Manufacturing Acquisitions in Canada

LFM Capital-backed Weller Metalworks acquired DROP Sprockets, Inc., expanding Weller’s metal fabrication and precision machining platform. AEA Investors’ Private Debt group provided mezzanine notes and an equity co-investment to support the transaction. DROP, headquartered in Nelson, British Columbia, manufactures customizable made-to-order sprockets used across applications.

Platte River Equity portfolio company MFG Chemical acquired H.P. Polymers (HPP), an independent paint and coatings resin manufacturer. HPP is based in Puslinch, Ontario, and the deal expands MFG’s capabilities and product portfolio within the paint and coatings sector.

TerraVest Industries Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Advance Engineered Products. Advance, headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, is a Canadian manufacturer and service provider in the tank trailer industry, and the deal is intended to complement TerraVest’s existing tank trailer businesses and expand its product and service platform.

Lakeside Book Company acquired all issued and outstanding shares of Marquis Book Printing, Inc., expanding Lakeside’s book printing and distribution footprint into the Canadian market. Marquis will operate as a division of Lakeside, with Dave McCree leading the combined business and Serge Loubier continuing as president of Marquis.

Blue Point Capital Partners-backed Transtar Holding Company has acquired Pro Form Products, a manufacturer of refinishing and repair products for automotive, aviation, industrial, and marine applications. Pro Form, headquartered in Ontario, Canada, will operate as a subsidiary of Transtar Autobody Technologies, expanding Transtar’s product offering and end-market reach across the U.S. and Canada.

Ironbridge Equity Partners, in partnership with Walker Glass management, completed the acquisition of Walker Glass Company Ltd. Walker Glass is a Montreal-based value-added glass processor known for acid-etched glass, premium mirror products, and bird-friendly glazing, with sales across North America.

Oshkosh Corporation has completed the acquisition of Maxi-Métal Inc. (MAXIMETAL), a Canadian designer and manufacturer of custom fire apparatus and utility vehicles. MAXIMETAL will join Oshkosh’s Fire & Emergency segment, strengthening collaboration with Pierce Manufacturing and expanding sales and distribution across Pierce’s North American dealer network.

Steel Family Holdings (SFH) acquired Fire Detection Devices Ltd., a Canadian manufacturer of heat detection solutions and the Thermoflex brand. SFH plans to invest in the company’s patented heat detector technology to expand market accessibility while continuing the legacy founded by Jack Duggan.

SyBridge Technologies completed the acquisitions of Action Tooling LLC and Lakeshore Fixture & Gauge Ltd to expand its Tech & Services business unit and strengthen its end-to-end industrial technology solutions offering. The transactions add a Grand Rapids, Michigan service center and bring in-house capabilities for designing, manufacturing, certifying, and servicing fixtures, gauges, and end-of-arm tooling. SyBridge was established in 2019 by private equity firm Crestview Partners.

White Wolf Capital Canada Inc. and its affiliates acquired Weatherhaven, a portable infrastructure, base, and shelter solutions provider headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia. White Wolf is partnering with industry veteran Ray Castelli, who will continue as CEO, to support the company’s growth and U.S. expansion plans. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Lynx Equity, a Toronto-based private equity firm, acquired Yellowhead Wood Products (YWP), a Canadian wood product remanufacturer based in Alberta. YWP had retained MNP Corporate Finance to help run the sale process, and YWP’s management team is expected to remain with the business in ongoing roles.

Tangent Technologies acquired Home & Leisure, a vertically integrated extruder, fabricator, and assembler of plastic lumber furniture serving the mass-market casual furniture segment. Tangent Technologies is a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, a Houston-based middle-market private equity firm.

Kersia, backed by private equity firm Ardian, has acquired Choisy Laboratories Ltd., a Louiseville, Québec-based developer and manufacturer of chemical, biotechnological, and biosecurity hygiene solutions, for an undisclosed amount. The sellers were the Trudeau family and Champlain Financial Corporation, which had invested in Choisy in 2015. The deal expands Kersia’s North American footprint and adds new food safety and biosecurity technologies.

Lynx Equity Limited acquired Alpine Shredders, a Kitchener, Ontario-based manufacturer of purpose-built mobile shredding trucks. Alpine Shredders’ President, George Doerr, will remain with the company as it continues serving the mobile shredding equipment market. The transaction was facilitated by RBC’s Mid-Market Mergers and Acquisitions group, with diligence support from Minden Gross and Deloitte.