Baird’s Investment Banking Group served as the exclusive financial advisor to Luminator Technology Group, a manufacturer of lighting systems and a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, on its recent sale to Audax Group.
Luminator Technology Group is a designer and manufacturer of display, lighting and passenger communication systems used in bus, rail and aerospace applications. Customers include municipal transportation systems, OEMs and their related suppliers. Luminator is based in Plano, TX (www.luminatortechnologygroup.com).
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,900 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird has more than $100 billion in client assets. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s investment banking and private equity operations (www.rwbaird.com).
“Avi Zisman (CEO) and the rest of the Luminator management team have done an exceptional job creating value since our initial investment in October 2010,” said Lauren Leichtman, CEO of LLCP. “The company’s success in driving organic growth through innovation and integrating transformative acquisitions resulted in a truly exceptional outcome for all of the company’s stakeholders including LLCP, our partners and the company’s management team.”
Levine Leichtman manages approximately $7 billion of capital through private equity partnerships, distressed debt and leveraged loan funds. The firm is currently making new investments through Levine Leichtman Capital Partners V, LP; Levine Leichtman Capital Partners SBIC Fund, LP; and Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Private Capital Solutions II, LP. The firm is based in Los Angeles with offices in Chicago, Dallas, New York and London (www.llcp.com).
The Audax Group makes control investments of $10 million to $100 million in middle market companies with transaction values of $25 million to $500 million. Sectors of interest include industrial manufacturing; energy; outsourced industrial services; consumer products; healthcare devices and services; non-asset based logistics; technology; aerospace & defense; business services; and direct marketing. Audax has over $5 billion in assets under management in its private equity, mezzanine, and senior debt businesses. The firm was founded in 1999 and has offices in Boston and New York (www.audaxgroup.com).
© 2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 4-9-14
