XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive advisor to AVI Aviation (AVI) in its investment by First Class Air Holdings (FCAH), a portfolio company of O2 Investment Partners.

AVI was formed by Angie and German Alvarez as a holding company for their growing diversified group of companies, comprised of Aviation Inflatables, Inc. and Survival Products, Inc. AVI is an FAA and EASA Part 21 manufacturer and Part 145 licensed repair station providing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft emergency components including evacuation slides, rafts, life vests, reservoir cylinders, and related components and accessories. AVI is the largest independent slide MRO facility in the Americas and is headquartered in its new 134,000 square feet facility in Sunrise, Florida.

FCAH is a leader in the aerospace aftermarket and a premier supplier of components to the global cargo aviation industry. XLCS Partners also represented FCAH in their sale to O2 Investment Partners in 2020.

“Aviation Inflatables and Survival Products are known across the aviation industry as premier providers of emergency equipment products and services,” said Isac Roths, FCAH CEO. “We are excited to have German and his team join the FCAH group and are committed to providing best-in-class customer service.”

“Joe Contaldo and the XLCS team were awesome during the transaction. I felt he was truly looking out for the best interests of me and my family,” shared German Alvarez. “He provided valuable insight and guidance throughout the process and is now considered a trusted friend.”

“We are excited to see the great things that will come from the combination of FCAH and AVI,” said Joe Contaldo, Partner and Head of XLCS’s Aerospace & Defense Practice Group. “This deal further strengthens XLCS’ position as the leading advisor to middle market A&D businesses.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to AVI and the transaction was led by Joe Contaldo. The transaction was completed on January 6, 2022.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to American Heating Company, Inc. (AHC) in its sale to Enerquip, LLC.

Founded in 1986, AHC is a leading designer and manufacturer of branded high-efficiency industrial heating systems and related products used in asphalt storage, heavy oil storage, roofing plants, chemical plants, and other similar applications. Well-known in the biodiesel, chemical, asphalt, and roofing industries, AHC’s heaters and heating products are built according to strict performance and efficiency standards, including ASME certifications. The company’s corporate offices are located in Clifton, New Jersey, with manufacturing facilities in Beggs, Oklahoma.

Enerquip is a Medford, Wisconsin, based world-class designer and fabricator of stainless-steel heat exchangers and sanitary vessels. The company’s reputation for high quality and aggressive lead times have earned it a preferred supplier status with leading companies in the pharmaceutical, sanitary, food and beverage, chemical, brewing and beverage, refining, and industrial markets. Enerquip’s acquisition of AHC offers synergies and efficiencies otherwise unseen, including the entrance of Enerquip into the industrial carbon steel market.

“AHC’s proprietary product portfolio is an excellent complement to Enerquip’s best-in-class heat transfer solutions, and it was clear from the beginning that this was a unique strategic and cultural match,” said Anthony Contaldo, Partner of XLCS Partners. “We look forward to tracking the company’s success.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to AHC and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed May 27, 2021.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to Chamber Media in its recapitalization by  Kirtland Capital Partners.

Chamber Media is a Utah-based full service creative agency focused on developing compelling video ads for social media platforms. The company has a proven track record of helping emerging e-commerce customers scale through effective video campaigns that drive sales. Chamber’s model is differentiated by its in-house video production capabilities and proprietary database that contains information on successful video advertising campaigns, which together drive efficient ad creation and outsized Return on Ad Spend. The company serves a diverse customer base of well-known brands, including Potbelly, Skytech Gaming, Tuft & Needle, Slingshot, and Big Blanket Co.

Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland, Ohio-based private equity fund that has been investing in lower middle market companies for over 40 years. Kirtland invests in founder and family-owned companies with revenue between $10 – $50 million that are looking for outside resources to help achieve growth. Kirtland partnered with the company’s founders, Travis Chambers and Stefan van de Graaff, in the recapitalization of Chamber Media.

“Going through the process of selling a business for the first time can be daunting and overwhelming,” explained Stefan van de Graaff, Chamber Media Partner. “Anthony and Jay had the most professional, buttoned-up and battle-tested process that we’d ever heard, which truly sets them apart. We were consistently blown away by the leadership, consulting, expertise, and loyalty we got from XLCS. On top of all of this, they worked tirelessly, responded to our calls when we got nervous, gave us the good news and the bad news in full candor, worked with us to determine the best courses of action, and then executed flawlessly. There was never any doubt that they were representing us and our best interests.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Chamber Media and the transaction was led by Jay Cremer, Vice President, and Anthony Contaldo, Partner. The transaction was completed September 9, 2021.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as advisor to Advanced Climate Solutions (ACS) in its partnership with Orion Group (Orion).

ACS is a full solutions provider of commercial heating, cooling, ventilation, and critical refrigeration repair and maintenance services. The company, headquartered in University Park, Illinois, offers on-demand premier HVACR services to nearly half of the United States, particularly in the Midwest and South. ACS specializes in servicing HVAC systems most commonly found in multi-location small box retail and convenience stores, usually systems under 50 tons.

Orion is a commercial facility services platform seeking to partner with leading family-owned service providers with a focus on HVACR and plumbing. Orion plans to build a national platform by investing in leading local businesses with great cultures, attracting the best technical and managerial talent, and creating unmatched growth opportunities for them.

“ACS’ footprint and capabilities aligned nicely with Orion’s, and both organizations shared a people-first culture that made for a great partnership,” said Anthony Contaldo, Partner of XLCS Partners. “We are excited to track their mutual growth and success.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to ACS and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo. The transaction marks the twelfth Field Services transaction for the firm.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to All-Lift Systems, Inc. (All-Lift) in its sale to Dunes Point Capital, LP (DPC).

Founded in 1981 and based in Neenah, Wisconsin, All-Lift is a provider of aftermarket services and parts for overhead cranes and other lifting equipment, including OSHA mandated inspections, safety-critical parts and repairs, and crane equipment. All-Lift has three facilities in Wisconsin and Michigan and employs approximately 100 people.

DPC is a New York based family office and private investment firm, pursuing control investments in companies operating in the general industrial and business services sectors. DPC targets companies with enterprise values of up to $1 billion. Dunes Point Capital Fund II, LP provided the controlling equity for the transaction. The debt for the transaction, was provided by M&T Bank.

“XLCS was an excellent firm to work with from start to finish of my sale transaction,” said Matthew Sagorac, CEO of All-Lift. “The professionalism and on-call availability of all team members made the transaction seamless.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to All-Lift and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner and Eric Schoendorf, Senior Associate. The transaction was completed September 8, 2021.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to Barnes International, Inc. (Barnes) in its sale to Komline-Sanderson Corporation (Komline).

Founded in 1907 and based in Rockford, Illinois, Barnes manufactures an extensive line of quality coolant filtration solutions, including pressure and vacuum filtration systems, for a variety of industrial applications. The company was named a GM “Supplier of the Year” recipient in 2017 and received a Honda Motor Company Sustainability Award in 2020 for its Henry Filters division. In addition to major U.S. automotive companies, Barnes serves customers in the aerospace, agriculture and general machine tool industries.

Established in 1946 and headquartered in Peapack, New Jersey, Komline provides and maintains tailored filtration and pollution control solutions for a diverse group of customers around the world, including municipal wastewater treatment facilities, waste-to-energy utilities, and industrial processing plants in end markets such as chemical manufacturing, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. Now, with the acquisition of Barnes, Komline will expand its filtration offerings to include those used by automotive, aerospace, and industrial products manufacturers. With these additional capabilities, Komline increases its ability to tackle its customers’ most difficult challenges in fluid and gas filtration.

“It was a great decision to choose XLCS. The whole team’s professionalism really made a difference,” said David Gollob, CEO of Barnes. “Having Bob Contaldo’s steady hand with his long years of experience helped guide us through what I have to believe was one of the more unique processes during a worldwide pandemic. I would highly recommend the XLCS team.”

The acquisition is expected to be the first of several that will significantly expand Komline’s product and service offerings, manufacturing capacity and geographic reach.

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Barnes and the transaction was led by Bob Contaldo, Managing Partner and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed March 17, 2021.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to Cypress MultiGraphics, LLC in its sale to Resource Label Group, LLC.

Cypress MultiGraphics was originally founded in 1970 specializing in production of durable labels. Brad Weber, President & CEO, acquired the company in 2006. The company grew to two locations in Tinley Park, Illinois, and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and has been a constant leader in the industrial label market working with many premier brands. As one of the leading durable label manufacturers in North America, Cypress MultiGraphics serves the Lawn & Garden, HVAC, Power Tools, Medical Equipment, and Appliances industries. The company offers state of the art screen and digital printing of durable nameplates and labels, including doming, as well as graphic overlays and faceplates, short-run hot stamp capabilities and flexographic and digital printing. Both facilities are ISO 9001-2015 registered, provide products that are UL and CSA approved, and are a 3M Select Converter.

“Bob Contaldo initially represented the seller when we bought the business 15 years ago,” said Weber. “We have been associated with XLCS with both buying and selling companies ever since.  Their in-depth label industry experience, exceptional marketing materials, and highly refined process resulted in a very competitive buying climate. XLCS found a first-class buyer and put my business and employees in good hands. We leaned on the entire XLCS staff throughout the transaction and each team member performed their role at a highly professional, knowledgeable level. They are great people to work with.”

Resource Label Group is a leading pressure sensitive label, shrink sleeve, and RFID/NFC manufacturer with diverse product offerings for the Food, Beverage, Chemical, Household Products, Personal Care, Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Technology industries. The Franklin, Tennessee, company provides national leadership and scale to deliver capabilities, technologies, systems, and creative solutions that customers require. Cypress MultiGraphics represents the 19th acquisition for Resource Label Group and will increase their manufacturing footprint to 20 locations across North America.

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Cypress MultiGraphics and the transaction was led by Bob Contaldo, Managing Partner. The transaction was completed May 3, 2021.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as advisor to Alpine Investors (Alpine) in its acquisition of Innovative Systems (Innovative).

Founded in 1998 in Mitchell, South Dakota, by CEO Roger Musick, Innovative serves Telecom, Cable, Municipality, Power, and Utility providers nationwide. The Company’s mission-critical enterprise software solutions enable independent service providers to seamlessly manage their businesses, deliver modern network services, and enhance existing offerings. Innovative’s core products include eLation™, an industry leading Billing & Operations Support System (BSS/OSS), IPTV, a live streaming and cable television solution suite, and APMAX™, a hardware and software Voice over IP (VoIP) platform.

Alpine is a people-driven private equity firm and Certified B Corporation® committed to building enduring companies by working with, learning from, and developing exceptional people. Based in San Francisco, California, Alpine specializes in growing middle-market companies in the software and services industries. Alpine’s investment in Innovative represents its fifth telecommunications technology investment in the past four years. Alpine’s other telecommunications businesses include VHT, Comlinkdata, Tutela, and ShareTracker. Since 2017, Alpine has invested in over 40 software businesses. The Innovative investment comes from the firm’s $1B Fund VII, which closed in 2019.

As the U.S. expands broadband infrastructure and rural areas invest in Fiber To The Home (FTTH), Innovative’s offerings add increasing value for their customers and the communities they serve. The family-owned company sought a values-aligned equity partner with enterprise software and industry expertise to shepherd Innovative through its next phase of growth.

“Anthony and the XLCS team were an absolute pleasure to work with throughout the process,” shared Patrick Eble of Alpine. “They were indispensable in sourcing and executing this transaction and we couldn’t have been happier with the outcome.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Alpine and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner. The transaction was completed December 7, 2020.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.

XLCS Partners., Inc, a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive advisor to Mosaic in its acquisition of i3Logic.

Mosaic is a national training and workforce consulting firm headquartered in Renton, Washington that focuses on the utility and oil and gas industries. Founded in 1996, Mosaic leads the industry in field operations, grid modernization, and enterprise application training for clients including Pacific Gas & Electric Company, National Grid, Duke Energy, DTE Energy, Dominion Energy, Consumers Energy, and Enbridge.

“The increased pace of digital transformation in the energy industry, the ramp-up of e-learning necessitated by COVID-19, and changing employee expectations have accelerated the need to create more blended, innovative training solutions that meet current business needs,” shared Megan Deans, Mosaic CEO. “i3Logic’s digital learning capabilities will elevate Mosaic’s industry-leading approach to competency training by combining industry expertise, a people-centric perspective, and modern learning methods to achieve measurable business impacts and value for our customers.”

Founded in 2004, i3Logic has developed a strong reputation as strategically technological and creative innovators in the learning industry. Based in Troy, Michigan, i3Logic primarily works in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, professional services, retail, and higher education industries. The company creates value for organizations by challenging the complacencies of the learning industry and providing an innovative and effective blend of services that establish clear links between learning, performance improvement, and business objectives.

“Within four months of meeting the XLCS team, we went from not knowing exactly what type of company we were looking to acquire to finding and completing the acquisition of a perfect fit. Bob and Jay were both expert professionals who led us through the entire process from start to finish and not only made it easy and seamless but extremely enjoyable,” said Rachel Collier, Mosaic Chief Marketing and Acquisitions Officer. “We can’t wait to work with XLCS again on a future acquisition!”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Mosaic and the transaction was led by Bob Contaldo, Chairman and Managing Partner and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed on December 31, 2020.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is an investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to select clients globally. More information is available at www.xlcspartners.com.