The Partner of Choice

Current Holdings

Artifact Uprising

Ledge

United Air Temp

RuffleButts

Elliott Aviation

Aspirent

Exacta Land Surveyors

Freedom Electronics

smarTours

Tennessee Industrial Electronics (TIE)

Parkline

Realized Investments

Fast Growing Trees

C.A.R.S. Protection Plus

Arkive

Control Company

NSi

Charter Brokerage

Sentry Security Systems
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Artifact Uprising

Website: artifactuprising.com

Headquarters: Denver, CO

Artifact Uprising is the leading provider of premium personalized photo books, prints, and gifts with a core focus on quality and design. Founded in 2012 by professional photographers, the company’s flagship product is its lay flat photo book, personally designed by each customer to commemorate significant life events and ensure that the story lasts for generations. The company takes pride in being an authentic brand with a focus on superior quality and personalized luxury.

Summit Park invested in Artifact Uprising in 2022.

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Ledge

Website: ledgeloungers.com

Headquarters: Katy, Texas

Ledge is a premium in-pool and backyard furniture and accessories platform with an omni-channel go-to-market strategy. Since the introduction of their first in-pool Chaise, Ledge has grown to include patio furnishings, umbrellas, cabanas and outdoor games, all designed to withstand the harsh pool and outdoor environments.

Summit Park invested in Ledge in 2021.

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United Air Temp

Website: unitedairtemp.com

Headquarters: Lorton, Virginia

United Air Temp, Air Conditioning and Heating LLC ("UAT") is a leading provider of residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) services. Headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, UAT provides HVAC maintenance and replacement services to residential homeowners. The company operates in five states throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, as well as the District of Columbia. UAT has built a large, loyal customer base through its best-in-class service and responsiveness, as well as consistent, high quality work from its skilled technicians.

Summit Park invested in UAT in 2021.

UAT Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • HVAC service providers in current geographies, as well as new geographies
  • Other residential service providers, including plumbing and electrical

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RuffleButts

Website: rufflebutts.com

Headquarters: Grapevine, Texas

RuffleButts is a leading direct-to-consumer e-commerce provider of children’s swimwear, apparel and accessories. The company offers a complete suite of high-quality swimwear, apparel, and accessories for girls and boys and serves customers through a strategic, diverse network of complementary sales channels, including its own websites, Amazon, big box stores (online and in-stores), as well as independent boutiques.

Summit Park invested in RuffleButts in 2020.

RuffleButts Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Digitally native children's apparel and accessories

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Elliott Aviation

Website: elliottaviation.com

Headquarters: Moline, Illinois

Elliott Aviation (“Elliott”) is a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”), fixed based operations services, and aircraft sales and brokerage services to the business aviation industry. Headquarted in Moline, IL, Elliott’s one-stop MRO service offering, which includes airframe maintenance, avionics maintenance and upgrade, paint, interior repair and retrofit, and several other related services, attracts a large, diverse base of aircraft operators from across North America. Elliott Aviation has been developing and delivering aviation solutions to their partners for over 80 years, and the company has facilities in Moline, IL, Des Moines, IA, and Minneapolis, MN.

Summit Park invested in Elliott in 2020.


Elliott Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Geographic expansion of services
  • Select new capabilities

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Aspirent

Website: aspirent.com

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Aspirent Consulting, LLC ("Aspirent") is a professional services firm providing a full suite of management and technology consulting services focused on data and analytics. Aspirent provides strategic consulting, cloud development, and project execution services related to data and analytics for blue-chip clients in the Atlanta market. Aspirent's clients are typically executives at Fortune 500 companies across various end markets including consumer goods, industrial products, communications, and healthcare. Engagements with Aspirent are varied in nature, but typically involve solving clients’ evolving data-related business problems through a combination of applied data science, information management, cloud development and migration, data visualization and project management.

Summit Park invested in Aspirent in 2019.


Aspirent Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Similar services including data science, advanced analytics, cloud migration and strategy consulting
  • Complimentary services, including machine learning and AI, RPA and analytics as a service (AaaS)
  • Technologies of interest include Tableau, Anaplan, Qlik, Microsoft, AWS, and looker

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Exacta Land Surveyors

Website: exactasurvey.com

Headquarters: Cleveland, Ohio

Exacta Land Surveyors (“Exacta”) is a leading provider of land surveys and field management services used to facilitate the purchasing, selling, and development of residential and commercial real estate. Exacta provides land surveys, utility/municipal lien search services, elevation certificates, and estoppel reports to a variety of customers within the real estate industry. Exacta currently operates in six states, including Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Texas, and provides vendor management services to help customers procure surveys outside of its current geographic footprint.

Summit Park invested in Exacta in 2018.


Exacta Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Land survey and field management services businesses in Exacta's current market
  • Land survey and field management services businesses in Exacta's new markets
  • No size restrictions for add-on opportunities

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Freedom Electronics

Website: freedomelectronics.com

Headquarters: Kennesaw, Georgia

Freedom Electronics (“Freedom”) is a leading provider of aftermarket electronic components for use in fuel dispensing and point-of-sale systems across the U.S. and Canada. Freedom remanufactures and sells a portfolio of over 2,300 electronic components for its customer base of retailers, parts distributors, and equipment service companies that require quick turnaround times and quality components. In addition to its parts remanufacturing business, Freedom also provides a logistics and warehousing solution for customers’ electronic components inventory. Freedom was founded in 1998 and has built its reputation as the established industry leader through its best-in-class repair procedures, sourcing capabilities, and engineering expertise.

Summit Park invested in Freedom in 2018.


Freedom Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Further penetrate the c-store end market (remanufacturing of fuel dispensers and POS systems)
  • Electronic remanufacturing businesses in new end markets including elevators, ATMS, car washes, and medical devices

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smarTours

Website: smartours.com

Headquarters: New York, New York

smarTours, LLC ("smarTours") is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer, value-oriented travel experiences to exotic global destinations. Over 200,000 travelers haven taken a smarTours trip since the founding of the Company, and smarTours has developed a strong and loyal customer base. Founded in 1996, smarTours organizes and operates all-inclusive global tours for U.S. based travelers. Bypassing the travel agent channel, the Company sells tours directly to the consumer, primarily through traditional means such as catalogs and mailings. The Company offers both pre-packaged Series Tours and customized Private Tours. Series Tours offer a variety of pre-set departure dates for passengers to travel to any one of the destinations offered by smarTours utilizing a predetermined, curated itinerary.

Summit Park invested in smarTours in 2017.


smarTours Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Asset-light, direct-to-consumer tour operators
  • Expansion into new geographies (US-based tours; international travelers; new destinations)
  • Complimentary tour service offerings (Group sales; call center capabilities; digital marketing expertise)

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Tennessee Industrial Electronics (TIE)

Website: tieindustrial.com

Headquarters: La Vergne, Tennessee

Tennessee Industrial Electronics, LLC ("TIE") is a leading provider of parts and repairs for CNC Systems. Founded in 1992, TIE began by specializing in the sales of refurbished FANUC aftermarket parts such as controls, motors and drives from an extensive inventory of over 75,000 parts. The company grew to become one of the largest providers of aftermarket support for CNC automation in North America. TIE has taken its core model of deep industry expertise, outstanding customer service and unmatched response time to serve multiple parts of the industrial automation aftermarket including CNC, Robotics and Process Automation. TIE differentiates itself through its large inventory of hard-to-find and critical parts and just-in-time availability, which reduces its customers' machine downtime.

Summit Park invested in TIE in 2014


TIE Add-On Acquisition Criteria

  • Suppliers of new and refurbished parts for computer numerical control ("CNC") systems for the machine tool industry
  • Providers of aftermarket repair services for refurbished parts for CNC systems and robotics
  • Supplier of complementary refurbished or replacement products to the industrial automation industry
  • Particular original equipment manufacturers of interest include, among others: FANUC, Siemens, Allen Bradley

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Parkline

Website: parkline.com

Headquarters: Eleanor, West Virginia

Parkline, Inc. ("Parkline") is a leading manufacturer of highly-engineered metal buildings for industrial and commercial applications. Formed as an independent company in 1973, Parkline focuses on the production and erection of smaller buildings (widths of < 32') and is well known as a leader in the metal building industry with more than 70,000 structures in service throughout the United States and Canada. Product flexibility is a key differentiator for Parkline, and the company's design and engineering team is capable of customizing floor plans to meet almost any customer specification or requirement. Parkline is headquartered in Eleanor, West Virginia.

Summit Park invested in Parkline in 2012.

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Case Study

About Fast Growing Trees

Fast Growing Trees offers consumers a broad variety of high-quality trees and shrubs through its branded websites: fastgrowingtrees.com, brighterblooms.com, and plantingtree.com. The company provides customers with a best-in-class e-commerce experience and access to more than 1,200 varieties of trees, plants and shrubs that are available for nationwide home-delivery, typically within three days of placing an order. Fast Growing Trees sources its products from a geographically diverse network of trusted suppliers and has built a reputation in the marketplace for offering high-quality products and superior customer service. The company's differentiated consumer experience is disrupting traditional channels in its large and steadily growing category.

Transaction Rationale

Prior to Summit Park's investment, FGT was owned and operated by the Zboch family. The founding family sought an investment partner that could help grow the business through investment in marketing, supply chain, and logistics capabilities. The Zboch family re-invested in the business alongside Summit Park, and remained active from the board level.

Post-Investment Highlights

Over Summit Park's three-and-a-half-year ownership period, FGT more than quadrupled revenue and EBITDA. Along with Summit Park, the management team led a transformation across multiple facets of the business – including revamping the supply chain, adding sophistication to marketing and customer care, and investing in fulfillment capabilities, which enabled the business to take advantage of a secular shift in how consumers are shopping for live goods.

C.A.R.S. Protection Plus

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Case Study

About C.A.R.S. Protection Plus

CARS Protection Plus ("CARS" or the “Company”) is a leading national vehicle service contract (“VSC”) administrator that services the high-mileage segment of the auto warranty market. CARS offers an extensive portfolio of VSCs to thousands of dealerships throughout the nation. The Company’s product offering provides multiple coverages, attractive liability limits and high mileage thresholds to suit all consumer needs. Unique within the auto-industry, CARS focuses primarily on the underserved independent dealers to provide its VSC products.

Transaction Rationale

Prior to Summit Park's investment, CARS was owned and operated by its entrepreneur founder, Mike Tedesco. Mike sought an experienced financial partner who could deliver growth capital, strategic guidance, and provide additional resources to further professionalize and grow the business. The transaction ultimately provided Mike with a value-added partnership that allowed him to achieve all of his goals while still maintaining an active management role and a significant equity stake in the business.

Post-Investment Highlights

Summit Park built out the CARS management team, including a new CEO and CFO. During Summit Park's ownership, CARS broadened its customer reach by expanding into the franchise dealership market via a partnership with a national sales agency. Through this partnership, CARS was able to successfully launch a private-label VSC product focused on franchise dealerships. Additionally, Summit Park and management facilitated a transition to e-contracting as well as implemented efficiencies within the Company’s claim adjudication department.

Arkive

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Case Study

Summit Park formed Arkive in 2016 to acquire certain assets from Iron Mountain Incorporated in a government mandated sale process.

About Arkive

Arkive is a provider of records management solutions to a highly diverse base of customers. The Company is one of the largest providers of document storage services in Canada and is a leader in each of the U.S. markets in which it operates. Arkive differentiates itself in the document storage industry by offering high levels of customer service particularly to small and medium sized businesses.

Transaction Rationale

Following the acquisition of Recall Holdings Ltd. ("Recall"), Iron Mountain was required by the U.S. Department of Justice and Canadian Competition Bureau to divest of certain document storage assets in the United States and Canada. The authorities sought to promote local competition within these markets by giving local and regional clients access to another capable document management provider.

Post-Investment Highlights

Given the carve-out dynamic of the transaction, Summit Park engaged daily with Arkive on its transition towards a stand-alone business, which was completed in under one year. Summit Park supported Arkive in making two accretive add-on acquisitions in the first year of ownership. Arkive also successfully stood up four new business lines to offer customers, including MyKloud, a cloud-based information management system. 

Control Company

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Case Study

Summit Park completed a majority recapitalization of Control Company on June 3, 2011. Cole Palmer, a portfolio company of Golden Gate Capital, acquired Control Company in August 2017. 

About Control Company

Control Company ("Control") sells an extensive array of private label and branded laboratory equipment including thermometers, timers, tools, humidity gauges, hygrometers, and conductivity tools. These products are sold globally through large distribution partners, and Control enjoys strong, longstanding, and mutually beneficial relationships with the two largest distributors in the industry. Unique among its competitors, substantially all of the company's products are individually calibrated and tested and sold with a Traceable® Calibration Certificate issued from the company's calibration laboratory, which is accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation. End users rely on these certificates to evidence the quality of their testing processes to their own managers, customers, regulators, ISO 9000 auditors, and federal, state, and local agencies.

Transaction Rationale

Prior to Summit Park's investment, Control was owned and operated by its entrepreneur and founder, Jerry Cooney, and his wife. At the time of the transaction, Jerry was no longer actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. Jerry and his wife wished to facilitate a transaction to diversify their personal holdings. 

In June 2015, Summit Park led a recapitalization of Control and the Firm's second fund bought out certain 2011 investors, including the founder and certain individual shareholders

Post-Investment Highlights

Summit Park built out the Control management team, including a new CEO, COO and VP of Sales, as well as added engineering and marketing resources. Summit Park also supported the expansion of the company's product offering to focus on data logging products and launching TraceableLIVE, a connecting monitoring product and service. 

NSi

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Case Study

Summit Park completed a majority recapitalization of NSi on December 28, 2012.

About NSi

NSi is a leading supplier of a wide variety of electrical connectors including insulated connectors and mechanical, digital time controls, time switches, wire management products, and related electrical components for construction, maintenance, and repair applications. NSi's well-known brands include Polaris™ insulated connectors, Tork® time and lighting controls, and Easy-Twist™ wire connectors. The company's products are sold to end users primarily through the electrical distributor channel, and NSi enjoys broad placement at over 5,000 branch locations throughout the United States and Canada. NSi differentiates itself through highly recognizable, category-leading brands, a broad product line, high fill and on-time delivery rates, and a consistent pipeline of new products.

Transaction Rationale

Prior to Summit Park's investment, NSi was owned and operated by its entrepreneur founder, Axel Rasmussen, along with three senior members of NSi's executive team. NSi's executives were open to a variety of employment or consulting options post-closing.

Post-Investment Highlights

NSI's EBITDA grew by 50% during Summit Park's investment period. Additionally, in August 2014, NSi underwent a dividend recapitalization with a substantial amount of the original equity capital invested returned to investors. Summit Park sold NSi to Blue Sea Capital, a private equity firm, in May 2016.

Charter Brokerage

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Case Study

Summit Park completed a majority recapitalization of Charter Brokerage on May 31, 2006.

About Charter Brokerage

Charter Brokerage ("Charter") is a non-asset based third party logistics provider to the North American petroleum industry offering a complementary array of information-based, port-related logistics services to a diverse group of energy product importers and major airline customers. Charter's services include customs compliance, cargo clearance, inventory tracking, and duty minimization and drawback programs for almost all of the petroleum and petroleum derivative products that enter the U.S. today. Charter's global blue-chip customers rely on the company's highly-specialized, integrated suite of services, proprietary technology, regulatory knowledge and expertise, and market-leading client service. The company's three business lines – Customs Brokerage, Duty Drawback, and Airport Foreign-Trade Zone Services – provide a turnkey solution to parties across the petroleum supply chain.

Transaction Rationale

Charter's extensive knowledge of customs law and longstanding relationships with both importers and exporters of petroleum and petroleum derivative products create significant barriers to entry for potential competitors and permitted Charter to price its services to achieve outstanding profitability. At the time of investment, changes to the regulatory landscape in the importation of ethanol created the opportunity for the company to significantly grow its duty drawback service offering.

Post-Investment Highlights

Charter's EBITDA more than doubled during Summit Park's investment period. Summit Park sold Charter to Arsenal Capital Partners, a private equity firm, in February 2008. Berkshire Hathaway acquired Charter from Arsenal Capital Partners in December 2014.

Sentry Security Systems

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Case Study

Summit Park and affiliates acquired a controlling interest in Sentry Security Systems on February 7, 2007.

About Sentry Security Systems

Sentry Security Systems ("Sentry") is the leading provider of monitored, electric perimeter security fencing for commercial and industrial facilities in the United States. Sentry installs and retains ownership of a security fence installed at the customer's location, and customers pay a monthly monitoring and service fee. The company has installed, and monitors, over 3,000 fences across the country. Sentry's products provide safe and secure barriers, customized for each customers' location that produce a non-lethal shock and audible alarm upon activation.

Transaction Rationale

Prior to Summit Park's investment, the company's product was installed in approximately 1,800 locations throughout the U.S. without any outbound marketing efforts and despite the company having very limited management and financial resources. There was a clear path to building a much larger business, and our investment thesis centered on a number of action items, including: (i) building out the leadership team; (ii) initiating a proactive, outbound sales and marketing effort to raise awareness of the product; (iii) instilling greater pricing discipline; and (iv) providing additional financial resources to fund the company's expansion efforts through a revolving credit facility.

Post-Investment Highlights

Summit Park recognized the ability to accelerate the company's revenue growth by formalizing pricing policies, standardizing contract terms and launching an outbound sales and marketing effort. Furthermore, the opportunity to upgrade and professionalize the company's senior leadership team and secure a low cost source of financing for new fence installations helped position Sentry for further growth. Summit Park completed a successful exit of their investment in Sentry on May 11, 2009.

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