XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive advisor to Tower Fasteners (Tower) in its sale to All Integrated Solutions (AIS), a subsidiary of MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM).

Tower is a second-generation value-added distributor of OEM fasteners and other components to a diverse set of industrial, medical equipment, aerospace, military, electronics, and security/fire & safety sectors. Founded in 1967, the company operates eight distribution centers along the East Coast and in the Southwestern regions of the United States, Mexico, and Europe. In 2018, Tower opened its first European distribution center in Dublin, Ireland. Tower will continue to operate under its current name after becoming an MSC company.  Mark Shannon, President of Tower, will continue to lead the business, which has approximately 100 associates.

MSC’s acquisition of Tower, made through its AIS subsidiary, expands the company’s presence in the OEM fastener market, which it entered in 2018 with the acquisition of AIS, a leading value-added distributor of industrial fasteners and components, MRO supplies and assembly tools based in Wisconsin. Similarly, MSC will extend Tower’s production fastener solutions to its manufacturing customers. Founded in 1941, MSC is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. As a $3.2 billion company with more than 6,500 associates and 3,000-plus suppliers, MSC helps its customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions.

“We could not have been more pleased with the job XLCS Partners did advising us during the sale of our business,” said Bryan Shannon, Tower CEO. “From the introductory call with Anthony Contaldo to the final closing call, every person who worked with us was professional, thorough, and pleasant. This was our first experience in the M&A world and Anthony and his team guided us every step of the way. XLCS was the perfect advisory firm for the Shannon family.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Tower and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Managing Partner and Jay Cremer, Vice President. The transaction was completed August 1, 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 that it served as exclusive advisor to Sentry Aerospace Corporation in its merger with Aerospares 2000 Limited, an Acorn Growth Company.

Based in Morganville, New Jersey, Sentry is a leading global aftermarket supplier of commercial aircraft spare parts covering a full range of AOG components, including avionics, escape slides, life rafts, and ram air turbines for all major commercial aviation platforms. Sentry was founded in 1975 by Tony DiSimone, Sr. who will serve as Executive Chairman of the combined company.

Headquartered in Greater London, England, Aerospares specializes in identifying, procuring, and stocking the most demanded and hard-to-find rotables for the latest generation aircraft platforms, with a focus on minimum equipment list parts that are ready to ship 24/7.

The combination of Aerospares and Sentry creates a leading independent stocking distributor of high value, hard-to-find commercial aircraft rotable components with global reach and some of the broadest and deepest customer and vendor relationships in the industry. Further, the company has tremendous financial flexibility and access to capital to support its customers’ aircraft material needs as the global aviation market continues its strong recovery.

Acorn Growth Companies, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a middle market private equity firm investing exclusively in Aerospace, Defense, Intelligence, and Space opportunities. Acorn invests solely in businesses that enhance global mobility and strengthen national security. This transaction represents Acorn’s first investment in its recently raised fifth investment fund.

“We were extremely impressed with the guidance provided to us by Joe Contaldo and the XLCS team throughout each phase of the process,” said Chris DiSimone, Sentry CFO. “His desire to understand our personal goals, along with knowledge of our business and the key players in the aerospace industry, were vital to the success of this deal. Joe was there every step of the way and we truly believe found the perfect fit in Aerospares 2000.”

“Sentry and Aerospares together are a powerful combination and we are very excited to see what the future holds,” said Joe Contaldo, Partner and Head of XLCS’ Aerospace & Defense Practice Group. “We are also very grateful to the DiSimone family for letting us play a small role in the great history of Sentry Aerospace.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to Sentry and the transaction was led by Joe Contaldo. The transaction was completed on June 30, 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 CyberGuard Compliance, LLP (CGC) on its sale of assets to Atlantic Street Capital (ASC).

Founded in 2009, CGC is a one-stop provider of non-discretionary IT compliance and cybersecurity solutions including SOC, HITRUST™, and PCI audits; vulnerability assessments; penetration testing; and other compliance/cybersecurity services for companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Unlike many competitors, CGC is exclusively focused on IT-compliance and cybersecurity audits, assessments, and related services.

ASC is a private equity firm that invests in lower middle market companies poised for the next level of growth. The firm targets entrepreneurial management partners and fundamentally sound companies between $4 million and $25 million of EBITDA that will benefit from capital investment and ASC’s value-added strategic and operational support. As a result, ASC works closely with management to unlock their business’ underlying value and help them succeed.

“The XLCS team, led by Anthony Contaldo, was extremely responsive to our needs and very professional with all key stakeholders involved in the transaction,” commented Jim Jimenez, CGC Managing Partner.

“Given the attractiveness of CGC, we knew we had to engage the right investment banking partner to navigate the incredible interest shown from potential investors,” said Tim Roncevich, CGC Managing Partner. “XLCS proved to be a fantastic partner to CGC, allowing us to find the right private equity firm to accelerate growth into the future.”

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to CGC and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner. The transaction was completed June 13, 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 R&D Fasteners, R2 Precision Machining, LLC, and The LAB Material Testing, Inc. in its sale to Alloy & Stainless Fasteners, Inc.

R&D Fasteners, R2 Precision Machining, and The LAB Materials Testing are Southern California based vertically integrated affiliated companies providing a one-stop solution for OEM, military, and standard specification fasteners and other machined component products. The Companies provides all primary and secondary manufacturing and testing, including hot forging, heat treating, CNC machining, and testing. The primary products manufactured include hex bolts, heavy hex bolts, cap screws, sockets, nuts, cut thread and roll thread fasteners.

Alloy & Stainless Fasteners, Inc. is a manufacturing and distribution company servicing the oil, gas, petrochemical, chemical and energy industries with bolts, studs, nuts and threaded rod for use in extreme environments. Fasteners are manufactured to ASTM, ASME, API, and customer standard specifications. The Company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas with additional locations in Oregon and Pennsylvania.

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to R&D Fasteners, R2 Precision Machining, and The LAB Materials and the transaction was led by Anthony Contaldo, Partner and Eric Schoendorf, Senior Associate. The transaction was completed July 2, 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 that it served as exclusive M&A advisor to AVI Aviation (AVI) on 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 RPS Products, Inc. (RPS) on its sale to Freudenberg Group (Freudenberg).

Founded in 1969, RPS is a market leading designer and manufacturer of air filters utilized in furnaces and humidifiers for the retail, OEM, and commercial building industries. RPS’s BestAir® brand is one of the most recognizable and trusted brands in the furnace and humidifier filtration market. The company has four strategically located manufacturing facilities, including its headquarters in Hampshire, Illinois. As part of the acquisition, RPS will now operate under the Freudenberg Filtration Technologies name and maintain its well-established BestAir® brand.

Freudenberg is a global technology group that develops leading-edge technologies, products and services for about 40 markets and for thousands of applications. Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, a business segment of Freudenberg, develops and produces high-performance, energy-efficient filtration solutions which improve the efficiency of industrial processes, conserve resources, protect people and the environment and thus enhance quality of life. Founded in 1849, Freudenberg employees almost 50,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in Weinheim, Germany.

XLCS acted as the exclusive M&A advisor to RPS and the transaction was led by Bob Contaldo, Managing Partner. The transaction was completed December 1, 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.