RICHMOND, VA – July 11, 2007 – Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. announced today that it has successfully completed the sale of Club Colors, Inc. to CID Capital, a private equity firm headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Club Colors, based in Schaumburg, IL is a portfolio company of Philadelphia-based private equity firm RAF Industries. Matrix served as exclusive financial advisor to RAF Industries on the transaction.
Club Colors is a leading provider of licensed collegiate apparel and corporate promotional products, serving hundreds of leading colleges and universities through the college bookstore channel, as well as a diverse mix of Fortune 1000 corporate customers. The company’s products include a broad array of both Club Colors and Tommy Hilfiger branded collegiate apparel, for which Club Colors holds the exclusive North American license. In addition, high quality corporate logo apparel and promotional products are sold to corporate clients on a program basis.
In commenting on the transaction, Doug Murphy, CEO of Club Colors, stated “The senior management team, which will remain intact, is pleased to be moving forward with our new financial partner, CID Capital, as we continue to aggressively grow both the college bookstore and promotional product sides of the business.” Rick Horowitz, President and Chief Operating Officer of RAF Industries, added, “This transaction was as smooth as any in which I have participated (buy or sell) and Matrix was a big part of that. The team at Matrix was prompt, efficient, on top of the issues and provided us with solid advice throughout the deal.”
Bill Weirich, Managing Director and Principal at Matrix commented, “We have had a longstanding relationship with RAF Industries and were excited to work with their team and Club Colors’ management on achieving not only maximum value, but a suitable partner for the Company going forward.” Bryan Johnson, Vice President at Matrix, added, “The Company’s strong management team, JIT business model, and their growing presence in the college bookstore market made this an attractive and fairly unique opportunity in the promotional products sector, which translated into significant interest from a wide range of strategic and financial buyers.”
About RAF Industries
Founded in 1979 by Robert A. Fox, RAF Industries is a Philadelphia-based, privately held company that acquires and operates middle market manufacturing companies. RAF’s mission is to develop and nurture world-class companies by combining entrepreneurial operating executives with RAF’s seasoned corporate management team.
About CID
Capital CID Capital, a private equity firm based in Indianapolis, provides investment capital to support management buyouts and recapitalizations throughout the United States. CID focuses on privately-owned lower middle market companies that have a strong market position and growth potential. CID’s team of professionals works with management to develop and execute a strategy to build value and realize superior investment returns.
About Matrix Capital Markets Group
Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. is an independent, advisory focused, privately-held investment bank headquartered in Richmond, VA. Since 1988, Matrix has provided merger & acquisition and financial advisory services for privately-held, private-equity owned and publicly traded companies. Our primary advisory services include company sales, asset divestitures, recapitalizations, management buyouts, capital raises of debt & equity, corporate recovery, fairness opinions and valuations. Matrix has served clients in a wide range of industries, including industrial manufacturing and distribution, building products, business services, consumer products, healthcare, lumber and petroleum marketing & distribution. For additional information, please visit www.matrixcmg.com.
Securities offered by Matrix Private Equities, Inc., an affiliate of Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC.