Company Description
MB2 Dental is a leading Dental Partnership Organization that employs a differentiated doctor-centric business model through which affiliated dentists enjoy the clinical benefits of a private practice and the infrastructure, compliance, marketing, and purchasing advantages of a traditional DSO model. MB2 draws on the energy of highly engaged and deeply committed dentist partners with aligned economic interests.

Background
Sentinel was introduced to MB2 by an investment bank tasked with finding a financial partner who could help MB2's founders and management team to achieve their estate planning goals and continue to grow MB2 through add-on acquisitions. MB2's founders selected Sentinel as the preferred partner because of our strong cultural fit with management, extensive experience investing in the dental sector, and proven track record of growing businesses through add-on acquisitions.

The Opportunity
To partner with MB2's founding management team, capitalize on its unique local-ownership model, and rapidly grow through add-on acquisitions and de novo office openings.

Accomplishments
Smooth Transition to Sentinel Ownership: As a business owned and operated by management and their dentist partners, Sentinel and management worked productively together to ensure a smooth transition.

Positioned the Business for Further Growth: Sentinel worked closely with management to strengthen MB2's infrastructure to support rapid growth. MB2 hired additional central support staff and invested in new systems. During Sentinel's ownership, MB2 more than doubled its corporate staff.

Accelerated Growth Through Acquisitions and De Novos: With a unique operating model that resonated with independent entrepreneurial dentists, MB2 significantly accelerated its growth by:

• Making 100 add-on acquisitions of single and multi-location general and specialty dental practices representing 175 dental clinics

• Opening 20 de novo offices with existing MB2 doctor partners

In total, MB2 more than tripled its office count, from 85 to 275, and expanded its geographic footprint from six states to 24.

Outcome
Having accomplished our investment objectives during our three-and-a-half-year ownership, MB2 was sold to another private equity firm in a highly successful management buyout. MB2's management team continues to run the business under new ownership.



Case studies have been selected for illustrative purposes for management teams of midmarket companies considering a partnership with Sentinel and should not be considered an offer or solicitation of services or an actual or implied endorsement of Sentinel or any security, investment, or portfolio company. The portfolio companies highlighted are not representative of all current and prior investments of Sentinel. A list and description of investments since Sentinel’s inception is available on this website.

Company Description
SONNY'S is the leading manufacturer and marketer of conveyorized car wash systems and related products. Founded in 1978, SONNY'S provides equipment, parts, control systems, and chemicals to customers ranging from single-location car-wash owners to large multi-site operators. SONNY'S complements its product offering with a market-leading suite of services including site selection and design, marketing support, education, and software.

Background
Sentinel was introduced to SONNY'S by a boutique advisory firm tasked with finding a financial partner who would assist the owner and CEO in achieving his estate planning objectives, would be a responsible steward of the business, a good partner to management, and could help accelerate SONNY's growth through add-on acquisitions. Sentinel was one of a handful of carefully selected parties approached and ultimately was chosen as the preferred partner because of our strong cultural fit with the management team, experience investing in branded manufacturing businesses, proven record of closing transactions, and capital committed to support an aggressive growth vision.

The Opportunity

• To acquire a majority interest in the leading player in conveyorized car wash systems and related products

• To partner with a world-class management team who continued to own a significant stake in the business

• To participate in expected industry growth driven by the technology-driven shift to highly automated and more convenient express wash formats

• To capitalize on SONNY'S leadership position to make strategic bolt-on acquisitions to grow its suite of services and expand its geographic presence

Accomplishments
Smooth Transition to Sentinel Ownership: As a 40-year-old family-owned and operated business, Sentinel and management worked closely together to ensure a smooth transition.

Accelerated Growth Through Acquisitions: During Sentinel's ownership, SONNY'S completed six acquisitions that:

• Added carwash chemicals, a highly attractive consumable product, to its product offering

• Deepened SONNY's offering in foaming equipment, signage, and marketing

• Added local distribution, construction, and service in the Southeast and Southwest, two key growth geographies for the car wash market

Exceptional Financial Performance: During Sentinel's ownership, SONNY'S sales and profitability more than doubled. Strong performance in its equipment business and successful cross selling from the add-on acquisitions fueled this growth.

Outcome
Having accomplished our investment objectives during our three-and-a-half-year ownership, Sentinel and management sold SONNY'S to another financial buyer in a highly successful transaction. SONNY'S CEO continued to run the business under new ownership.



Case studies have been selected for illustrative purposes for management teams of midmarket companies considering a partnership with Sentinel and should not be considered an offer or solicitation of services or an actual or implied endorsement of Sentinel or any security, investment, or portfolio company. The portfolio companies highlighted are not representative of all current and prior investments of Sentinel. A list and description of investments since Sentinel’s inception is available on this website.

Company Description
Spinrite is the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of consumer craft yarn products in North America. Spinrite is well known to the hobby market for its Bernat, Patons, Caron, Peaches & Crème, Lily Sugar'n Cream, and Phentex brands, which are sold through mass merchants, craft stores, and independent specialty stores.

Background
Spinrite is located in a rural community where the company is the largest employer and the owner and his family are well known to and deeply involved in the local community. With a significant portion of the family's net worth invested in Spinrite, they decided to sell a majority stake in Spinrite to a financial partner so they could diversify their holdings and implement a succession plan for the owner, who had reached retirement age. The family also wanted to retain an ongoing interest in the business.

In choosing a partner, Spinrite's owner wanted to select a responsible, highly qualified buyer who would be a good "fit" with senior management, a responsible steward who would focus on continuing to help grow the business and who could be trusted to close the deal. Following a limited round of bidding by potential financial partners and an extensive due diligence process conducted by the owner and his advisors on the small group of potential financial partners, Sentinel was selected as his preferred partner.

The Opportunity

• To acquire a category leader with the most comprehensive brand portfolio in the craft yarn segment

• To partner with Spinrite's owner and committed and experienced management team

• To invest in an industry with strong projected category growth due to the aging of the baby boomers and increased number of younger knitters

Accomplishments
Completed a Smooth Ownership Transition: Spinrite made a smooth transition to new ownership after more than 50 years of family ownership.

Implemented a CEO Transition: Following the closing, Sentinel and the former owner successfully recruited a new CEO with a deep experience and a proven record in the consumer products industry. The new CEO worked seamlessly with the founder and after a brief transition period, the founder was able to achieve his objective of retiring. 

Achieved Growth Objectives: In a short period, Spinrite grew substantially by capitalizing on category growth, introducing new products, and increasing its share of the retail channel. 

Outcome
By 2005, Sentinel and management had achieved the growth objectives established at the outset of the transaction and Spinrite completed an IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange in a highly successful transaction for Sentinel, management, and the former owner.



Case studies have been selected for illustrative purposes for management teams of midmarket companies considering a partnership with Sentinel and should not be considered an offer or solicitation of services or an actual or implied endorsement of Sentinel or any security, investment, or portfolio company. The portfolio companies highlighted are not representative of all current and prior investments of Sentinel. A list and description of investments since Sentinel’s inception is available on this website.

Company Description
Strategic Partners is a leading supplier of medical uniforms for the specialty retail, mass merchant, catalog, and ecommerce channels. Its brands include Cherokee, Dickies, Sketchers, Baby Phat, Team Scrubs, and Tooniforms. With over 50 license agreements, Strategic is also the industry's largest licensee.

Background
Sentinel was introduced to the transaction by one of our investors with whom Strategic's CEO was also an investor. His goals were to select a financial partner he could trust, who would be a good "fit" with senior management, who would be a responsible steward of the business, who possessed relevant industry and acquisition experience, and who could assist management in achieving certain estate planning objectives. No investment banker was involved in the transaction. Following several meetings that enabled the parties to get to know each other, management selected Sentinel as their partner. Strategic's management team, who continued with Strategic in their existing positions, became significant minority investors.

The Opportunity

• To acquire a majority interest in the leading player in the medical uniform category

• To partner with a worldclass management team who continued to own a significant stake in the business

• To participate in expected industry growth driven by aging of boomers that would fuel growth in the number of medical professionals

• To utilize Strategic's position as industry leader to selectively make bolt-on acquisitions and secure additional brand licenses

Accomplishments
Smooth Transition to Sentinel Ownership: As an entrepreneur-owned and operated business since its founding in 1995, Sentinel and management worked closely together to ensure a smooth transition.

Accelerated Growth Through Acquisitions and Licensing: Acquired the Dickies brand license for the medical uniform industry, which previously had been held by a smaller, entrepreneur-founded company. Also acquired the Skechers license and several Disney brand licenses.

Excellent Financial Performance: During Sentinel's ownership, Strategic grew its sales significantly and more than doubled its profitability.

Outcome
Having accomplished our investment objectives during our four year ownership period, Sentinel and management sold the business to another financial buyer in a management buyout transaction. Strategic’s founder and CEO continued to run the business under new ownership.



Case studies have been selected for illustrative purposes for management teams of midmarket companies considering a partnership with Sentinel and should not be considered an offer or solicitation of services or an actual or implied endorsement of Sentinel or any security, investment, or portfolio company. The portfolio companies highlighted are not representative of all current and prior investments of Sentinel. A list and description of investments since Sentinel’s inception is available on this website.