signage

Identity Group Holdings, a portfolio company of Ancor Capital Partners, Merit Capital and PNC Mezzanine, has acquired Alchemy Dimensional Graphics, a maker of architectural signage.

Alchemy Dimensional Graphics is a wholesale-only supplier to the architectural signage market.  The company operates a low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emission facility and its colorizing is completed with ultraviolet cured inks and coatings.  All of the company’s products are made of recyclable acrylic and aluminum.  Alchemy was founded in 2008 by Bill Stecker and is based near Durham in Hillsborough, NC (www.alchemy-dg.com).

Identity Group manufactures custom identity products that communicate a brand, message, location, or creative theme.  In addition to interior signage, Identity Group’s products include sign systems, dimensional lettering, stock signs, custom and stock stamps, and embossed, engraved, or printed identity products. The company is based east of Nashville in Cookeville, TN (www.identitygroup.com).

Ancor, Merit and PNC Mezzanine acquired Identity Group Holdings in May 2014 with a strategy to aggressively acquire other providers of interior signage.  In April 2015 Identity Group acquired Allen Screen Printing, a printer of point-of-purchase signs and displays based in Scarborough, ME (www.allenscreenanddigital.com).

“Alchemy is the second acquisition which Identity Group has completed this year, and we are excited to see the company consolidate this highly fragmented industry,” said Randall Keene, Ancor Managing Partner.

Ancor Capital Partners invests in companies with enterprise value of $25 million to $150 million that have EBITDAs from $5 million to $15 million. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, distribution, health care, consumer staples, and outsourcing. The firm is based in Fort Worth (www.ancorcapital.com).

Merit Capital Partners invests mezzanine and equity capital of $15 million to $60 million in companies with at least $5 million of EBITDA that are active in the manufacturing, distribution and services industries.  The firm was founded in 1993 and is based in Chicago (www.meritcapital.com).

PNC Mezzanine will invest from $10 million to $40 million per transaction, and can lead financings of up to $60 million. The group invests in companies with revenues greater than $20 million and EBITDA greater than $5 million. PNC Mezzanine Capital was founded in 1989 and is based in Pittsburgh (www.pncmezzanine.com).

© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 7-27-15

Identity Group Holdings, a portfolio company of Ancor Capital Partners, has acquired Allen Screen Printing, a printer of point-of-purchase signs and displays.

Allen Screen Printing is a screen-printer of point-of-purchase signs and displays, flat-bed digital printing on substrates, dimensional signage fabrication, inventory management and order fulfillment.  The customers of Allen are primarily active in the consumer retail, and grocery & convenience store markets. The company is headquartered in Scarborough, ME (www.allenscreenanddigital.com).

“Allen has a well-regarded reputation in the grocery and convenience store market. This will allow us to have a major presence in a specialty niche which was one of our key strategic initiatives for 2015,” said Brad Wolf, President and Chief Executive Officer of Identity Group.

Ancor Capital – in partnership with Merit Capital Partners and PNC Mezzanine Capital – acquired Identity Group in May 2014.  “When we acquired Identity Group we teamed up with Merit and PNC Mezzanine with the intention of growing the company by acquisitions as we recognized the fragmented nature of the industry. This is the first of what we believe will be many acquisitions for the Identity Group,” said Randall Keene, Ancor Managing Partner.

Identity Group is a manufacturer of custom signage.  The company’s abilities in customization allow it to produce high-volume, custom orders for businesses nationally and internationally. In addition to interior signage, Identity Group’s products also include sign systems; dimensional lettering; stock signs; custom and stock stamps; and embossed, engraved, or printed identity products. The company is based east of Nashville in Cookeville, TN (www.identitygroup.com).

“Part of the growth strategy for the Identity Group is to acquire other providers of interior signage in market niches such as health care, hospitality and grocery, and Allen fits perfectly within this strategic strategy,” said Mr. Keene.

Ancor Capital Partners invests in companies with enterprise value of $25 million to $150 million that have EBITDAs from $5 million to $15 million. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, distribution, health care, consumer staples, and outsourcing. The firm is based in Fort Worth (www.ancorcapital.com).

© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 4-9-15