Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners Welcomes Newest Associate

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its investment team with the addition of Matthew Lison. Joining the team as an Associate, Matt will help to foster new investment opportunities and facilitate portfolio development.

Matt brings a specialization in packaging with prior investment banking experience at Raymond James & Associates. He has also held positions at Meketa Investment Group where he conducted investment due diligence and assisted in their manager selection process, and Hedgeye Risk Management where he was an equity research analyst. Matt attended Bowdoin College, earning his B.A. in Economics and was the Co-Founder of the Golf Club.

“We are delighted to welcome Matt to the HRCP team. His experience is a valuable resource that allows him to make an immediate impact. Matt will play a vital role in accelerating our investment efforts and expanding our network,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.

Chris Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson added, “Expanding our junior resources with Matt will add bandwidth across the firm to focus on new investment opportunities and value creation at our portfolio companies. Matt’s experience and background are the perfect fit for HRCP and we could not be more thrilled to have him on our team.”

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”), a lower middle-market private equity firm, announces that it has sold its investment in Tanknology to D&H United (“D&H”), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners. Tanknology is the global leader in environmental compliance testing, inspection and fuel quality solutions. With over 100,000 site visits per year, Tanknology’s proprietary and patented testing and inspection technology solutions have long been relied on by infrastructure operators, insurance providers and regulators to set industry standards to protect and prevent groundwater contamination. The combination adds to D&H’s offerings around critical maintenance, testing and inspection services for fueling stations and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

“We are proud of the accomplishments achieved during our partnership with the Tanknology team,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner of HRCP. “We achieved market leading organic growth driven by new customer wins and expansion of services, as well as acquisitive growth. Our three acquisitions added customer and technician density as well as strengthening our service offerings, particularly in cathodic protection.”

James Parmelee, Managing Director of HRCP, continued, “We made significant foundational investments to position Tanknology as the environmental compliance platform of choice. It was a pleasure to work with Allen Porter, Pete DeWeese and the entire management team over the past several years, as well as a number of managers and key employees who participated alongside us as shareholders.”

“I am extremely proud of Tanknology’s employees, our customer-centric culture and 35-year history as the preeminent compliance services provider and innovator of unique testing solutions,” noted Allen Porter, Tanknology, CEO. “Hamilton Robinson supported us in every way, helping to solidify our strategic initiatives and supporting our growth at every step.”

Finn Dixon & Herling and Crowe LLP advised Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and Tanknology.

ABOUT TANKNOLOGY

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Tanknology is the world’s largest provider of environmental compliance testing and inspection services at more than 85,000 petroleum fueling and storage facilities per year. Tanknology offers more than 30 compliance-related service offerings and holds 22 patents for leak detection and tank monitoring technology. For more information visit www.tanknology.com.

Hamilton Robinson’s portfolio company GrayMatter, has completed its fifth acquisition with the merger of Automation & Control Concepts (“ACC”). ACC, located in St. Louis, MO, was founded in 1996 and adds over 50 engineers with deep industry experience in systems integration, industrial controls, MES data collection and HMI/SCADA design to the GrayMatter team.

“ACC is a great addition to the GrayMatter family of brands, given the overlap in the food and beverage end market, as well as being a great cultural fit,” said Brandon Richter, Partner of Hamilton Robinson. “There are a number of new service offerings and technical capabilities this combination will offer both customers and employees.”

James Parmelee, Managing Director of Hamilton Robinson continued, “Engineering and solutions expertise is a competitive differentiator for GrayMatter and ACC brings a world class team that has a proven ability to deliver high ROI technical solutions to leading manufacturers. We are excited about the combination and the opportunity to support growth across the entire business.”

ABOUT GRAYMATTER

GrayMatter is a technology and solutions integration company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, committed to transforming operations and empowering people in critical infrastructure environments. GrayMatter focuses on co-innovation and curating the best process and technology to drive industrial companies and utilities through digital transformations.

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners’ portfolio company, Zone 4, was honored as one of the top middle-market companies for 2023 during the 28th Annual ACG Awards in Orange County, CA. Zone 4 won the Spotlight Award for a business whose success was accelerated by partnering with private equity.

Steve Martinez, CEO of Zone 4, said the following when receiving the award, “We started with a vision, sprinkled in some hard work, doused it with passion, and most importantly surrounded ourselves with a team and partners that are way stronger than we previously were.”

Adam Fitzner, Managing Director, Hamilton Robinson stated, “When the synergies and culture between middle-market companies and private equity really mesh, the results for the company, the surrounding community and the economy are outstanding. We are thrilled to see what our partnership with Zone 4 has helped the team achieve in its first 24 months.”

“Zone 4 installs some of the most sophisticated automation and robotics technology found in retail, e-commerce, logistics and grocery warehouses being built today.  Deep domain expertise and a team with over 100 years of combined industry experience underpins a unique company culture centered around safety, people, development, education, and family first,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner, Hamilton Robinson.

ABOUT ZONE 4

Zone 4 is a leader in the installation of automated storage and retrieval systems, advanced material handling and rack storage systems servicing the retail, e-commerce, logistics, and grocery sectors nationwide. The company delivers unparalleled expertise implementing automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS), multi-shuttle, and mini-load systems in the rapidly expanding e-commerce and food delivery markets. For more information visit www.zone4mhs.com.

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners has recapitalized Sani-Matic in partnership with management. Founded in 1943 and headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Sani-Matic is a leading provider of hygienic automated cleaning solutions to customers in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care markets. The company designs and manufactures the broadest range of automated cleaning and sanitizing systems, components and services in the industry.

“We are excited to join our new capital partner, Hamilton Robinson, as we continue to realize our growth potential,” stated Aaron Zell, CEO of Sani-Matic. “I could not be prouder of our employees and the ‘bring your best’ culture we have fostered.”

“Sani-Matic’s reputation as an industry leader and innovator positions us for continued growth,” added Bryan Downer, Vice President of Sales for Sani-Matic. “I look forward to the resources Hamilton Robinson will provide in helping us continuing to support our customers, create new solutions to solve customer problems, and to expand our reach to new markets.”

Brandon Richter, Partner at Hamilton Robinson, added that, “Sani-Matic maps across several of the core Hamilton Robinson investment themes. The company’s automation solutions remove manual labor, enable repeatable outcomes and deliver a compelling return on investment for customers. Furthermore, Sani-Matic’s addressable market continues to grow, driven by increasingly stringent compliance requirements and regulatory tailwinds.”

“We are pleased to partner with such a capable and talented management team,” continued Christian Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson. “A great business coupled with great leadership and our experience creates a solid foundation for future growth.”

Finn Dixon & Herling LLP and Crowe LLP provided legal and accounting advisory services to Hamilton Robinson, respectively. Stout Advisory was Sani-Matic’s exclusive representative in the transaction, with legal service provided by Godfrey & Kahn S.C.

ABOUT SANI-MATIC
Founded in 1943 and headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, Sani-Matic is a leading provider of hygienic automated cleaning solutions to customers in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care markets. The company designs and manufactures the broadest range of automated cleaning and sanitizing systems, components and services in the industry.

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners is pleased to announce that it has expanded its investment team with the addition of Bryan Burroughs. Joining the team as a Senior Associate, Bryan will support new investment opportunities and portfolio development. Prior to joining HRCP, Bryan was an Associate at Goldman Sachs and a financial analyst at Bell Textron Inc. Bryan earned a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Maryland and an M.B.A. from Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

“Bryan adds significant depth to the HRCP team and increases our bandwidth as value-added resources to our management partners. He exhibits the same traits that we drive through our businesses – integrity, transparency and accountability. We are excited to have Bryan on the team,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.

Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners’ portfolio company Tanknology, the world’s largest provider of environmental compliance testing and inspection services has acquired Norton Corrosion Limited (NCL). NCL is a Washington-based provider of corrosion inspection services, engineering services and manufacturer of high-quality corrosion control products.

“Tanknology’s objective has always been to meet the compliance needs of our customers and international partners. The addition of Norton’s expertise, services, and processes, further expands this mission and positions Tanknology toward many years of growth and industry leadership,” said Allen Porter, Tanknology President and CEO. “Norton Corrosion shares in our commitment to a customer-centric culture and delivery of the highest quality of service.”

“The acquisition of Norton Corrosion significantly increases the scope of Tanknology’s corrosion prevention services and solutions enabling the company to substantially expand its customer base and served end markets,” stated Jim Parmelee, Managing Director at Hamilton Robinson. “Tanknology plans to leverage its existing team of corrosion prevention technicians to support Norton’s services and solutions on a nationwide basis,” added Brandon Richter, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.

ABOUT TANKNOLOGY
Tanknology Inc., the world’s largest provider of environmental compliance testing, inspection services, corrosion prevention and fuel quality solutions, services more than 85,000 petroleum fueling and storage facilities per year. The company provides more than 30 compliance-related service offerings and holds 22 patents for leak detection and tank monitoring technology. Internationally, Tanknology licensees span more than 20 countries, providing services to the largest petroleum operators in the world. For more information visit www.tanknology.com.