Lower middle-market investor Solis Capital Partners has acquired an equity interest in ML Kishigo Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of industrial safety garments. This is the fourth investment made by Solis through its $61 million second fund which closed in April 2013.
ML Kishigo is a manufacturer of high visibility apparel — including vests, pants, jackets, accessories and caps — as well as industrial, clean room and fire resistant apparel. The company’s products are worn by construction workers, airport personnel, city and statewide municipality workers and other operators of large equipment. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, CA (www.mlkishigo.com).
“We look forward to partnering with Greg Hayward, CEO of ML Kishigo, in this next phase of the company’s growth and evolution,” said Daniel Lubeck, Managing Director and Founder of Solis. “Greg has been a key operator of this business for more than 20 years. It is exciting to partner with a leader of Greg’s caliber, and we look forward to supporting him and his team in achieving their vision.”
Solis Capital Partners invests from $2 million to $25 million in companies with revenues between $15 million and $100 million that operate in the business services, niche manufacturing, and software sectors. Target companies are typically headquartered in the Western United States. The firm has offices in Newport Beach and San Diego (www.soliscapital.com).
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 1-30-15