Capstone Partners advised Tombari Structural Products, Inc—a second-generation distributor of structural steel products—on its sale to O’Donnell Metal Deck, a wholly owned portfolio company of private equity firm Slate Capital Group.
Tombari Structural Products, Inc (TSP) is a Spokane, Washington-based, value-added material supplier of structural steel components used for new construction of commercial buildings that specializes in open web steel joists and metal decking. Founded and incorporated in 1995 by Jerry and Cathy Tombari, the company has grown over the past 27+ years into one of the largest steel joist and metal deck providers in the Western United States, and has exclusive distribution rights to many steel manufacturers in the northwestern U.S. TSP employs a large staff of in-house detailers, estimators, project managers, and support staff to enable seamless project coordination and deliverables to many leading contractors in the Northwest. For more information, please visit Tombari here.
Capstone was the perfect partner to aid in the sale of our business. They spent the time to understand our business and personal needs. This was invaluable in developing an attractive marketing package, but also in negotiating with potential buyers. They are a very experienced group that is extremely supportive through every step of the sale process. The sale process can be difficult to balance with continuing to run a business, but Capstone’s seasoned team of highly organized and motivated professionals eased this burden and helped us navigate a successful outcome.
“We are thrilled to partner with the folks at O’Donnell Metal Deck. Our companies are an excellent cultural match, and as a result, we complement each other well. I am excited to see what we can do together,” continued Tombari. “Plus, my parents started this business and will transition into retirement as part of this corporate change. It was important to find the right home for what they started and what we built together. The folks at O’Donnell and Slate Capital Group do business the right way–with a focus on the customer and our employees–and that made us feel confident to partner with them.”
The acquisition of Tombari further expands the geographic reach of O’Donnell Metal Deck, a metal decking supplier based in Maryland. Tombari adds deep experience in larger, more complex projects, including those with seismic loads. Together, the companies will service steel fabricators and contractors throughout the U.S.
David Bench, Managing Director of Capstone Partners stated, “Capstone is excited about the partnership between Tombari Structural Products and O’Donnell Metal Deck as it represents a classic strategic combination: product line and geographic expansion, plus strengthening the acquirer’s management team and technical expertise. This also reflects the most common form of transaction we are seeing in today’s M&A market—an add-on acquisition by a portfolio company majority-owned by a private equity firm.”
Matt Weiss, CEO, O’Donnell Metal Deck stated, “We are excited to join forces with the Tombari team to grow our overall business in the greater Northwest. We hope to continue the tradition of first-class service provided by the Tombari family and their organization to their broad customer base west of the Rockies. That region has very attractive growth prospects and Tombari’s expertise in larger, more complex projects will help us grow both in their home territory and in the rest of our markets.”
O’Donnell Metal Deck is a value-added supplier and leading distributor of metal decking and steel bar joist for the commercial construction industry across the United States. With over 35 years of experience and over 10,000 successful projects, O’Donnell has locations in Maryland, Arizona, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, and is equipped to service clients across the entire United States. O’Donnell is a portfolio company of private equity firm Slate Capital Group. For more information, please visit www.odonnellmetaldeck.com.
Slate Capital Group is a private equity investment group based in Baltimore, Nashville, and Cincinnati that partners with lower-middle market companies. Slate provides liquidity to business owners and growth capital to businesses to fuel further expansion. The principals of Slate Capital Group have significant experience in both running small-to-mid-sized companies and investing in leveraged buyout transactions. The firm’s primary areas of focus include business services, distribution, and select light manufacturing investments. For additional information, please visit www.slatecap.com.
The expert investment banking professionals on Capstone Partners’ Industrials Team work with leading middle market companies operating in the Metal & Steel market to advise with their strategic decision-making in order to maximize financial outcomes at every stage of the business lifecycle. Our firm has developed a full suite of corporate finance solutions, including M&A advisory, debt advisory, financial advisory, and equity capital financing to help privately owned businesses and private equity firms address any need, ranging from growth and financial or operational advisement to an ultimate exit transaction. To learn more about this transaction, or about the benefits of starting a relationship with our Industrials Banking Team, contact us here.
