Guardian Capital Partners has made a significant investment in Engineered Network Systems (ENS). Guardian partnered with the senior management team and current ownership group of ENS on this transaction. The existing managers of ENS will continue operating the company under Guardian ownership.
ENS is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of commercial grade products for mounting, storing, charging and securing technology. The company’s products include payment terminal mounts and stands, flat panel mounts, cabinets, carts and workstations. ENS’ products are marketed globally to the retail, grocery, financial, quick service restaurants, hospitality, medical and OEM markets. The company is led by its CEO Rick Soskin and is headquartered just south of Minneapolis in Burnsville, MN (www.ens-co.com).
“ENS has had solid historical growth because of its category leadership. With Guardian’s support and partnership with ENS, we are excited to further develop and accelerate the company’s growth strategy,” said Scott Evans, a Managing Partner of Guardian.
Guardian Capital Partners makes control investments in lower middle market private companies located primarily in the United States that have annual revenues between $20 million and $100 million. Sectors of interest include consumer products, niche manufacturing and specialty business services. The firm is based in Wayne, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Managing Partners Scott Evans and Peter Haabestad led the transaction for Guardian (www.Guardiancp.com).
“With hundreds of years of collective engineering prowess ENS is synonymous with innovation, customization, durability, quality and service. Our relationship with Guardian Capital Partners will be important to the continued growth of the company,” said CEO Rick Soskin.
Fifth Third Bank (www.53.com) provided debt financing for the transaction. The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath (www.drinkerbiddle.com) advised Guardian and Dinsmore & Shohl (www.dinsmore.com) was the legal advisor to ENS.
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 10-14-15