Announces Agreement to Sell BIC Graphic North America
and Asian Sourcing Division
BIC Graphic North America announces that its parent company, BIC Group, has signed an Asset and Share Purchase agreement to sell its North American promotional products division and Asian Sourcing division (”BGNA”) to an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”), a global U.S. private equity firm.
“We are excited about partnering with H.I.G. for the next stage of our growth,” said Emmanuel Bruno, vice president/general manager BIC Graphic North America. “We believe that they are the right partners to support our strategy and invest in our future.”
H.I.G. Capital is a leading global private equity investment firm with $21 billion of equity capital under management. H.I.G. focuses on investing in companies with leadership positions in attractive markets. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in more than 200 companies worldwide, including successful investments in the promotional products sector. The firm also has extensive experience investing in divisions of public companies, supporting their successful transition to private ownership.
“We are very excited to partner with the BGNA team,” said Camilo E. Horvilleur, managing director at H.I.G. “We believe BGNA is a differentiated leader in a consolidating market due to its compelling customer value proposition. We see tremendous opportunities in the business and are excited to support their growth as they continue to broaden and deepen their customer relationships.”
BIC Graphic’s management team will continue to run the business and its valued customers and suppliers can expect the same high levels of quality and service from the company with increased support for innovation and strategic growth initiatives. The closing is expected by June 30, 2017.
About BIC Graphic North America
BIC Graphic North America is a leader in product safety, quality assurance, social responsibility, supply chain security and environmental stewardship. Nearly all product SKUs are Prop 65 compliant and do not require a Prop 65 label when shipping to California. As one of the largest suppliers in the promotional products industry, BIC Graphic North America offers the most comprehensive product assortment with the widest variety of decoration methods. In addition to its well-known brands, such as BIC®, KOOZIE®, Atchison®, Triumph® and JAFFA®, they also partner with prestigious retail brands such as myCharge®, Cool Gear®, HoMedics®, Cocoon®, Leatherman® and several golf brands. BIC Graphic North America operates five manufacturing facilities across the United States with three facilities in Florida and two facilities in Minnesota. The Company also operates a highly strategic product sourcing operation in Hong Kong and mainland China. Visit bicgraphic.com or bicgraphicblog.com to learn more.
About H.I.G. Capital
H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $21 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá and Rio de Janeiro, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach:
1) H.I.G.’s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses.
2) H.I.G.’s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance.
3) H.I.G.’s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices.
Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 200 companies worldwide. The firm’s current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at http://www.higcapital.com.
* Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.
