BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Quarton Partners is pleased to announce that Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company, Inc. (“HKW”) has sold Qualis Automotive L.L.C. (“Qualis”) to CWD, LLC (d.b.a. “Centric Parts”). Qualis is a leading supplier of brake, chassis and hydraulic products to the North American automotive aftermarket. Quarton Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Qualis in this transaction.

Qualis (www.qualisauto.com) is a premier provider of OE-quality replacement components to the automotive aftermarket. In total, Qualis manages over 12,000 SKUs consisting of replacement brake, chassis and hydraulic products. The Company has developed a leading market position serving retailers, national installers, warehouse distributors and OES participants. Qualis is headquartered in Troy, Michigan with a distribution center located in Hebron, Kentucky.

HKW (www.hkwinc.com) is a private equity firm founded in 1903 with offices in Indianapolis, Indiana and New York, New York. Since 1982, HKW has sponsored 44 platform transactions of lower middle-market companies throughout North America as well as 48 add-on acquisitions.

Centric Parts (www.centricparts.com) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of aftermarket brake components and systems for cars, work-duty vehicles and performance vehicles under the Centric, StopTech and PosiQuiet brands, among others. Centric was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in City of Industry, California.

ABOUT QUARTON PARTNERS

Quarton Partners (www.quartonpartners.com), headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan, is a premier middle market investment banking firm, serving privately held and publicly traded companies, as well as private equity firms. Quarton Partners assists its clients with mergers and acquisitions, private capital raising, restructurings, valuations and other financial advisory services. Its principals have successfully completed hundreds of engagements in a variety of industries across the U.S. and throughout the world. Quarton Partners is an affiliate of Spearhead Capital, LLC.

SOURCE Quarton Partners