Hamilton Robinson Exits GrayMatter
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”), a lower middle market private equity firm, announces that it has sold its investment in GrayMatter to Tailwind Capital. GrayMatter is a leading provider of automation and intelligence solutions serving some of the largest industrial companies in the world.
“We are proud of the accomplishments achieved and the impressive transformation of GrayMatter’s business. The company more than tripled in size during our partnership,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner, HRCP. “We accomplished this by completing five strategic acquisitions, expanding into new end markets including life sciences, investing in its US engineering team and fast-growing India operations, and enhancing its portfolio of solutions to provide compelling value to customers.”
“We are excited for the entire management team and the 84 employee shareholders who participated alongside us, as they embark on a new chapter. GrayMatter is poised to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions on the strength of the foundational investments we made during our partnership. We invested in emerging technologies including data analytics and implemented new systems and processes to position GrayMatter for future growth,” continued James Parmelee, Managing Director, HRCP.
Jim Gillespie, CEO, GrayMatter noted, “Hamilton Robinson’s support was key to achieving our strategic objectives over the last six years. We are well positioned to create a new brand of industrial intelligence solutions for our long-standing and loyal customers.”
Finn Dixon & Herling, Crowe LLP and William Blair & Company LLC advised Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and GrayMatter.
ABOUT GRAYMATTER
GrayMatter is a technology and solutions service 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, American Roller Company closed on its third add-on in twelve months with its acquisition of PETCO Inc. (“PETCO”). PETCO, founded in 1961 and located in Lake Forest, IL, gives American Roller expanded capabilities in urethane casting as well as further penetration into the Midwest regions expanding American Roller’s position as an industry leader in industrial rollers.
Adam Fitzner, Managing Director at Hamilton Robinson stated, “PETCO is this management team’s seventh acquisition which highlights how American Roller is the acquirer of choice in their large and fragmented market. The company’s standardized processes, in-house compounding, back office and systems have allowed the team to leverage the company’s infrastructure and dramatically improve earnings.”
“The acquisition of PETCO adds another marquee name to American Roller’s family of premier brands. Through organic R&D and acquisition, the company is now a clear industry leader with the broadest set of technical capabilities—a true one-stop shop for industrial roller servicing, replacement, coatings, and coverings for web processing equipment,” stated Christian Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.
“We are grateful that the Smith family and PETCO employees have placed their trust in American Roller,” said Dan Cahalane, President and CEO of American Roller. “I must also mention what an incredible team and business process we have in the American Roller Way. It is impressive how our team has been able to complete three acquisitions in twelve months and make such rapid progress on their integration.”
ABOUT AMERICAN ROLLER
American Roller Company is an industry leading provider of engineered services and industrial rollers including rubber and urethane coverings, plasma coverings, and core fabrication. Founded in 1938 and based in Union Grove, WI, American Roller has multiple facilities throughout the United States and a facility in Canada and China. For more information visit www.americanroller.com.
Manufacturers have faced many challenges while implementing new technologies and redesigning processes. Our speakers will address those challenges incurred, but also the opportunities and benefits achieved through innovation and utilizing smart factories and processes.
Innovation in Manufacturing
November 7, 2023
4:00pm – 7:00pm
Ogilvie Transportation Center
500 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL
Featured speakers:
Jim Gillespie, Founder & CEO, GrayMatter
Jim Parmelee, Managing Director, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners
Dan Cahalane, CEO, American Roller
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.