DETROIT, March 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Superior Capital Partners (“Superior”), a middle market private equity firm focused on the special situations space, announced the sale of Edge Adhesives (“Edge”) to a buyer group led by Gladstone Investment Corporation and Akoya Capital Partners. The company will continue to be led by the current executive management team. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Edge has become a leader in butyl and block co-polymer technologies. Today, Edge provides its diverse customer base with extruded butyl tapes, butyl and block co-polymer pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, and a variety of other sealant and adhesive products.

Scott Hauncher, a Managing Director at Superior, stated: “The Edge story showcases several of the key initiatives Superior expects to achieve as a special situations fund. When we acquired Edge in 2010, it was an underperforming and capital constrained business. Through our industry diligence, we confirmed that the company had great products and on-trend, environmentally friendly adhesive technologies. During our ownership Edge brought in a new CEO, more than doubled revenue in the base business, completed multiple acquisitions at attractive valuations and re-established itself as a market leader in its industry. We are proud to have partnered with the Edge team during this ascent over the last four years and wish them continued success with their new partners.”

Dave Burger, Edge CEO, commented: “We wish to thank Superior for their partnership throughout a dynamic period of growth and change. Their support in helping turn around Edge and in the acquisitions of Rubex, Parr and Plioseal was invaluable in the growth of our business. We appreciate their contributions and look forward to the next phase of Edge’s expansion with our new partners, Gladstone and Akoya.”

Mark Carroll, Superior’s Managing Partner, added: “We are very pleased with the results of our Edge investment and commend management for their exceptional efforts during our tenure together. This marks the first full exit from Superior’s inaugural fund and demonstrates the types of returns that can be achieved with our lower middle market special situation investment strategy.”

Grace Matthews served as the financial advisor and Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn served as the legal advisor to the Company.

About Edge Adhesives:
Edge is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with additional production facilities in Elkhart, Indiana and Grove City, Ohio. The Company is a leading manufacturer of rubber-based adhesive sealing products with extensive capabilities in butyl and block copolymer technologies. Its products come in many forms including butyl tape gaskets, pumpable cartridge sealants, hot melt applied gaskets, and pressure sensitive adhesive tapes. Edge also has capabilities in MS Polymer sealants, as well as both water and solvent-borne sealants and coatings.

Edge supplies products through distribution and directly to end users under the Edge, PARR, PTI, Rubex, and PLIOSEAL brands. In addition, Edge has strong private label relationships with leading brands in markets such as concrete, automotive aftermarket, electrical, and construction, where Edge is a leader in environmentally friendly, “green” technologies. For more information, please visit www.edgeadhesives.com.

About Superior Capital:
Superior Capital, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is a private equity firm focused on making control investments in middle market special situations opportunities. The Fund’s investments include acquisitions of under-performing or capital constrained companies, restructurings, companies requiring new leadership, corporate carve-outs, bankruptcies and bank debt purchases.

As a special situations fund, Superior combines capital, transaction experience and operational improvement expertise with proven management teams who have the vision, capability and commitment to successfully improve and grow their businesses. Superior seeks to acquire or recapitalize niche manufacturers, value-added distributors and specialty service companies. Generally, these companies will have annual revenue of $10 to $150 million, identifiable growth opportunities and the need for capital and resources to implement a growth and recovery plan.

Superior’s Fund I has completed 15 total investments which have formed six platform companies in the following industries: architectural glass, gourmet desserts, electronic user interface modules, specialty chemicals, custom publishing for higher education and electrical components for the automotive aftermarket.

Related Websites:
http://www.superiorfund.com
www.edgeadhesives.com

SOURCE Superior Capital Partners LLC