Custom Ecology Acquires B.J. Bear
Search

Custom Ecology Acquires B.J. Bear

bjbear nf1Custom Ecology, a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired B.J. Bear Grain Co.  B.J. Bear is the fourth acquisition by Kinderhook its Custom Ecology platform.

B.J. Bear provides outsourced municipal solid waste hauling services to large commercial waste collection businesses and waste generators. The company is based in near Toronto in Kitchener, ON (www.bjbear.ca).

“Craig Stafford and his team at Custom Ecology have demonstrated a strong ability to identify, execute and integrate strategic acquisitions, which have expanded the company’s geographic footprint and enhanced its service offerings,” said Rob Michalik, Managing Director at Kinderhook. “B.J. Bear offers significant strategic value for Custom Ecology with its expansive service territory, exceptional management team and superior customer service.”

Custom Ecology (formerly known as Stafford Logistics) provides outsourced waste services for large commercial waste collection businesses and waste generators. The company’s services provide hauling for three waste streams: municipal solid waste, hazardous waste and industrial waste. The company is headquartered near Atlanta in Mableton, GA (www.customecology.com).

The acquisition of B.J. Bear expands Custom Ecology’s service geography into the Greater Toronto Area, which Custom Ecology currently services with its 55 truck operation based in Southeast Michigan.

Kinderhook Industries makes control investments in companies with transaction values of $10 million to $75 million in which the firm can achieve financial, operational and growth improvements. The firm pursues private equity investments in non-core divisions of public companies, management buyouts of entrepreneurial-owned businesses, troubled situations and existing small capitalization companies lacking institutional support. The firm, founded in 2003, has $770 million of committed capital and is based in New York (www.kinderhook.com).

Credit Suisse serves as the Administrative Agent for Custom Ecology’s existing credit facility. The transaction was financed with a combination of cash and debt funded by the company’s revolving credit facility which is managed by Comerica Bank in its environmental services department.

© 2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 4-14-14

To search in site, type your keyword and hit enter