Vertical Supply Group (Platte River Equity Portfolio) Acquires Rescue Direct

Gridiron Capital Acquires Vertical Supply Group from Platte River Equity

April 12, 2022

Manufacturing

Gridiron Capital has acquired Vertical Supply Group (VSG), a Greensboro, North Carolina-based manufacturer, distributor, and direct e-commerce retailer of arborist tools, ropes, rescue and fall protection equipment, from Platte River Equity. Platte River will retain an ongoing stake in the business while Gridiron will partner with VSG management to support growth and pursue acquisition opportunities to expand the company's branded product portfolio and market reach. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Vertical Supply Group (Platte River Equity) Acquires Fred Marvin Associates

September 16, 2020

Manufacturing

Vertical Supply Group (VSG), a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has acquired Fred Marvin Associates, a Stow, Ohio-based manufacturer and distributor of poles, pruners and other arborist tools. VSG said it will continue to serve Fred Marvin’s customer base, grow the Stow manufacturing operation and produce new U.S.-made products while leveraging the brand and distribution capabilities.

Gridiron Capital‑Backed Vertical Supply Group Acquires Yates Gear

June 3, 2024

Manufacturing

Vertical Supply Group (VSG), a Gridiron Capital‑backed supplier and manufacturer of life‑safety equipment, has acquired Yates Gear, a 42+ year manufacturer of fall‑protection, rope‑access and technical rescue products based in Redding, California. Terms were not disclosed; VSG said it will integrate Yates into its portfolio and distribute the Yates product line through VSG's global channels as an add‑on to expand its work‑at‑height product offering.

Municipal Emergency Services (Platte River Equity portfolio) Acquires Interstate Rescue, LLC

November 11, 2022

Industrial Services

Municipal Emergency Services (MES), a Platte River Equity portfolio company, has acquired Interstate Rescue, LLC, a regional reseller and service provider of rescue equipment and apparatus serving Virginia and West Virginia. The deal expands MES’s product and service offerings and strengthens its geographic presence in Virginia and West Virginia.

MES Acquires Blue Ridge Rescue Suppliers

January 24, 2023

Industrial Services

Municipal Emergency Services (MES), a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has acquired Blue Ridge Rescue Suppliers, a Virginia-based Honeywell turnout gear provider serving municipalities and volunteer fire departments. The add-on expands MES's presence in Virginia and broadens its turnout gear, rescue equipment, body armor and uniform services offering to first‑responder customers.

Vertical Supply Group (Gridiron Capital) Acquires Honey Brothers and TreeKit in U.K. Expansion

October 25, 2022

Manufacturing

Gridiron Capital-backed Vertical Supply Group (VSG) acquired two U.K. arborist retail and product-development businesses, Honey Brothers Ltd. and TreeKit Limited, to establish a U.K. and Western Europe beachhead. The deals give VSG an owned channel in the arborist market to drive international growth and realize synergies across product development, manufacturing and equipment supply.