Bertram Capital has acquired Clarus Glassboards, a designer and manufacturer of glass marker-boards and architectural glass systems. Clarus Co-Founders Jeremy Rincon and Robby Whites as well as President Andy Philipp will retain significant ownership in the company.
Clarus is a designer and manufacturer of branded glassboards, mobile glassboards, healthboards, architectural glass systems and furniture glass to the commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment and government end markets. The company’s products are used in a variety of applications, including offices, cubicles, conference rooms, collaborative spaces, classrooms, patient rooms, and reception/lobby entrances. Customers include, among others, Apple, Google, PepsiCo, JPMorgan, Tesla and Harvard University. Clarus Glassboards was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Ft. Worth, TX (www.clarusglassboards.com).
“Clarus represents exactly the type of business Bertram Capital seeks to partner with: a market leading company in a niche sector, benefitting from strong secular tailwinds, and in a position where Bertram Capital can assist the company in reaching its next phase of growth,” said Jeff Drazan, Managing Partner of Bertram Capital.
Bertram Capital invests in middle-market business services, consumer, healthcare, industrial and technology companies. Bertram is currently investing out of its $500 million second fund and typically allocates $25 million to $100 million to each investment. Clarus represents Bertram Capital’s thirteenth platform investment overall. The firm is based in San Mateo, CA (www.bertramcapital.com).
“The Clarus team has quickly established the company as the leader in an attractive and high-growth market,” said Kevin Yamashita, Partner at Bertram Capital. “We believe the company’s rapid growth and market position are representative of Clarus’ superior product and design, differentiated manufacturing and service capabilities, and entrenched relationships within the architect and designer community.”
Quarton Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Clarus in this transaction. Managing Director Rob Parker led the transaction for Quarton. “Rob Parker did an exceptional job managing the sale process,” said Mr. Yamashita.
Quarton Partners is a specialty investment banking firm serving privately held and publicly traded companies as well as private equity firms. The firm is headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham (www.quartonpartners.com) and is an affiliate of Spearhead Capital (www.spearheadllc.com).
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 3-3-15