Golden Gate Capital Acquires Cole-Parmer

SAN FRANCISCO & VERNON HILLS, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Golden Gate Capital, a leading private equity investment firm, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Cole-Parmer (“the Company”) from private equity firm GTCR.

Founded in 1955, Cole-Parmer is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of specialty lab equipment with particular expertise in fluid-handling, test and measurement, and electrochemistry. The Company sells its products and services to a diverse range of customers in the healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, environmental, and food industries, among others. The Company offers a diverse range of product lines, including industry-leading brands such as Masterflex®, Ismatec®, Oakton®, and the Cole-Parmer private label, to an international network of laboratory managers and independent dealers.

Rajeev Amara, Managing Director at Golden Gate Capital, commented: “We look forward to partnering with Bernd and the Cole-Parmer management team as the Company continues its expansion into high-growth life science and lab testing markets such as bio-production and contaminant testing. Cole-Parmer is now our fourteenth investment in the industrials sector and the latest example of our focus on backing high growth, best-in-class platforms and management teams.”

Cole-Parmer will continue to be led by its current senior management team, including Chief Executive Officer Bernd Brust, and will remain headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL.

“We are thrilled to have Golden Gate Capital as our new investment partner and are impressed with their growing commitment to the life sciences,” said Mr. Brust. “Our alignment on strategic vision, industry consolidation via M&A, and above-market growth via organic investment initiatives ensure we maintain and accelerate the momentum we have generated since my team joined the Company.”

Morgan Stanley is serving as financial advisor to Golden Gate Capital.

About Golden Gate Capital

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $15 billion of capital under management. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures, and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Phillips-Medisize, ANGUS, Springs Window Fashions, Humanetics Innovative Solutions, EP Minerals, and U.S. Silica. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com.

About Cole-Parmer

Cole-Parmer has been a leading global source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment, and supplies since 1955. Our product lines, including popular brand names such as Masterflex®, Ismatec®, Oakton®, Digi-Sense™, and more, are sold through company-owned customer channel outlets and a strong network of international dealers. We also feature an ISO-17025-accredited metrology lab for instrument calibration and repair. Cole-Parmer responds with excellence to customer needs, and offers application expertise and technical support. For more information, contact Cole-Parmer, 625 East Bunker Court, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. In the US, call 800-323-4340. International customers, call 1-847-549-7600. Visit us at www.coleparmer.com.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170322005555/en/