Apex Companies, LLC

www.apexcos.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
01/2023
11/2018

Apex Companies is a leading environmental services firm specializing in water resources, land restoration, and industrial hygiene. Apex offers comprehensive services to assess, prevent, and cure environmental issues related to water, ground, facilities, and air quality. Apex serves a large and diverse client base spanning both the public and private sectors and a broad range of end markets, including energy, industrial, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and telecom. Apex's client-centric operating model, nationwide presence, and industry reputation as a leader in environmental compliance and risk management are the foundation of its impressive blue-chip client base and 30-year history. Apex services the entire environmental compliance and risk continuum with a team of over 700 geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, air quality specialists, environmental scientists, information management experts, industrial hygienists, and field technicians.

Apex is a leading growth platform in the highly attractive environmental services market. With a highly capable, passionate management team and a dedicated team of talented employees, Apex is well-positioned to continue its history of growth, both organically and through acquisition.

In January 2023, after achieving our investment objectives, Apex was sold to Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. Sentinel Capital Partners will maintain a minority position in Apex post-closing. During our four-year ownership, Apex grew organically and acquired four businesses that have broadened its geographic coverage, expanded its service offerings, and diversified its end markets. Today a national platform with more than 50 offices throughout the country, Apex is a clear leader in the stormwater consulting and engineering market. Apex remains well positioned to continue growing under new ownership and the leadership of its superb management team.

CINgroup, Inc.

www.cingroup.com

Management buyout

Press Releases
03/2019

CINgroup, Inc., headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, provides consumer bankruptcy attorneys with the most comprehensive single-source offering of Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act ("BAPCPA") compliant due diligence products and information services available in the market.

CINgroup provides due diligence products and consumer credit data to more than 10,000 law firms nationally. CINgroup pioneered and developed the technology platform and product offerings to streamline attorney workflow and satisfy BAPCPA due diligence investigation requirements. CINgroup offers the industry-leading Consumer Liability Report that imports liability data directly into leading forms preparation software packages via partner interfaces and offers the industry's first post-bankruptcy predictive credit score. CINgroup also offers IRS tax transcripts, real property valuations, title information, automobile valuations, and a gateway to approved credit counseling and debtor education courses.

CINgroup's innovative and affordable products promote increased accuracy, create process efficiencies, and streamline workflow management in the practices of thousands of bankruptcy attorneys nationwide.

During our 10-year ownership, CINgroup encountered a significant industry contraction—consumer bankruptcy filings declined 44% and persisted at this low level during our holding period. In response, CINgroup cut costs, invested heavily in new product development, made three leadership changes, and with the support of additional investment from us, went on the offensive by completing eight add-on acquisitions, one of them transformative. With our support, CINgroup successfully consolidated the bankruptcy software and data industry and developed a market-leading software and tech-enabled business services platform. Today, CINgroup is the clear market leader, serving approximately 17,000 customers with highly recurring subscription software, data, and other due diligence product revenue.

Under our ownership, CINgroup's revenue more than doubled and EBITDA almost tripled. Having achieved our investment objectives, CINgroup was sold to a strategic buyer backed by another private equity firm. CINgroup remains well positioned to continue growing under the leadership of its outstanding management team.

Corporate Visions, Inc.

www.corporatevisions.com

Management buyout

Press Releases
08/2021
05/2015

Corporate Visions is a leading provider of training products and services to improve sales force productivity. Based in Reno, Nevada, Corporate Visions is a thought leader and innovator in the marketing and sales enablement industry.

Corporate Visions develops and applies research from decision sciences to help its Fortune 1000 global B2B clients win more business and increase profitability. Its blue-chip clients include ADP, Cisco, Motorola, UPS, and DuPont.

In August 2021, after achieving our investment objectives, Corporate Visions was sold to another private equity firm in a management buyout. In the six years since Sentinel's original investment, Corporate Visions has performed well, especially during the COVID pandemic. During the pandemic, Corporate Visions successfully implemented and rolled out its suite of virtual service offerings, which have achieved excellent market acceptance. Corporate Visions remains well positioned to continue growing under the leadership of its superb management team. Sentinel remains a minority investor in the company.

Cottman Transmission Systems, Inc.

www.cottman.com

Management Buyout
Transition from Founder Ownership

Press Releases
03/2004
12/2002
08/1999

Cottman Transmission Systems, Inc., a company headquartered in Fort Washington, PA, is a franchisor of automotive transmission centers that repair, remanufacture and service transmissions and related components. Cottman, the "Transmission Physician," opened its first transmission repair center on Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia in 1962. With more than 300 centers in the United States and Canada, Cottman is now one of the largest transmission service and repair chains in North America.

Consistently ranked among the top franchise organizations in the U.S., Cottman continues to grow by aggressively franchising new centers and by selectively acquiring independent transmission repair chains. This growth is driven by several positive industry trends: an aging U.S. vehicle population; increased popularity of front-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles that have more complex transmissions; a return to high-performance/high-output engines that place more strain on transmissions; and greater use of computers in automobiles that make transmission repair a more specialized and costly service.

Sentinel Capital Partners and Cottman's management team acquired the company in a buyout transaction in July 1999. Sentinel originated and sponsored the acquisition, arranged the debt and provided private equity financing.

In March 2004, after achieving substantially all of its investment objectives within four-and-a-half years, Sentinel sold Cottman to American Capital Strategies, Ltd. Since Sentinel's original investment, Cottman's sales and profitability grew substantially. With approximately 400 stores in its franchise system, Cottman is well positioned to continue growing.

Empire Auto Parts LLC

www.empireautoparts.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
11/2021

Empire Auto Parts is a leading specialty distributor of aftermarket parts serving collision repair centers. Headquartered in Totowa, New Jersey, Empire operates five distribution hubs and 22 satellite delivery locations across 16 contiguous eastern states. With a vast assortment of top-quality products and a fleet of vehicles providing same-day or next-day delivery, Empire delivers unmatched service to its collision center partners. Empire’s product offering covers more than 40,000 parts, including bumper covers, lamps, hoods, fenders, trunk lids, grills, bezels, door mirrors, and other products.

Empire has built a reputation of providing best-in-class service through a hub-and-spoke model which extends up and down the east coast, and has established a growth playbook based on providing a better buying experience coupled with broad parts availability. Empire's highly experienced and tenured management team is deeply committed to providing world-class support for its collision center customers. Empire has a proven record providing excellent service and a sophisticated infrastructure that enables it to attract new collision repair centers to its network.

Growing Family, Inc.

www.our365.com

Management Buyout
Transition from Founder Ownership
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
10/2006
01/2002
09/1998
03/1998
03/1997
11/1995

Growing Family, Inc., located in St. Charles, Missouri, owns and operates three complementary businesses serving new parents and companies that want to reach them. Established in 1954, Growing Family has a solid record of consistent profitability and growth.

FirstFoto, the core business, is North America's largest provider of in-hospital infant portrait products and services, having exclusive contracts with more than 2,650 hospitals in the United States and Canada. Growqing Family produces and manufactures portraits in its captive labs in St. Charles.

Approximately 3.2 million of the 4.0 million babies born annually in North America are born in First Foto hospitals. Growing Family's representatives personally interact with more than 70% of all new mothers in North America within hours of the birth event. Because of this interaction, Growing Family possesses the most comprehensive and current database of families with newborns and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers.

Growing Family's other two businesses capitalize on this unique access. The company's ecommerce web site growingfamily.com offers various products and services to new families. Growing Family's third business is a rapidly growing, highly profitable information and marketing service business targeting large consumer product and service companies and new families.

In 1995, Sentinel sponsored and provided the private equity financing for a recapitalization of Growing Family.

In August 2006, after achieving substantially all of our investment objectives, Sentinel sold Growing Family in a management buyout transaction.

Inscape Publishing, Inc.

www.inscapepublishing.com

Management Buyout

Press Releases
02/2012
08/2007

Inscape Publishing, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a leading developer and provider of content-rich, technology-enabled corporate training solutions that develop employee interpersonal skills such as sales, leadership, teamwork, communications and time management.

Inscape focuses on the $13 billion+ corporate and government training industry, which is experiencing considerable growth. With a global network of over 2,000 consultancies, Inscape provides employee assessment and development applications to over 135 Fortune 500 companies and several agencies of the federal government. Since 1972, Inscape’s learning tools have been used by over 45 million individuals in 24 languages and 22 countries.

Inscape is a pioneer in developing products and services that address the growing importance of human capital as a competitive advantage. With corporations increasing their commitment to employee development and training, Inscape is well positioned to benefit from market growth.

Sentinel Capital Partners and management acquired Inscape in a management buyout transaction. NewStar Financial and Madison Capital Funding provided senior debt for the transaction, and New Canaan Funding provided subordinated debt financing. Sentinel originated, sponsored and negotiated the transaction, arranged the acquisition debt and provided private equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P.

In February 2012, after achieving substantially all of its investment objectives in four years, Inscape was sold to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE:JWa, JWb). Since Sentinel's original investment, Inscape grew signifcantly and is well positioned to continue growing following the deep recession of 2008–2009.

Marketplace Events LLC

www.marketplaceevents.com

Management buyout

Press Releases
01/2016

Marketplace Events, headquartered in Solon, Ohio, organizes and operates consumer shows targeting the home improvement and enthusiast market including remodeling, home decor, and gardening. Marketplace has the largest portfolio of home and garden shows across the U.S. and Canada. Leveraging scale, technology, and predictability, Marketplace Events brings together 14,000 exhibitors, 1.5 million consumers, and 1.5 million unique web visitors on an annual basis.

Marketplace Events creates vibrant expositions connecting enthusiasts with experts, products, and services in dynamic face-to-face environments. Marketplace Events produces some of the most successful and longest-running shows in North America, including market-leading home shows in Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. – several of which have thrived in their markets for more than 75 years. Marketplace Events is the clear leader in the North American home and garden show industry.

Sentinel and management acquired Marketplace Events from Stephens Capital Partners in a buyout transaction. After making 13 highly accretive add-on acquisitions, Sentinel exited the investment in November 2020.

Mobile Communications of America

www.callmc.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
03/2019

Mobile Communications America is a leading provider of wireless communications, data, and security solutions in North America and one of Motorola Solutions' largest channel partners. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, MCA sells Land Mobile Radios and related network infrastructure products and offers services across all aspects of the communications solutions lifecycle, including system design, installation, and ongoing maintenance and repair. MCA's communication and network solutions and services enhance the safety, security, and operating efficiency of a diverse base of more than 10,000 customers. MCA's customer base includes public safety institutions and some of the largest, most well-known corporate clients in North America. MCA focuses on the Southeast and enjoys regional density through 41 locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, with the capability of serving national commercial customers across the United States.

MCA delivers highly technical, scalable, and mission critical–grade services and its emphasis on service is a major differentiator. MCA's success has been fostered by a culture of service-first, collaboration, and trust. MCA is well-positioned to continue its history of growth, both organically and through acquisition.

New Era Technology, Inc.

www.neweratech.com

Management Buyout
Partnership with Founder
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
09/2019

New Era Technology is a global provider of managed information technology services focused on collaboration and data networks. Serving customers in the U.S., U.K., New Zealand, and Australia, New Era provides a comprehensive suite of managed services and systems integration capabilities for a wide range of IT solutions, including collaboration, data networking, and security. Employing a customer-centric business model, New Era is a trusted technology advisor to more than 6,500 worldwide customers – often name-brand, blue-chip multinational businesses – that span diverse end markets, including healthcare, education, corporate, government and financial services.

As technology systems increase in complexity and the pace of technological change accelerates, organizations require integrated, flexible, and scalable solutions that incorporate a wide range of technologies. New Era is well positioned to capitalize on these favorable secular trends underpinning the evolving technology landscape. New Era's strategy is to grow organically and via add-on acquisitions in existing and new geographies.

Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC

Recapitalization

Press Releases
09/2009

Precision Pipeline Solutions, headquartered in Newburgh, New York, provides specialty services to natural gas and electric utilities. PPS offers a broad range of critical technical services that enable utilities to maintain and operate their natural gas and electric infrastructures. PPS’s range of services include inspecting, repairing, replacing, and maintaining natural gas and electric transmission, distribution, and generation systems as well as providing specialized consulting and auditing services. PPS maintains an in-house operator qualification program that complies with New York State Public Service Commission regulations. PPS’s clients currently include several of the largest utilities in the Northeast.

The energy infrastructure in the United States, particularly in older cities, such as those in the Northeast, where PPS operates, has a continuing need for the services provided by PPS. As a valued partner of its utility clients, PPS addresses a large and growing market.

In September 2009, Sentinel Capital Partners and management invested in PPS in a recapitalization transaction. TD Bank provided debt financing for the transaction. Sentinel originated, sponsored and negotiated the transaction, arranged the acquisition debt and provided private equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners IV, L.P.

In December 2014, after achieving substantially all of our investment objectives, PPS was sold to a strategic buyer. Since Sentinel's original investment, PPS grew rapidly and almost tripled in size. PPS remains well positioned to continue growing under the leadership of its outstanding management team.

Revenew International LLC

www.revenew.com

Management buyout

Press Releases
07/2016

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Revenew International provides cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits. Revenew serves a blue-chip Fortune 500 customer base, with particular expertise in the energy, utilities, and manufacturing sectors, through through four core services lines – contract compliance, supplier payment review, performance improvement, and sales tax recovery. Revenew's comprehensive suite of cost recovery solutions presents unique and highly compelling opportunities for clients to identify incorrect payments and recover overbilled amounts.

Revenew's services enable its clients to seek recovery from their service providers through the identification of incorrect payments and overbilled amounts. Revenew's programs ensure compliance with commercial terms, recover lost monies and provide best practice recommendations for contractual and operational improvements.

SPL LLC

www.SPL-Inc.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
04/2022

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, SPL is a leader in testing, inspection, and certification services for energy and environmental markets. SPL serves more than 1,700 customers, including some of the largest global energy companies. SPL operates 22 lab testing and service centers that analyze hundreds of thousands of samples annually for physical and chemical composition of hydrocarbons, lubricants, and wastewater. Its service centers house more than 250 highly trained technicians who inspect, install, and maintain field measurement systems for customers. Besides testing and services, SPL offers unique digital services, including production allocation, flow assurance, and data management.

SPL serves an international customer network, spanning the North American, EMEA, and APAC markets. SPL assists clients with transactional obligations, regulatory compliance, and energy production monitoring. SPL is also at the forefront of helping customers maintain proper environmental, social, and governance ("ESG”) standards through its water testing labs. SPL sets itself apart through its technical expertise and breadth of integrated services, and by helping set industry standards in partnership with regulatory bodies. With a talented and committed management team, best-in-class service, and operational excellence, SPL is well-positioned to grow rapidly, both organically and through add-on acquisitions.

Total Military Management, Inc.

www.totalmm.com

Management Buyout

Press Releases
04/2015

Total Military Management is the leading global provider of relocation services for U.S. military and government personnel. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, TMM is a technology-enabled, asset-light provider of logistical, administrative, sales and marketing services to a network of transportation service providers.

TMM targets the fragmented $2.5 billion U.S. military moving and storage industry, which is comprised of approximately 300,000 annual relocations of the 1.3 million active duty U.S. military members and their families. TMM utilizes its sophisticated technology systems, operating infrastructure, and global network of service providers to manage the resource-intensive and administratively complex logistical tasks associated with military relocations.

TranSystems, Inc.

www.transystems.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
04/2021

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, TranSystems is a leading provider of engineering, architectural, and design consulting solutions for United States transportation end markets. TranSystems plans, inspects, designs, and provides related services to some of the most complex transportation infrastructure projects in the U.S. With more than 750 highly skilled engineers and technical employees working from 30 strategically located offices, the company serves a diverse client base across both the public and private sectors, including government, freight, transit, aviation, and intermodal end markets. TranSystems' expertise includes award-winning design and engineering services work on bridges, highways, tunnels, railroads, airports, and multi-modal facilities.

TranSystems is well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for engineering and design work to inspect and maintain our country's aging transportation infrastructure and leverage the growing infrastructure services opportunities ahead to drive organic and make strategic acquisitions.

TriMech LLC

www.trimech.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
06/2022
03/2022

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, TriMech is a provider of CAD software, 3D manufacturing solutions, and associated training and consulting services for design engineers across a variety of industries throughout the central and eastern United States and Canada. TriMech partners with leading software and hardware providers, including SolidWorks, Stratasys, Dassault Systèmes, Artec3D, and MasterCam, and delivers expert technical support to design engineers through its world-class tech support staff.

TriMech is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing tech-enabled services category that is helping to support and grow the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector. With a talented and committed management team, best-in-class service, and operational excellence, TriMech is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth, both organically and through add-on acquisitions.

In June 2022, TriMech acquired Solid Solutions Group ("SSG”), a leading provider of 3D computer-aided design software and services in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Headquartered in Leamington Spa, England, SSG provides software, support, and training to thousands of engineers, designers, and manufacturing companies. SSG also provides a comprehensive portfolio of Dassault solutions including SolidWorks (computer-aided manufacturing), CATIA and its 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and a full line of product data management and simulation tools. SSG value-added services target software, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers, and its clients span broad range of end markets and industries including product designers, manufacturers, and educational institutions.

Trinity Consultants, Inc.

www.trinityconsultants.com

Management Buyout
Transition from Founder Ownership
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
11/2011
12/2007

Trinity Consultants, Inc., founded in 1974 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading provider of air quality consulting and compliance services in the United States.

Trinity is ISO 9001:2000 certified, a rarity in the industry. With over 270 employees in 24 strategically located offices, Trinity provides a full range of air quality compliance services and has specific expertise in the energy, manufacturing, industrial and utility sectors. Trinity helps its clients comply with federal, state and local air quality regulations and manage leading edge issues such as climate change and environmental sustainability. Trinity also provides complementary products and services such as EH&S information management solutions, educational courses, environmental modeling software and EH&S staffing services.

Trinity is the premier player in its market and faces substantial opportunities given the increasing global focus on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions and other air quality concerns.

In November 2007, Sentinel Capital Partners and management acquired Trinity in a management buyout transaction. Sentinel originated, sponsored and negotiated the transaction, arranged the acquisition debt and provided private equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P.

In November 2011, after achieving substantially all of its investment objectives in four years, Sentinel sold Trinity in a management buyout transaction. Since Sentinel's original investment, Trinity grew significantly and is well positioned to continue growing.

TTG Imaging Solutions, LLC

www.ttgimagingsolutions.com

Management Buyout
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
12/2021

TTG Imaging Solutions is a leading national provider of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging solutions. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, TTG offers end-to-end solutions for cardiology and oncology customers that use diagnostic imaging equipment. Through a nationwide network of field service engineers, TTG offers equipment, maintenance and repair services, clinical staffing, and radiopharmaceutical products. TTG operates three equipment repair centers and three radiopharmacies that serve customers across 46 states. Founded in 2004, TTG has completed nine acquisitions that have expanded its geographic coverage and added new technical capabilities.

TTG has built a record of providing best-in-class services that allow physicians, imaging centers, and hospitals to offer top-quality patient care. TTG has developed an impressive growth playbook – both organically and via add-on acquisitions – that has enabled the company to expand significantly within the large and growing imaging services market.

UBEO, LLC

www.ubeo.com

Management Buyout
Partnership with Founders
Add-On Acquisitions

Press Releases
04/2018

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, UBEO is a provider of best-in-class document management services. UBEO facilitates business technology integration by offering the newest, best, and most innovative ideas in hardware and software solutions to its customer base of mid-sized businesses, schools, and municipalities. UBEO sells and services globally-recognized copier and printer equipment primarily in major Texas metropolitan markets. UBEO manages an installed base of over 20,000 machines and maintains long-term relationships with leading vendors such as Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Ricoh, and Xerox.

As the largest independent service provider in Texas, UBEO is a scalable platform that is well positioned to consolidate its highly fragmented industry. UBEO has consistently outperformed its competition in the service categories that its customers value most – technical capability, service quality, and on-time delivery.

Vintage Holdings, Inc.

www.vpartsinc.com

Corporate Carveout
Management Buyout

Press Releases
09/2015
10/2007

Vintage Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a Vintage Parts), headquartered in Beaver Dam, WI, is the leading independent distributor of original slow-moving and inactive OEM replacement parts for automobiles, recreational vehicles, and construction, agricultural and material handling equipment.

Pursuant to long-term agreements with 37 OEMs, including General Motors, Ford, CNH Global, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Komatsu, and Honda, Vintage Parts purchases old-model inventories of parts and warehouses them for future sale and distribution to more than 75,000 individual customers, many of which are authorized OEM dealers. Vintage Parts today is the single largest independent supplier of original OEM parts with more than one million part numbers.

Vintage Parts plans to grow by increasing the quantity and quality of parts purchased from current OEM relationships and also by purchasing inventory from new OEM customers, both in current targeted industries and in selected new industries.

In October 2007, Sentinel Capital Partners and management acquired Vintage Parts in a management buyout transaction that was a carveout from John Swire & Sons Pty Ltd. Marshall & Ilsley Bank provided debt financing for the transaction. Sentinel originated and sponsored the transaction, arranged the acquisition debt and provided private equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P.

In September 2015, having owned the business for eight years and having achieved our investment objectives, Vintage Parts was sold to another private equity firm. Since Sentinel's original investment, Vintage Parts added 30 new OEM partners, entered several new end markets, and more than tripled its profitability. Vintage Parts remains well positioned to continue growing under the leadership of its outstanding management team.