Sign-Zone, a portfolio company of Pfingsten Partners, has acquired Xarisma, a manufacturer of custom-printed, large format graphic signage and display accessories.
Xarisma specializes in high-mix custom fabric production, with products including flags, banners, tents, silicone edge graphics, retractable displays and table covers. The company’s capabilities allow for printing on a wide range of fabrics, vinyls and rigid PVC substrates. Xarisma also has thousands of in-stock and ready-to-ship media displays.
Xarisma has more than 90 employees and operates out of an 85,000 sq. ft. facility and headquarters in Huntsville, AL (www.xarisma.com).
Sign-Zone is a maker of wide-format, portable promotional signage and displays that are sold under the Showdown Displays and Victory Corps brand names. Products include table covers, retractable banners, event tents, sail signs, and floor displays. The company sells its products to the education, healthcare, financial services and technology markets through a network of over 20,000 promotional products distributors, sign shops and printers. The company, led by CEO John Bruellman, has more than 650 employees worldwide and is based in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, MN (www.signzoneinc.com).
“We are tremendously excited to add Xarisma to the Sign-Zone platform,” said Mr. Bruellman. “This acquisition will strengthen our Showdown Displays division, adding new customers and an additional production location. The businesses are highly complementary, offering exceptional customer service to accompany industry-leading products and production capabilities.”
The buy of Xarisma is Sign-Zone’s third add-on acquisition under Pfingsten ownership and follows the October 2018 buy of Přestanov, Czech Republic-based Jansen Display Group, a designer and manufacturer of promotional display hardware and signage systems; and the earlier acquisition of Elizabeth, CO-based Creative Impact Graphics. Pfingsten acquired Sign-Zone in May 2017 through its $382 million fifth fund which closed in March 2016. HarbourVest co-invested with Pfingsten on the acquisition of Sign-Zone.
Pfingsten invests in middle-market manufacturing, distribution and business services companies that have transaction values ranging from $15 million to $100 million, revenues from $20 million to $150 million, and EBITDA between $3 million and $12 million. Since completing its first investment in 1991, Pfingsten has acquired 134 such companies through five funds with total commitments of $1.3 billion. The firm is based in Chicago with representative offices in India and China (www.pfingsten.com).
© 2019 Private Equity Professional | January 18, 2019
