| Gaslight Equity Group is an up and coming resource for middle market manufacturing and specialty distribution businesses seeking acquisition and growth capital financing. We are "entrepreneurs investing in entrepreneurs."

Gaslight Equity Group, LLC
3 First National Plaza
Suite 2300
Chicago, IL 60602-4250
Phone: (312) 442-9016
Fax: (312) 263-1180 |
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FCL Graphics, Inc. Announces Completion of Debt Refinancing
Harwood Heights, Illinois, June 2007
FCL Graphics, Inc., a leading commercial printer, announced the closing of new senior revolving, term debt and junior term debt facilities refinancing the Company’s existing debt. The lower interest cost of the new facility will free up significant cash flow to pay down debt as well as provide increased capacity for growth both organically and through acquisition. The lead arranger for the new facility is OFS Finance, LLC. OFS Funding, LLC, Bank of America, Marathon Asset Management, LLC and Libertyville Bank and Trust Company participated in the lending group.
FCL Graphics, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest direct marketing printers, producing such items as direct mailings, brochures, annual reports, posters, catalogs, sell sheets, newspaper inserts and labels. The Company employs state-of-the-art-technology and the latest equipment to offer both web and sheet-fed printing services. Its pre-press equipment includes both digital and conventional equipment and its pressroom encompasses everything from sheet-fed presses to heat-set and cold web presses. The Company’s customers include such blue-chip corporations as Sears, General Electric, Allstate, and Blockbuster Entertainment.
Safe harbor statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements made in connection with this release which are not historical fact, such as forward-looking statements concerning future financial performance and growth, involve risk and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the best judgment of FCL Graphics, Inc. as of the date of this release. FCL Graphics, Inc. disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
Arrow Material Handling Acquires Sidney Manufacturing – Merger capitalizes on strengths of both companies with plans for increased development and manufacturing of innovative material handling products.
Kansas City, Missouri (April 3, 2007) – Arrow Material Handling Products announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Sidney Manufacturing based in Sidney, Iowa. Sidney Manufacturing designs, manufactures and markets niche material handling products serving an international customer base. Sidney prides itself on producing equipment that is versatile, durable, powerful and competitively priced. One of these products, the Gregory Grappler, is a top of the line grapple that is capable of breaking and moving up to 8” slabs of concrete. This grapple will outperform all other grapple buckets and grapple rakes on the market. In addition, Sidney produces the Timberline Tree Shear, another forerunner in its marketplace with the ability to shear a tree up to 14” in diameter in less than six seconds. The shear head then hydraulically swivels to cut up the fallen tree or move it and/or load it at will. Both products fit a variety of equipment including skid steer loaders, tractors, telehandlers, backhoes, wheeled loaders and excavators.
Frontier Investment Banking, a leading boutique investment banking firm focused on middle-market mergers and acquisitions, served as exclusive advisor to Arrow on the transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Ross Gault Sr., President and CEO of Arrow, was clearly pleased with the acquisition: “Sidney is a category leader in their niche markets, and we couldn’t be happier to add them to Arrow’s expanding business. Sidney’s product offerings complement Arrow’s existing lines, and Sidney Manufacturing’s capabilities are synergistic to Arrow’s capabilities.”
Greg Gregory, founder and operator of Sidney Manufacturing, commented that “joining the Arrow family provides us an avenue to expand our customer base and continue to develop and manufacture innovative products for our market segments. I had been searching for the ideal partner to grow our business and believe I have found that partner in Arrow.”
Tom Spielberger, partner in Gaslight Equity Group, the majority owner of Arrow, added that “we are very excited at the opportunities presented by adding Sidney to Arrow’s business, and we look forward to supporting Arrow in future growth both organically and through acquisitions such as this one.”
About Arrow Material Handling Products
Arrow Material Handling Products has manufactured quality products for the Material Handling industry for over 38 years. Starting business as Arrow Forklift Parts Manufacturing Corporation, the company specialized in wrecking out old forklifts and selling the parts. More recently, by leveraging its expansive product line of “on-the-shelf” and “ready-to-ship” forks, Arrow extended its line of innovative products into construction attachments.
With unparalleled fork supplies, well-honed engineering and superb fabrication capabilities, Arrow expanded into high quality fork and frame assemblies for wheel loaders and skid steers, pallet forks for telehandlers and rough terrain forklifts, fork-mounted trailer spotters, fork-mounted, pin-on and coupler-fitted truss booms and extendable booms. Each of the company’s frame assemblies features the now world famous Arrow fully forged forks for an unbeatable combination of strength, quality and durability.
Arrow’s newest product line is an ever expanding line of telehandler and skid steer buckets. As the company evolved from a supplier of parts to an attachments manufacturing powerhouse, its business grew so substantially the company changed its name from Arrow Forklift Parts to Arrow Material Handling Products (AMH for short), to better reflect the current product offerings. AMH is the trusted name in the material handling industry for quality attachments, quick product availability, competitive pricing, solid engineering experience and dedicated customer support. For more information, visit www.ArrowForklift.com.
About Gaslight Equity Group
Gaslight Equity Group, LLC is a private equity group that partners with middle market entrepreneurial businesses. Founded in 2003, Gaslight is an up and coming resource for middle market manufacturing and specialty distribution businesses seeking acquisition and growth capital financing. We are "entrepreneurs investing in entrepreneurs." For more information, visit www.gaslightequitygroup.com.
About Frontier Investment Banking Corporation
Frontier Investment Banking is a leading, boutique investment banking firm focused on providing middle-market companies and their owners with a comprehensive offering of Mergers & Acquisition, Corporate Finance and other related services, including (i) Sale, Recapitalization and Acquisition Advisory; (ii) Capital Raising and (iii) Strategic Advisory. Its professionals have significant transaction experience and financial expertise in the middle-market, combining that experience and expertise with unique capabilities and qualifications, including direct access to Wall Street-quality research and analysis covering a broad spectrum of industries and a senior advisor network of industry veterans who provide their expertise on, and leverage their network for, specific engagements. For more information, visit www.FrontierIBC.com.
Arrow Forklift Parts, LLC Announces Implementation of Lean Enterprise
Kansas City, MO - January 16, 2006 Ross Gault, Jr., P.E. is the new Director of Marketing and Engineering at Arrow Forklift Parts, LLC, a Gaslight Equity Group, LLC company. Gault will be emphasizing marketing, product development, and the implementation of Lean Enterprise practices. Generating above average returns requires building a strong human resource base equipped with modern tools and business processes, and Gault is focusing on initiatives to reinforce each aspect of this formula. New engineering tools he introduced have decreased time to market and increased opportunities for product development and engineered-to-order products, and Lean practices will nurture the innovative and entrepreneurial culture critical to long-term success.
Prior to joining Arrow, Gault was a sales and application engineer serving Freightliner, John Deere, and CNH America, three leaders in their markets, for Pana Pacific, a division of the Brix Group. Prior to this he was in charge of product development for a Weir Group PLC company producing large industrial pumps. Gault has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from CSU, Fresno, is a licensed Professional Engineer, and will complete an entrepreneurship MBA at the Sid Craig School of Business at CSU, Fresno in May of 2006.
Graphic Arts Monthly features F.C.L. Graphics, Inc. President
Harwood Heights, IL - January 2, 2006 Ken Menconi, F.C.L. Graphics Inc., President is featured in the January 2006 edition of Graphic Arts Monthly. To read the article in full please click here.
F.C.L. Graphics expands printing service capabilities with the acquisition of The Graphics Group
Harwood Heights, IL - December 5, 2005 - F.C.L. Graphics, a premier full-service printing company and one of the nation's largest direct marketing printers, today announced the acquisition of certain assets of The Graphics Group, a regional sheetfed printer providing pre-press, print and inventory management services, for an undisclosed amount.
With enhanced pre-press and print capabilities, and state-of-the art Internet-based print management systems, the combination of F.C.L. Graphics and The Graphics Group now provides customers with a single source for a wide variety of printing needs. Together, the two companies will offer solutions to a broader range of customer needs and have a significantly greater opportunity to grow into new markets.
"F.C.L. Graphics' acquisition of The Graphics Group is a strategic decision that will enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive range of printing services at competitive prices," said Ken Menconi, president of F.C.L. Graphics. "Our focus has always been on producing quality work quickly and efficiently for customers, and we look forward to offering a wider range of pre-press and print services to better serve clients nationwide."
About F.C.L. Graphics
F.C.L. Graphics, headquartered in Harwood Heights, IL, is one of the nation's largest direct marketing printers, with a broad selection of print technology capabilities and approximately 175 employees who are committed to superior customer care. F.C.L. Graphics produces quick turnaround direct mail products for retailers, financial services and direct mail brokerages. In addition, the company also produces catalogs, newspaper inserts, brochures, annual reports, posters and labels.
About The Graphics Group
The Graphics Group, based in Bensenville, IL is a regional leader in technology-driven graphic arts communications. The sheetfed printing company provides pre-press, print and inventory management services including three-hour digital proofs, Internet quoting and state-of-the-art pre-press and printing.
F.C.L. Graphics Announces New Management Team
Harwood Heights, IL – August 17, 2005 – F.C.L. Graphics, one of Chicago’s premier full-service printing companies, today announced the creation of its new management team, designed to expand upon its core strengths of 24/7 superior customer service and unmatched quality. The new team will continue the F.C.L. Graphics tradition of combining old-fashioned values with high-tech printing capabilities to serve clients in Chicago and around the country. The new F.C.L. Graphics executive management team is led by President Ken Menconi, an industry veteran who brings a lifetime of printing experience, knowledge and strong work ethic to his new leadership role.
“F.C.L. Graphics’ decision to transition to a new management team was based on our number one priority – delivering superior customer service,” said Ken Menconi, president of F.C.L. Graphics and a 28 year veteran of the company. “At F.C.L. Graphics, we are known for our honesty, integrity and dedication to customer service, which serves as a strong foundation for our continued growth and customer satisfaction.”
The new team consists of industry experts with a wealth of experience in the printing and production industry, and an average of 20 years of dedicated service to F.C.L. Graphics, including:
- Ken Menconi, President
- Phil Bauman, Vice President of Operations
- Dino DeVivo, Vice President of Production
- Mike Dato, Vice President of Purchasing
F.C.L. Graphics is one of the largest direct marketing printers in the country, with a broad selection of technologies to choose from, and approximately 175 employees who are committed to customer care. Under its new management team, F.C.L. Graphics has retained all existing customers – including Discover, Weber and Allstate – who value the company’s honesty and integrity in day-to-day work.
To celebrate the new management, F.C.L. Graphics held a customer appreciation event on July 21 to introduce the addition of a new state-of-the-art high-speed combination folder to the company’s Heidelberg web printing press. The combination folder will allow F.C.L. Graphics to expand its capabilities and provide clients round-the-clock web printing services and competitive customer pricing for booklet and book printing.
The Prospect Group, Inc. Advises Gaslight Equity on Its Acquisition of Arrow Material Handling
Kansas City, May 31, 2005 – The Prospect Group, Inc., a regional investment banking firm specializing in middle-market acquisitions and divestitures, is please to announce that Gaslight Equity Group has completed the acquisition of Arrow Material Handling Corporation. The transaction closed on March 26, 2005 for an undisclosed dollar amount.
Gaslight Equity Group’s acquisition of Arrow Material Handling is its third acquisition in six months. “The name ARROW MATERIAL HANDLING stands for quality and service in the Material Handling Industry, ” stated Tom Spielberger, Gaslight’s Managing Director. Arrow Material Handling, a 32-year-old Kansas City company, has the largest selection of forklift forks under one roof in the country. This is supported by a complete in-house engineering and customization department to make the right fork for the right job. “Our customization turn-around is the best in the industry, with most special orders shipped to our customers within ten working days,” stated Ross Gault, Arrow’s President. Leveraging our great pricing and selection of “on-the-shelf” and “ready-to-ship” forks, Arrow has expanded its engineering and fabrication capabilities to include high quality and reasonably priced bucket forks for all makes of backhoes, pallet fork and frame assemblies for wheel loaders and skid steers, pallet forks for telehandlers and rough terrain forklifts, fork-mounted trailer spotters, fork-mounted, pin-on and coupler-fitted truss booms and extendable booms. “Each of our frame assemblies features the now world famous Arrow fully forged forklift forks for an unbeatable combination,” explained Gault.
Gaslight Equity Group, LLC Makes its First Acquisition
Chicago, IL January 28, 2004…Gaslight Equity Group, LLC (“Gaslight”), a Chicago based middle-market acquisition company, acquired the assets of Chicago Packaging Company (“CPC”). CPC has operated in the Chicago area for over 40 years.
CPC is a full-service manufacturer of printed folding boxes and mailers. CPC’s in-house production facilities include custom design work, film and plate making and specialty die cutting. CPC produces an extensive assortment of products from packaging for food service and electronic media to protective mailing cartons.
Gaslight is focused on middle-market acquisitions with companies with EBITDA from $1 million to $5 million.
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