HKW Acquires Watershield Industries

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HKW, a middle-market private equity firm focused on growth companies, has acquired Watershield Industries.

Watershield Industries is a manufacturer and distributor of fire and rescue equipment specializing in niche firefighting apparatus and mission-critical firefighting components including nozzles, valves, and related equipment. The Company serves municipal, wildland and industrial end markets across North America through its multi-brand portfolio, which includes Weis Fire & Safety, S&H Products and C&S Supply.

“Over the past several years we have built Watershield Industries into a platform serving critical fire and rescue applications across North America,” said David Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of Watershield Industries. “We are excited to partner with HKW as we enter this next phase of growth and continue investing in our people, our products and our ability to support our customers that rely on our equipment.”

“Watershield Industries is an attractive investment opportunity serving resilient, mission-critical end markets,” said Laurence Lederer, Partner at HKW. “The Company has built strong positions in niche firefighting vehicles and specialized equipment, and we believe the platform is well positioned for continued growth.”

“We are excited to partner with both David Hansen and Brian Loflin, President, as Watershield Industries enters its next chapter,” said Alex Johnson, Vice President at HKW. “We believe the Company has a strong foundation with differentiated products, long-standing customer relationships and opportunities to expand its product portfolio and pursue add-on acquisitions across the fragmented fire and rescue equipment market.”

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Watershield Industries

Watershield Industries is a manufacturer of firefighting apparatus and mission-critical fire equipment serving municipal, wildland and industrial customers across North America. Through its portfolio of brands, including Weis Fire & Safety, S&H Products and C&S Supply, the Company designs and manufactures brush trucks, pump testing units and engineered nozzles and valves. Watershield operates facilities in Denver and Loveland, Colorado and Salina, Kansas www.watershieldindustries.com.

About HKW

HKW is a middle-market private equity firm investing in companies with talented management teams in the U.S. and Canada. HKW targets companies in the manufacturing, distribution, and business services sectors. Since 1982, HKW has sponsored 74 platform transactions of middle-market companies throughout North America and 81 add-on acquisitions. For more information on HKW, please visit hkwinc.com.

Advisors

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal advisor to HKW. Siguler Guff & Company, LP, LongWater Capital Solutions, and Capital For Business ^® (“CFB”) provided financing for the transaction. Hennepin Partners served as financial advisor to Watershield Industries.