directors.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired Astro Pak LLC (“Astro Pak” or the “Company”), a leading provider of high purity and precision cleaning services for critical and highly regulated industries.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon-Michael Kasten as Chief Executive Officer of VisionSafe, an industry leader in the provision of proprietary cockpit smoke displacement systems. Mr. Kasten brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in aerospace markets, with a proven track record of driving growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional results.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) announced today that KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire its portfolio company Catalyst Acoustics Group (“Catalyst”). Catalyst is the parent company of an elite group of acoustic, seismic, vibration and noise control companies including Fräsch, IAC Acoustics, Kinetics Noise Control, Lamvin, Madrid, Noise Barriers, RealAcoustix, Sound Seal and independent testing laboratory Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the promotions of Anthony Porcelli to Vice President and Bradley Ong to Senior Associate and the addition of Jacob Ham and Nicholas F. AmRhein as Investment Associates and Marco Schooley as a Value Creation Associate.

Catalyst Acoustics Group, Inc. (“Catalyst Acoustics Group” or “CAG”), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) and a platform for an elite group of acoustic, seismic, vibration and noise control companies that together offer the broadest portfolio of noise control solutions in the market, announced today that it finalized its acquisition of the assets of Madrid, Inc., a California-based leader in wood products for architectural ceilings and wood elements.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) has completed a significant strategic investment into VisionSafe, LLC (“VisionSafe” or the “Company”) designed to accelerate the growth of the business. This investment exhibits Stephens Group’s continued interest in supporting businesses providing highly engineered, mission critical, systems and components, serving aerospace and defense applications. The Company will serve as a new Stephens Group platform.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced it has hired Katrinka Shields as Vice President of Talent Development and Administration.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the promotions of Allie Laborde to Managing Director – Business Development and Ryan Morrow to Managing Director.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“Stephens Group”) is pleased to announce recently completed acquisitions at three portfolio companies, Catalyst Acoustics Group (“Catalyst”), Kele, Inc. (“Kele”), and Pearlman Group (“Pearlman”). Each acquisition enhances the product set, expands the services, or facilitates end market expansion.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) today announced that it has closed its previously announced sale of Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas, to Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX) (“Comfort Systems”).

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Summit Industrial Construction, LLC (“Summit”) headquartered in Houston, Texas, to Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX) (“Comfort Systems”).

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) is pleased to announce the exit of CoreLink, LLC (“CoreLink” or the “Company”) through a sale of the business to Zavation Medical Products (“Zavation”), a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital Management, LLC (“Gemspring”). Zavation and CoreLink will continue to operate under their respective brands and the combined business will be led by Zavation CEO Jeffrey Johnson, while Jay Bartling, CEO of CoreLink, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Stephens Group will retain a minority stake in the combined entity.

Kele, Inc., (“Kele” or the “Company") a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC, today announced recent leadership changes to position the business for continued success. Effective immediately, the Board has appointed Danny Lyons to CEO. Mr. Lyons will assume the responsibilities of outgoing President and CEO, Richard Campbell, who will remain with the Company as Executive Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Campbell will remain actively involved in the Company’s M&A strategy, key stakeholder relationships and corporate strategy.

Princeton TMX, LLC (“Princeton TMX” or the “Company”), the leading TMS for industrial shippers, announced today that Greg Hobby has joined the Company as Vice President of Sales. His extensive experience leading sales teams at high-growth software businesses will support Princeton TMX’s mission to continue to scale its best-in-class TMS solution for industrial shippers.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced it has hired Jack Nadal as a Managing Director.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) announced today that it finalized its acquisition of Quality Valve, Inc. (“Quality Valve” or the “Company”) from Pfingsten. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Private investment firm The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) announced that it has made a minority investment in the formation of Exigent (or the “Company”), which will provide a variety of mission-critical repair, maintenance, and replacement services to large facility operations for education, healthcare, industrial, government, and commercial customers. The investment was made in support of Huron Capital’s (“Huron”) controlling investment in the company. Exigent will focus on highly technical mechanical services in the built environment such as HVAC, plumbing, power, and energy efficiency.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced it has hired four new employees to bolster The Stephens Group’s business development, investment, and operational teams.

Private investment firm The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) announced today that on April 3, 2022, its portfolio investment Westrock Coffee Holdings, LLC announced its plans to go public via a business combination with Riverview Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: RVAC) (“RVAC” or “Riverview”), which values the Company at approximately $1.086 billion. The proposed business combination will allow Westrock Coffee to accelerate the build-out of the United States’ largest roasting to ready-to-drink facility, as well as the Company’s further expansion into Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East in support of its blue-chip customers. Upon the closing of the transaction, the combined company will be named Westrock Coffee Company and is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “WEST.”

Pearlman Group (“Pearlman”), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) and a leading multi-channel developer and specialty distributor of supplies, tools and equipment used in the fabrication, maintenance, cleaning, and restoration of surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets, announced that it has acquired CleanSource, Inc. (“CleanSource”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kele, Inc., a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC, today announced that it acquired A-tech, Inc., a distributor of industrial automation products. The acquisition expands Kele’s breadth of products and services in the industrial automation market. The new entity will become an add-on to Lesman Instrument Company, which was purchased by Kele in December 2020.

Pearlman Group (“Pearlman”), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) and a leading multi-channel developer and specialty distributor of supplies, tools and equipment used in the fabrication, maintenance, cleaning and restoration of surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets, announced that it has acquired Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. dba Vector Tools (“Vector”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced it has hired Whit Kilgroe as General Counsel. Ron Clark, former General Counsel, will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer.

Pearlman Group (“Pearlman”), a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) and a leading multi-channel developer and specialty distributor of supplies, tools and equipment used in the fabrication and maintenance of hard surfaces for residential, commercial, and industrial end-markets, announced that it has acquired Kimelmac, Inc. dba Excel Cleaning and Restoration Supplies (“Excel”). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Private investment firm The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”) announced today that its portfolio company DISCO completed its initial public offering. The shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 21, 2021 under the symbol “LAW.”

The Stephens Group, LLC (“The Stephens Group”), the private investment firm backed by the Witt Stephens and Elizabeth Campbell families, announced today the promotions of Rob Dickinson and Jens Talbert to Vice President.