Clearview Capital has closed on the sale of its controlling interest in Battenfeld Technologies to Smith & Wesson for $130.5 million. Clearview first invested in Battenfeld in June 2012.
Battenfeld is a designer, importer and marketer of hunting and shooting accessories sold under the Caldwell, Wheeler, Tipton, Frankford Arsenal, Bog-Pod, Lockdown, GoldenRod and Non-Typical Wildlife Solutions brands. The company is based in Columbia, MO (www.battenfeldtechnologies.com).
“During the nearly three years of our ownership, Battenfeld’s terrific management team was able to almost double the size of the business with a combination of organic and acquisition growth,” said Calvin Neider, co-Managing Partner of Clearview Capital. “We wish management and Smith & Wesson well as they continue to grow in the accessories segment.”
Clearview Capital was founded in 1999 by Jim Andersen and Cal Neider and is headquartered in Old Greenwich, CT with additional offices in Chicago and Los Angeles (www.ClearviewCap.com).
“Working with the team at Clearview has been a great experience; they gave us the support we needed while allowing us to operate the company in alignment with our management team’s vision,” said Battenfeld’s CEO Jim Gianladis. “Additionally, they were instrumental in helping us refine and execute our acquisition strategy which produced multiple successful add-on transactions.”
Clearview’s investment in Battenfeld was made through Clearview Capital Fund II, LP a 2006 vintage fund which is fully invested, and is the fifth complete exit the fund has achieved. Robert W. Baird served as financial advisor to Clearview and Loeb & Loeb served as legal advisor to Battenfeld.
“Battenfeld is a great company,” said James Andersen, co-Managing Partner of Clearview. “When we acquired the company we were able to create an opportunity for management for the first time to own part of the enterprise they had helped to build while providing capital to augment the company’s organic growth with bolt-on acquisitions.”
Clearview’s other holdings include Northwest Cosmetic Laboratories, a formulator and manufacturer of cosmetic and skin care products; Novik, a manufacturer of polymer exterior siding and roofing products; St. Croix Hospice, a provider of palliative care for hospice patients; QC Supply, a wholesale distributor to the swine and poultry markets; GCR, a professional services firm delivering consulting and technology services to governmental and commercial clients; Child Health Holdings, dba Pediatric Health Choice, a provider of prescribed pediatric extended care centers for medically complex children; Pyramid Healthcare, a provider of substance abuse and mental health treatment programs for adults and adolescents; The Results Companies, a provider of customer relationship management solutions; QualSpec Group, a provider of mechanical integrity inspection and non-destructive examination services to the refining, petrochemical, power generation and other industries; and Senior Care/Active Day, the country’s largest operator of adult day care centers.
2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 12-15-14