Sentinel | News | Private Equity | Middle Market | Buyout (2024)

NEW YORK, January 16, 2024 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the acquisition of Market Performance Group ("MPG"), a leading provider of omnichannel strategy and consulting services focused on the consumer packaged goods industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Through deep category expertise and leading data capabilities, MPG builds and activates synergistic strategies that drive brand sales performance at ecommerce and brick-and-mortar retailers. MPG's clients include a diverse set of large and midsized consumer products companies as well as emerging independent brands. MPG also offers industry research and brand diligence for consumer products investors.

"Market Performance Group is strategically positioned for growth in attractive sectors that are large and resilient," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel partner. "We're excited to partner with MPG's hugely talented team."

"Our long-term client relationships attest to the excellent service we provide and our commitment to being a trusted partner," said George Cleary, MPG's CEO. "We are honored to become part of the Sentinel family of companies."

Sentinel's expertise in businesses that sell into similar retail and online channels includes investments in GSM Outdoors (innovative hunting and sport shooting products); L2 Brands (custom apparel and headwear); and WellSpring Pharmaceutical (branded OTC health and personal care products). Sentinel also has a proven record in business services through investments in Apex (environmental services specializing in water resources, land restoration, and industrial hygiene); New Era Technology (managed information technology services focused on collaboration and data networks); and TriMech (CAD software, 3D manufacturing solutions, and associated training and consulting services).

NEW YORK, December 19, 2023 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the acquisition of Online Labels Group, a leading provider of pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, and flexible packaging solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In a differentiated dual-channel strategy, Online Labels delivers a broad line of high-quality label products through online and direct sales to a diverse set of customers across many sectors, including food and beverage, health and beauty, household, and many others. Online Labels is a premier one-stop shop for its customers' labeling needs, providing a wide selection of blank and customized short- and medium-run labels for small to midsize businesses.

"Online Labels is an e-commerce pioneer with an industry-leading digital platform and top-notch direct salesforce," said Louis Brotherton, a Sentinel principal. "We are excited to partner with the Online Labels team to continue driving growth organically and through acquisitions."

Online Labels has enjoyed a long run of strong growth. In recent years, it has grown organically, completed acquisitions, expanded its product line, bolstered its leadership team, and executed other strategic initiatives.

"Throughout our history, Online Labels' growth has been fueled by key differentiators including industry-leading turnaround times, superior quality, and breadth of products," said Dave Carmany, Online Labels' CEO. "Our company is poised to continue to achieve significant growth with our partners at Sentinel, and I couldn't be more excited for what the future holds."

Sentinel's experience in e-commerce and specialty materials in the printing space includes its investments in Nekoosa (specialty paper and film used in the graphics and commercial print sectors), RotoMetrics (precision rotary tooling for the printing and converting industries), and SmartSign (an online provider of customizable and specialized signs, labels, and tags serving the regulatory, compliance, and safety markets).

NEW YORK, December 19, 2023 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, announced the acquisition of High Bar Brands, LLC, the leading manufacturer and distributor of branded aftermarket products for heavy-duty trucks and trailers. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

High Bar's product portfolio includes poly fenders, floormats, couplings, pintle hitches, stainless steel accessories, and mud flaps. High Bar's manufacturing experience spans nearly 100 years, and its iconic brands—Minimizer, Premier Manufacturing, Dieters, Panelite, and Viking—are renowned for superior durability, safety, and functionality. High Bar serves more than 1,300 customers including leading aftermarket distributors, dealers, and OEMs in North America, Central America, and South America. The end users of High Bar's products are fleet managers and owner-operators across infrastructure, waste management, agriculture, food service, forestry, over-the-road trucking, and other markets. By building brand awareness among end users, High Bar's impressive sales and marketing has driven consistent sales growth.

"High Bar's differentiated go-to-market strategy is a win for all our channel partners," said Christopher "CT" Thorpe, High Bar's CEO. "Our products are designed to serve the unique needs of every fleet, and our deep connections with drivers, owners, and fleet managers plays a crucial role in establishing our brands as industry standards for quality."

"High Bar Brands' market presence is second to none, with all brands commanding leadership positions in their respective categories," said Owen Basham, a Sentinel partner. "We're excited to partner with High Bar and its talented management team through its next chapter of growth."

Sentinel's experience in the vehicle aftermarket sector includes investments in Empire Auto Parts (a specialty distributor of aftermarket parts serving collision repair centers), Holley (branded high-performance automotive products for car and truck enthusiasts), SONNY'S Enterprises (conveyorized car wash systems), and Vintage Parts (distributor of slow-moving and inactive OEM replacement parts).

NEW YORK, November 5, 2023 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced a minority structured equity and junior debt investment in the Worldwide Home Care division of Sodexo (the "Company"), which provides in home care in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Brazil. The investment supported the acquisition of the Company led by private equity firm The Halifax Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, the Company is a franchisor in the United States through its Comfort Keepers brand, which operates in the non-medical personal care sector through 535 franchised territories and 105 company-owned territories. Internationally, the Company offers personal care in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and France, and complex care (skilled nursing, therapies, and home hospitalization) in the United Kingdom and Brazil. The senior management team will continue leading the Company.

"Sentinel's proven experience with franchise models and home care services will be a valuable addition to our partnership with Halifax," said Natalie Black, the Company's CEO. "Our goal is to continue to enhance our service offerings and deliver excellent care to more clients and families."

"Comfort Keepers and the Company's other well-established global brands are leaders in their markets and represent an attractive, diversified business model," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We're excited to partner with this passionate, committed management team and to contribute our expertise in franchising and healthcare. We also look forward to working with The Halifax Group, a highly capable private equity firm we have known and worked with for a long time."

Sentinel's investment in the Worldwide Home Care division of Sodexo was made from Sentinel's junior capital family of funds, which specialize in noncontrol structured capital solutions in the lower end of the midmarket.

NEW YORK, May 18, 2023 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the sale of portfolio company ECM Industries to nVent Electric plc (NYSE: NVT) for a purchase price of $1.1 billion.

Headquartered in New Berlin, Wisconsin, ECM is a global manufacturer and supplier of electrical connectors, tools, and test instruments for construction, maintenance, lighting, irrigation, landscape supply, and gas utility applications. ECM serves professional electricians, contractors, maintenance technicians, and do-it-yourselfers with a wide range of premium brands, including ILSCO, Gardner Bender, and King Innovation. ECM has more than 1,400 employees and operates in North America and Shanghai.

"Sentinel has been an excellent partner over the past three and a half years," said Mike Masino, CEO of ECM. "With Sentinel’s support, we completed the transformational acquisition of ILSCO, expanded ECM’s product offering and significantly diversified our business. We are well positioned for continued success with our new partner."

"It has been a privilege to work with Mike and the rest of the ECM management team for the second time after our successful previous investment in Power Products," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel Partner. "ECM has performed exceedingly well during our partnership, and we believe it has a bright future ahead. All of us at Sentinel wish our management team partners at ECM continued success."

Sentinel has extensive prior experience investing in niche manufacturing and distribution businesses, including Chase Doors, a manufacturer of high-quality, made-to-order specialty door systems; Chromalox, a leading branded manufacturer of commercial and industrial electric heating products and solutions; Colson, a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of casters, wheels, and related hardware products; Empire Auto Parts, a leading specialty distributor of aftermarket collision parts; Engineered Controls International, a global manufacturer of specialized pressure regulators, valves, and control equipment for liquefied and compressed gasses; IEP Technologies, a global provider of systems that suppress potential explosions in process industries; LTI Boyd, a global manufacturer of high-performance sealing systems and components; Luminaires, a manufacturer of specification-grade and architectural lighting fixtures; Nekoosa, a manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets; PlayCore, a playground equipment and recreation products company; Power Products, a global electrical products supplier serving the construction, marine, and recreation markets; Recreational Group, a manufacturer and distributor of premium synthetic turf products; RefrigiWear, a manufacturer of protective industrial workwear; RotoMetrics, a global provider of precision rotary tooling for the printing and converting industries; and Sonny’s, a manufacturer of conveyorized car wash equipment and supplies.

NEW YORK, December 7, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the simultaneous closings of Sentinel Capital Partners VII, LP at $4.35 billion and Sentinel Junior Capital II, LP at $835 million. These twin closings cap a $5.2 billion fundraising.

"We are delighted to finalize another successful fundraise with strong endorsem*nts of our strategy from existing investors and select new global LPs," said David S. Lobel, founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel. "We are incredibly pleased with the support we have received from an outstanding group of LPs during an extremely challenging period for investors. Strong investor demand resulted in Sentinel VII securing commitments above its hard cap."

Through Sentinel's seventh equity fund, the firm will continue the same investment strategy it has employed and refined in previous funds—partnering with talented management teams to acquire midmarket companies with up to $65 million of EBITDA that possess solid business fundamentals in select industries where Sentinel has extensive experience. In addition to platform acquisitions, Sentinel will continue to pursue tuck-in acquisitions and transformational add-on acquisitions as important dimensions of its investment strategy.

"Over the course of 27 years, Sentinel has established a consistent record of growing and improving midmarket businesses by tackling financial and operational complexity while embracing partnerships with management teams, an approach that has proven appealing to corporate and institutional sellers, business owners, and company executives," said John F. McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder. "As Sentinel matures, we continue to invest in our people and the processes that enhance our capabilities. Besides our core investment capabilities, we are actively investing in DE&I, ESG, investor relations, forensic accounting, and human capital initiatives."

Sentinel's second structured capital solutions fund will offer flexible credit and equity solutions, including senior and junior debt, preferred equity, and other forms of structured capital. These capital solutions will be provided to Sentinel's own portfolio companies as well as other closely held businesses and private equity–backed companies. This investment vehicle draws on Sentinel's long heritage as a collaborative, value-added, and solutions-based investment partner.

Investors in Sentinel's new funds include college and university endowments, foundations, state and government retirement systems, corporate pension plans, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, investment advisors, and Taft-Hartley plans based in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, Australia, and the Middle East. The new funds follow two predecessors that Sentinel raised in 2018—Sentinel Capital Partners VI, L.P. with $2.15 billion of committed capital, and Sentinel Junior Capital I, L.P., Sentinel's first structured capital solutions fund, with $460 million of committed capital.

Supporting the fundraising and representing Sentinel were law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP and the Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

NEW YORK, January 31, 2023 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the sale of Apex Companies, a leading provider of end-to-end environmental consulting and engineering solutions, to Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. Sentinel Capital Partners will maintain a minority position in Apex post-closing. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Apex, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, is a leading environmental consulting and engineering firm specializing in a broad range of environmental and infrastructure needs. Apex serves a large and diverse client base spanning both the public and private sectors and a broad range of end-markets, including energy, industrial, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and telecom. An established leader in stormwater compliance and environmental services, Apex also offers a robust portfolio of services in water infrastructure and resources, compliance and assurance (including ESG consulting), health and safety, transportation, and civil engineering. Apex has over 1,100 professionals operating across 50 nationwide offices and also has the largest stormwater management and compliance practice in the country.

"We've had an excellent partnership with Sentinel over the past four years," said Dave Fabianski, chief executive officer of Apex. "Sentinel's support and guidance have helped us achieve our strategic growth initiatives and their commitment to our people has been absolutely first rate. We appreciate their partnership and the way the Sentinel team engaged with our team."

Sentinel acquired Apex in November 2018 and since then has completed four successful add-on acquisitions—the Health Safety and Environmental Consulting Business of Bureau Veritas, which included solutions across safety, ergonomics, sustainability, compliance, and management systems; CME Engineering LP and CME Operations LP, regional service providers in civil, mining, water, and environmental engineering serving clients across the Mid-Atlantic; Environmental Partners, a regional leader of engineering services across New England; and Retention Pond Services, a regional leader in stormwater compliance, maintenance and repair services in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest.

"Apex's management and employees are highly talented and committed, and we have greatly enjoyed working alongside them. This team has established Apex's nationwide reputation as a leader in water resources and environmental compliance, has built an impressive track record, and has well positioned Apex to continue its impressive growth trajectory," said Michael Fabian, a Sentinel Partner. "Our investment in Apex also reflects Sentinel's ongoing commitment to ESG."

Sentinel has extensive experience investing in infrastructure and environmental engineering and consulting businesses. In addition to Apex, other investments in the sector include TranSystems, a provider of engineering, architectural, and design consulting solutions; and Trinity Consultants, a provider of air quality consulting and compliance services. Apex is Sentinel's fourth exit in the last 12 months. The other three are Captain Ds, the leading seafood quick service restaurant brand; Altima Dental, a leading dental support organization in Canada; and Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets.

Robert W. Baird & Co., Houlihan Lokey, and AEC Advisors served as financial advisors to Apex.

NEW YORK, November 15, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the acquisition of L2 Brands, a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of custom apparel and headwear for the collegiate, destination and leisure, and corporate markets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With a heritage dating back more than 30 years, L2 Brands creates customized products that connect consumers with the schools, destinations, and traditions they love. Since its founding in 1991, L2 Brands has grown into a diversified business with a successful history of long-term profitable growth. L2's two brands—League and Legacy—offer widely recognized lines of premium apparel and headwear.

"L2 has a three-decade reputation for offering leading brands, excellent customer service, and high-quality products," said Sentinel Partner John Van Sickle. "Sentinel is excited to partner with L2 and its talented management team for its next chapter of growth."

League was founded in 1991 and draws its brand inspiration from the All-American lifestyle. Legacy was launched one year later and has become the brand of choice in customized headwear and winter knits. These brands include more than 150 styles for men and women that are sold into the collegiate, destination and leisure, and corporate markets. L2 is known for its best-in-class design, decoration, and customization capabilities, premium product assortment, and ability to offer a one-stop-shop solution for customers.

L2's success is rooted in operational excellence and a strong corporate culture nurtured by a deeply experienced senior executive team. L2 produces many of its products in-house and also works with sourcing partners with whom it has long-term, stable partnerships. L2 has built a fully-integrated production process from design to customer shipment, which has resulted in high efficiency and an elevated customer experience. With key manufacturing facilities in Hanover, Pennsylvania and San Salvador, El Salvador, L2's operations are highly scalable and offer customers a reliable nearshore supply chain.

"I am incredibly proud of the brand stewardship, operational excellence, and passionate team that we have built at L2," said Legacy founder and L2 CEO Paige Wingert. "Our company is well-positioned to capitalize on its differentiated business model and the strong and sustainable momentum we enjoy in our markets."

"We are excited to partner with Sentinel for the next phase of L2's journey," said L2 President Pete Waldron. Added Waldron, "Sentinel's proven experience and outstanding record working with similar consumer businesses will enable us to accelerate our growth."

Sentinel has previously made significant investments in the consumer products and specialty apparel sector, including Careismatic Brands (formerly Strategic Partners; a leading provider of scrubs and medical uniforms), GSM Outdoors (leading provider of branded products for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast market), Holley Performance Products (leading provider of high-performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts), and RefrigiWear (leading provider of industrial workwear for low temperature environments).

NEW YORK, November 3, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, announced the sale of portfolio company Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, Nekoosa produces a comprehensive suite of specialty engineered materials in four key product areas: application and pressure sensitive tapes used to protect and transfer graphics onto surfaces such as store window and commercial vehicles; synthetic papers that offer a digitally printable tear-and-water-proof alternative to lamination; sheeted digital and offset grade carbonless paper; and extruded film products used in wall panel, credit card, and lighting applications. Through a network of more than 1,000 global distributor partners, Nekoosa serves a highly diverse base of more than 70,000 commercial print and graphics shops in 65 countries.

"Nekoosa has an outstanding management team and culture that puts its customers and employees first," said Sentinel Partner Scott Perry. "Nekoosa is the leading brand in the application tapes and carbonless paper categories. We were very fortunate to partner with Paul Charapata, Bob Beckwith, and the rest of the Nekoosa team, and we wish them continued success."

"I am extremely proud of what Nekoosa has achieved during our partnership with Sentinel," says Paul Charapata, Nekoosa's CEO. "We successfully navigated the pandemic, integrated accretive add-ons, expanded the product portfolio, and positioned the brand for continued growth. Sentinel was a tremendous partner."

Sentinel has made a number of investments in specialty manufacturing businesses like Nekoosa. Other such investments include Chase Doors (manufacturer of high-quality, made-to-order specialty door systems), ECM Industries (manufacturer of electrical products), Holley (manufacturer of specialty automotive aftermarket performance products), and Spinrite (manufacturer of craft yarn products). Over the past 12 months, Sentinel has acquired RefrigiWear (manufacturer of protective industrial workwear) and The Recreational Group (manufacturer and distributor of premium synthetic turf products for landscape, sports, commercial, and specialty applications).

NEW YORK, September 7, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the acquisition of SmartSign, a leading online provider of customizable signs, labels, and tags for regulatory, compliance, and safety applications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, SmartSign operates a network of nearly 30 websites, each dedicated to offering highly specialized and customizable products to customers to fit thousands of specific-use cases. SmartSign services businesses of all sizes, including sales to 75% of the Fortune 1000 and across hundreds of verticals, including education, healthcare, and industrials.

Sentinel partnered with SmartSign's management team and incumbent investor Norwest in the transaction. "SmartSign is strategically positioned to capitalize on favorable secular trends underpinning the online signs, labels, and tags industry," said Louis Brotherton, a principal at Sentinel. "With a talented and committed management team and a highly dedicated team of employees, we believe SmartSign is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth, both organically and through acquisitions. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the SmartSign team."

"We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as SmartSign continues to expand within the large and growing signs, labels, and tags market," said Max Smith, SmartSign's CEO. "We look forward to leveraging the many actionable opportunities ahead to drive organic and acquisitive growth and better serve our customers." Stew Campbell, a Partner at Norwest, said "We are excited to work with Sentinel and continue our successful partnership with SmartSign. We think Sentinel is a great steward for SmartSign's next phase of growth."

SmartSign represents Sentinel's latest investment in the business services sector. The firm's current business services investments include Apex Companies, an environmental services company specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; Mobile Communications America, a regional provider of communications solutions and services; New Era Technology, a global provider of managed IT services focused on collaboration and data networks; Revenew, a provider of cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits; TranSystems, a national provider of infrastructure engineering and design services; TriMech, a provider of 3D engineering design solutions and services; TTG Imaging Solutions, a national provider of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging solutions; and UBEO, a provider of best-in-class document management services.

TORONTO – August 10, 2022 – 123Dentist, Altima Dental, and Lapointe Group have merged to create one of the largest dental support organizations in Canada, with nearly 350 supported dental practices. The transaction is being financed through equity capital provided by 123Dentist's existing financial partner, Peloton Capital Management; new investors KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Heartland Dental, a KKR portfolio company and the leading dental support organization in the U.S.; and Sentinel Capital Partners, Altima Dental's existing financial partner.

123Dentist will continue its dentist-first, patient-focused growth strategy and pursue attractive opportunities with dentists looking for long-term partnership solutions that provide flexibility and autonomy to operate their dental practices in a manner that reflects the unique needs of each clinic and dentist partner. This includes opportunities for clinic level ownership by dentists, a feature incorporated at a majority of 123Dentist's supported practices today and designed to promote the continued delivery of high-quality care to patients. 123Dentist's leading platform provides its supported practices a wide range of administrative support services facilitated through a team of locally based regional managers and support centers in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

"We expect this merger to benefit Canadian dentists, dental professionals and patients alike, greatly expanding support services for an already thriving dentist community that focuses on the delivery of exceptional care, improving access to high quality dentistry services, and increasing opportunities for career advancement and mentorship for our team members," said Dr. Amin Shivji, CEO of 123Dentist.

The values and operating philosophies of 123Dentist align closely with those of Altima Dental, a leading dental support organization founded in 1993 and currently comprised of over 100 dental practices. As a result of this transaction, the combined business will have a national footprint and support dental practices that provide a wide range of dental care to more than 800,000 Canadian patients, with over 2.5 million patient visits annually.

"As a dentist-led organization for nearly 30 years, we know how important it is for patient care to have the dentist perspective when building a successful platform of supported dental practices. This is one of the many reasons why this combination will enable our supported dentists to continue to deliver an exceptional patient experience to Canadians," said Drs George Christodoulou and Sven Grail, co-Founders and co-CEOs of Altima Dental. "Now, as part of the 123Dentist family, we are incredibly well-positioned to further develop our capabilities as one of the leading dental support organizations in Canada."

Heartland Dental to support the expansion of education, training, supplies and equipment strategic sourcing

As part of this transaction, Heartland Dental and 123Dentist will work together to facilitate the expansion of education and training at 123Dentist for its supported dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and administrative team members. 123Dentist will gain access to Heartland Dental's world-class continuing education programs to expand the capabilities of its supported practices, improve the patient experience, and provide supported dentists the tools to enhance the quality of care. Additionally, Heartland Dental's deep relationships with leading dental manufacturers and distributors will support an expansive, world-class formulary of clinical supply, equipment, and clear aligner options to 123Dentist supported dentists and hygienists.

"This is an important strategic partnership for Heartland Dental and our first outside of the U.S. We have always respected the dentist-led successes of 123Dentist and Altima Dental and believe this is a great opportunity to not only invest in 123Dentist but also bring our full suite of capabilities to Dr. Amin Shivji and his team across all aspects of non-clinical support, anchored by our 25 years of experience," said Pat Bauer, Heartland Dental President and CEO.

NEW YORK, August 10, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the closing of the merger of its portfolio company, Altima Dental, with 123Dentist, a leading dental support organization ("DSO") based in Vancouver, to create one of the largest DSOs in Canada. The transaction was financed through equity capital provided by 123Dentist's existing private equity sponsor, Peloton Capital Management, and new investors KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Heartland Dental, a KKR portfolio company and the leading dental support organization in the U.S. Sentinel will retain a minority equity stake in the combined company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Altima Dental, headquartered in Toronto, was Sentinel's fifth investment in the dental sector at the time of the closing in 2016. In 2019, Altima merged with Quebec-based Lapointe Group, creating a leading DSO with offices in six provinces across Canada. In July 2022, Altima Dental and 123Dentist announced the plan to merge all three entities to create one of the largest DSOs in Canada with a network of 350 clinics servicing the entire country with a presence in every major metropolitan market. The merger creates a business with a national footprint across Canada and supports dental practices that provide a wide range of dental care to more than 800,000 patients, with more than 2.5 million patient visits annually.

"We expect this merger to benefit Canadian dentists, dental professionals, and patients alike, and will greatly expand support services for an already thriving dentist community that focuses on delivering exceptional care, improved access to high quality dentistry services, and greater opportunities for career advancement and mentorship for our team members," said Dr. Amin Shivji, CEO of 123Dentist.

"As a dentist-led organization for nearly 30 years, we have focused on bringing to patient care a dentist perspective as we built Altima Dental. Because 123Dentist has a similar focus, this combination will enable our supported dentists to continue to deliver an exceptional patient experience to Canadians," said Dr. George Christodoulou and Dr. Sven Grail, co-Founders and co-CEOs of Altima Dental. "Now, as part of the 123Dentist family, we are incredibly well-positioned to further develop our capabilities as one of the leading dental support organizations in Canada."

"We are grateful for the strong partnership we have had with the founders and management teams at Altima Dental and Lapointe Group," said Paul Murphy, Partner at Sentinel Capital Partners. "As an ongoing investor in the merger, we are looking forward to supporting Dr. Amin Shivji and the combined 123Dentist team as they continue to build a leading dentist-centric organization."

Sentinel has established a strong long-term record of investing in the dental sector dating back to its first platform investment in 2003. Besides Altima Dental, Sentinel's other dental investments include MB2 Dental, a dental partnership organization with a unique doctor-centric ownership model; Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, July 27, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of Bandon Holdings, the largest franchisee in the Anytime Fitness family. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Based in Austin, Texas, Bandon operates 213 Anytime Fitness clubs and has more than 140,000 members. Bandon's strategy has traditionally focused on owning and operating clubs in small suburban and rural markets with limited fitness club options. Bandon's clubs are well maintained and feature high-quality equipment and personal training services, offering a friendly, convenient fitness solution to local communities in 24 states.

Anytime Fitness, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Woodbury, Minnesota, is the largest fitness company in the United States and the fastest growing gym franchise in the world, with more than 5,200 clubs in nearly 40 countries and territories. Anytime offers affordable fitness options that emphasize a complete gym product offering and unparalleled convenience for members, including 24-hour access. For franchisees, Anytime's small-box format with low buildout costs promotes attractive unit economics and return on investment.

"We look forward to the opportunity to partner with the Bandon team as they continue to expand through new development and a proven acquisition strategy,” said Marc Buan, principal at Sentinel. "Bandon's talented management has developed an impressive growth model over the past decade and its robust acquisition pipeline is highly actionable.”

"We are excited to partner with Sentinel as Bandon continues to expand our footprint in the Anytime system,” said Jeff Kiecke, co-founder and co-CEO of Bandon. "We believe Sentinel's expertise in helping companies in the franchising industry accelerate growth will enable us to execute on the many available growth opportunities and realize our long-term strategic business goals.”

Sentinel is one of the most experienced private equity investors in the U.S. franchising space, capable of investing in both franchisees and franchisors. In its 27 years, Sentinel has invested in 14 franchisors and 3 franchisees across a wide range of industries, including restaurants, healthcare, and consumer retail. Recent franchising investments include American West Restaurant Group, a franchisee of Pizza Huts; Vital Care, a franchisor of infusion therapy clinics; and The Recreational Group, the franchisor of Purchase Green artificial grass and lawn retail stores.

NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 – TriMech, a portfolio company of Sentinel Capital Partners, today announced its acquisition of Solid Solutions Group ("SSG"), a leading provider of 3D computer-aided design ("CAD") software and services in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Sentinel, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, acquired TriMech, also a leading provider of 3D CAD software and services in the United States, in March 2022. Sentinel provided significant follow-on equity financing to support the SSG add-on acquisition. Terms of the Solid Solutions Group acquisition were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Leamington Spa, England, SSG provides software, support, and training to thousands of engineers, designers, and manufacturing companies across the UK and Ireland. This includes providing SOLIDWORKS solutions (a 3D CAD application developed by Dassault Systemès), computer-aided manufacturing ("CAM"), and a comprehensive portfolio of Dassault solutions including CATIA, its 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and its full line of product data management ("PDM") and simulation tools. SSG's client base ranges from product designers, mechanical engineers, and manufacturers to entrepreneurs and educational institutions, with its software supporting a broad range of products across a diverse range of end markets and industries. SSG operates from 23 offices across the UK and Ireland and employs more than 250 people.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, TriMech is a provider of CAD and CAM software, additive and subtractive manufacturing solutions, and associated training, consulting, implementation, and staff augmentation services to clients across a broad spectrum of industries. TriMech partners with leading software and hardware providers, including Dassault Systèmes and Stratasys, throughout the central and eastern United States and Canada, and delivers expert technical support to its clients through its world-class engineering staff.

"SSG is a well-established company with a strong management team that is poised for continued growth," said Jon Gurss, a principal at Sentinel. "Adding SSG to the TriMech platform creates the most comprehensive provider of software and service for SOLIDWORKS and Dassault Systemès in the Western Hemisphere. The combined global platform brings together hundreds of technical specialists from several countries and enhances our best-in-class support services."

Marcel Matte, President and CEO of TriMech, said, "The SSG acquisition broadens TriMech's capabilities to deliver technology and business solutions to our global clients, including multinational corporations operating in North America, the UK, Ireland, and other parts of Europe. Custom, process-specific solutions – both within engineering departments and beyond – are becoming increasingly important, and we are now superbly positioned to provide best-in-class service to our clients."

SSG is led by CEO Alan Sampson, who said, "Joining TriMech and Sentinel is extremely exciting for our team. Through the combination, we will have significant new opportunities to serve our clients and the ability to continue growing organically and via acquisitions in European markets."

The SSG acquisition represents an example of how Sentinel can support its portfolio companies' global growth ambitions. TriMech is the latest example of Sentinel's investment capabilities in the business services sector. Sentinel's current service businesses portfolio include Apex Companies, an environmental services company specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; Corporate Visions, a provider of training services to improve sales force productivity; Mobile Communications America, a regional provider of communications solutions and services; New Era Technology, a global provider of managed IT services focused on collaboration and data networks; Revenew, a provider of cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits; Total Military Management, a global provider of relocation services for U.S. military and government personnel; TranSystems, a national provider of infrastructure engineering and design services; TTG Imaging Solutions, a national provider of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging solutions; and UBEO, a provider of best-in-class document management services.

NEW YORK, May 23, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the sale of portfolio company Captain D's, the leading seafood quick service restaurant (QSR) brand. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Captain D's offers its customers great seafood at reasonable prices in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Captain D's serves a wide variety of fish and seafood, including freshly prepared entrees, and the company's signature hand-battered fish fillets prepared to order. The restaurants also offer premium-quality grilled fish, shrimp, chicken, an expanded selection of home-style side dishes, hush puppies, desserts, and freshly brewed, Southern-style sweet tea. The Captain D's system comprises 545 restaurants, including 253 franchised and 292 company owned locations throughout the Southeast and Midwest.

"Captain D's has a world class management team and culture that puts its guests and team members first," said Sentinel Partner Michael Fabian. "Captain D's is by far the leading brand in the seafood category. We were very fortunate to partner with Phil Greifeld and the rest of the Captain D's team, and we wish them continued success."

"I am enormously proud of what Captain D's has accomplished during our partnership with Sentinel," says Phil Greifeld, Captain D's CEO. "We successfully navigated the pandemic, improved franchisee profitability, brought Captain D's to several new states, and positioned the brand for continued growth. Sentinel was a great partner."

Sentinel is one of the industry's most experienced private equity investors in food franchisors and operators in the U.S. Prior Sentinel investments in the sector include Fazoli's (Italian fast casual), Checkers Drive-in Restaurants (hamburger QSR), Newk's Eatery (fast casual sandwiches), and Huddle House (family dining). The firm also has significant expertise successfully investing in restaurant franchises, including Church's Chicken (Falcon Holdings), Pizza Hut (American West Restaurant Group), and Taco Bell (Border Foods).

April 7, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of SPL, a leader in testing, inspection, and certification ("TIC”) services for energy and environmental markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SPL, an industry leader in TIC services, serves more than 1,700 customers, including some of the largest global energy companies. SPL operates 22 lab testing and service centers that analyze hundreds of thousands of samples annually for physical and chemical composition of hydrocarbons, lubricants, and wastewater. Its service centers house more than 250 highly trained technicians who inspect, install, and maintain field measurement systems for customers. Besides testing and services, SPL offers unique digital services, including production allocation, flow assurance, and data management.

SPL serves an international customer network, spanning the North American, EMEA, and APAC markets. SPL assists clients with transactional obligations, regulatory compliance, and energy production monitoring. SPL is also at the forefront of helping customers maintain proper environmental, social, and governance ("ESG”) standards through its water testing labs. SPL sets itself apart through its technical expertise and breadth of integrated services, and by helping set industry standards in partnership with regulatory bodies.

"SPL's advanced capabilities, deep expertise, best-in-class technology, and long-term relationships make the company a trusted partner to a diverse network of energy-related asset owners, operators, and customers, said Scott Perry, partner at Sentinel. "SPL's senior leadership team, with nearly 200 years of combined experience, has driven an impressive organic growth plan, including completion of five acquisitions since 2017.”

"SPL is well-positioned to benefit from the investments we have made to expand our capabilities and organization,” said Jeff Hibbeler, SPL's CEO. "Our industry has entered a secular upswing, and we believe Sentinel's proven expertise in helping companies like ours accelerate growth organically and via acquisitions will enable SPL to outperform.”

Sentinel has significant investment experience with business services, including those in the TIC energy and environmental services space. Previous investments include Apex Companies (environmental services specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene); Trinity (air quality consulting and compliance services); Precision Pipeline Solutions (specialty technical services to natural gas and electric utilities); and Engineered Controls International (specialized pressure regulators, valves, and control equipment for liquified and compressed gasses).

March 14, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the recapitalization of TriMech, a leading provider of 3D engineering design and additive manufacturing software, services, and solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, TriMech is a provider of CAD software, 3D manufacturing solutions, and associated training and consulting services for design engineers across a variety of industries throughout the central and eastern United States and Canada. TriMech partners with leading software and hardware providers, including Dassault Systèmes and Stratasys, and delivers expert tech support to design engineers. Sentinel acquired TriMech from The Halifax Group, which continues as a minority shareholder.

"TriMech is strategically positioned to capitalize on favorable secular trends underpinning the 3D CAD and 3D printing markets," said Jon Gurss, a principal at Sentinel. "With a talented and committed management team and a highly dedicated team of employees, we believe TriMech is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth, both organically and through acquisition. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the TriMech team."

"We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as TriMech continues to expand within the large and growing engineering design market," said Marcel Matte, TriMech’s Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to leveraging the many actionable solutions and services opportunities ahead of us to drive organic and acquisitive growth and better serve our clients." David Bard, a Partner at The Halifax Group, said "We are excited to partner with Sentinel and continue our successful partnership with TriMech. We think Sentinel is a great steward for TriMech’s next phase of growth."

TriMech represents the latest investment in the business services sector for Sentinel. The firm’s current service business investments include Apex Companies, an environmental services company specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; Corporate Visions, a provider of training services to improve sales force productivity; Mobile Communications America, a regional provider of communications solutions and services; New Era Technology, a global provider of managed IT services focused on collaboration and data networks; Revenew, a provider of cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits; TranSystems, a national provider of infrastructure engineering and design services; TTG Imaging Solutions, a national provider of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging solutions; and UBEO, a provider of best-in-class document management services.

NEW YORK, January 5, 2022 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of The Recreational Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of recreational surfacing products. At the closing, The Recreational Group was combined with Controlled Products, also a leading manufacturer and distributor of premium synthetic turf products, which Sentinel acquired in October 2021. Terms of The Recreational Group deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, The Recreational Group ("RG") designs, manufactures, and installs premium recreational surfacing products, including synthetic turf and composite modular tile. RG employs a passionate, collaborative, and motivated workforce of more than 400 individuals. RG provides a highly diversified line of innovative recreational surfacing products that serve customers across the United States and abroad for residential and nonresidential applications. RG has invested significantly in its manufacturing capabilities to become a vertically integrated player of scale, which enables the company to provide its customers with excellent product quality consistency and high levels of customer service. RG’s product portfolio includes turf manufacturing brands Viridian Fiber and Engineered Turf, tile manufacturing and distribution brands CH3, SwissTrax and VersaCourt, and turf distribution and installation brands XGrass, Tour Greens, Turf Factory Direct, Synthetic Grass Pros, Easy Grass, Ultrabase, and Real Feel Golf Mats.

Controlled Products develops and distributes a variety of premium synthetic turf solutions through a network of dealers and customers across an international network and to its company-owned and franchised Purchase Green® stores. Controlled Products serves a diverse group of residential, commercial, and field customers with leading brands including GrassTex™, SporTurf™, and Synthetic Turf International™, as well as private label products. Founded in 1989, Control Products is a pioneer in the artificial turf industry and is a founding member of the Synthetic Turf Council. Controlled Products is also headquartered in Dalton, Georgia.

"The Recreational Group is an established platform with a strong management team that is poised for continued growth in its fragmented markets," said Eric Bommer, a partner from Sentinel Capital Partners. "The company, which has completed seven acquisitions in the last three years, has an excellent reputation as a top manufacturer and supplier of surfacing products to diversified markets as well as a provider of world-class, customer-centric service. Merging The Recreational Group with Controlled Products creates a superb one-stop shop platform for delivering high quality recreational surfacing products."

Ron Bennett, The Recreational Group’s President, has been appointed CEO of the combined entity. Scott Lowrie, Controlled Products’ President, has been appointed Vice Chairman of the Board. "Controlled Products has a stellar reputation in the synthetic turf industry, and we are excited to unite our businesses and draw on best practices from each company," said Ron Bennett, the chief executive officer of The Recreational Group. "I am honored to lead our new company and look forward to continuing our growth strategy."

Sentinel has significant prior investment experience with niche manufacturing and distribution businesses, including PlayCore (play, park and recreation products), Chase Doors (specialty doors), Chromalox (precision heating technology), Colson (casters and wheels), ECM Industries (electrical products), Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators and valves), LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems), RotoMetrics (precision rotary tooling), and SONNY's Enterprises (car wash systems).

NEW YORK, December 27, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of TTG Imaging Solutions, a leading national provider of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, TTG offers end-to-end solutions for cardiology and oncology customers that use diagnostic imaging equipment. Through a nationwide network of field service engineers, TTG offers equipment, maintenance and repair services, clinical staffing, and radiopharmaceutical products. TTG operates three equipment repair centers and three radiopharmacies that serve customers across 46 states. Founded in 2004, TTG has completed nine acquisitions that have expanded its geographic coverage and added new technical capabilities.

"Since its founding, TTG has built a reputation of providing best-in-class services that allow physicians, imaging centers, and hospitals to offer top-quality patient care," said Paul Murphy, a Sentinel partner. "The TTG team has developed an impressive growth playbook and we are thrilled to provide them the capital and support to significantly expand the business. We look forward to working with TTG’s talented team as they enter their next chapter of growth."

"We are excited to partner with Sentinel as TTG continues to expand within the large and growing imaging services market," said CEO Matthew Mastarone. "Our goal was to find a partner to provide capital for continuing growth over the next several years, and to support our mission of providing our customers and their patients with the highest quality of service. Sentinel is a perfect fit for what we are aiming to accomplish."

In addition to our deep experience in healthcare services, Sentinel has significant industry expertise in third-party equipment sales and service in a variety of end-markets. Such investments include MCA (networked communications solutions), New Era Technology (IT solutions), and UBEO (document management services).

NEW YORK, December 16, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced the sale of portfolio company Fazoli's Group, Inc. to strategic buyer FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) for an enterprise value of $130 million.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, Fazoli's is renowned for offering high quality, moderately priced Italian food favorites, including freshly prepared pasta, Submarinos® sandwiches, and unlimited signature breadsticks. With nearly 220 franchised and company-owned restaurants in 28 states, Fazoli's blends the speed and value-for-the-money of a quick service restaurant with the quality, atmosphere, and service traditionally found in the casual dining segment.

"Sentinel has been an outstanding partner to Fazoli's through a transformational period of our company's history," said Fazoli's CEO, Carl Howard. "Since our partnership with Sentinel began, Fazoli's has completed a successful refranchising, grew average unit volumes by more than 30%, and built our new franchise pipeline to an all-time high."

"Fazoli's has performed exceptionally well during our partnership thanks to its world-class management team, its offering of high-quality food at a reasonable price, and its off-premise capabilities, including drive-thru, delivery, and take-out ordering," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel partner. "It has been a privilege to partner with Carl and the rest of the Fazoli's team. All of us at Sentinel wish them continued success."

Sentinel has significant industry expertise in the franchised restaurant sector. The firm's portfolio currently includes Captain D's (fish QSR) and Newk's Eatery (fast casual), Checkers Drive-in Restaurants (hamburger QSR), Huddle House (family dining), TGI Fridays (casual dining), and Tony Roma's (casual dining). Sentinel's restaurant experience also includes investing in large franchisees, including Border Foods (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC), Falcon Holdings (Church's® Chicken), and Southern California Pizza (Pizza Hut).

NEW YORK, November 18, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of Empire Auto Parts, a leading specialty distributor of aftermarket parts serving collision repair centers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Totowa, New Jersey, Empire operates five distribution hubs and 22 satellite delivery locations across 16 contiguous eastern states. With a vast assortment of top-quality products and a fleet of vehicles providing same-day or next-day delivery, Empire delivers unmatched service to its collision center partners. Empire’s product offering covers more than 40,000 parts, including bumper covers, lamps, hoods, fenders, trunk lids, grills, bezels, door mirrors, and other products.

"Since its founding in 1985, Empire has built a reputation of providing best-in-class service through a hub-and-spoke model which now extends up and down the east coast," said Owen Basham, a Sentinel principal. "The Empire team has established a growth playbook based on providing a better buying experience coupled with broad parts availability. We look forward to working with Empire’s talented team as they enter their next chapter of growth."

"We are excited to partner with Sentinel as Empire continues to expand within the large and growing collision parts market," said Christopher Siebert, Empire’s CEO. "We were looking for four specific criteria when it came to selecting our next partner: support of our strategic vision, an aggressive growth orientation, a strong cultural fit with our team, and industry knowledge and expertise. Sentinel checked all four boxes."

Sentinel has considerable expertise in the vehicle aftermarket. Investments include Cottman Transmission (transmission repair centers), Holley Performance Products (performance parts for automotive enthusiasts), Nivel Parts (aftermarket golf car parts and accessories), and Vintage Parts (slow-moving and inactive OEM parts).

NEW YORK, November 16, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced a partnership with RefrigiWear, a leading provider of industrial workwear for subzero environments. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

RefrigiWear makes cold temperature protective industrial workwear for indoor and outdoor use in sub-freezing temperatures and inclement weather environments. RefrigiWear's products include outerwear, coveralls, bibs, pants, and protective handwear and footwear that are designed to keep users warm, safe, and productive. RefrigiWear has deep, long-standing relationships with its customers in the food manufacturing, food distribution, and construction and other outdoor end markets. Over the past several years, RefrigiWear has rapidly grown its e-commerce business to provide its quality products directly to end consumers. RefrigiWear also provides services such as embroidery and personalization, emblems, logos, patches, custom alterations, repairs and laundry services, which further entrenches it with its customers. Founded in 1954, RefrigiWear will continue to be managed by members of the founding families that have run the business since its inception.

"RefrigiWear is the premium trusted brand in cold environment workwear with unparalleled customer loyalty, exceptional service, and a record of innovation," said Sentinel partner John Van Sickle. "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with RefrigiWear's outstanding management team. We see a bright future for RefrigiWear and look forward to helping RefrigiWear's talented management team achieve their ambitious goals."

Dean Breakstone, co-CEO, said "RefrigiWear will continue to execute on the vision and plan that my family set for the company more than 65 years ago—to provide quality, reliable workwear for jobs performed in extremely cold conditions." Ryan Silberman, co-CEO, added, "From the first conversation, it was clear that a partnership with Sentinel will enable RefrigiWear to accelerate its rapid growth record and open up broader-based employee ownership of our family-owned business. We are excited to join forces with Sentinel for our next phase of growth."

Sentinel has significant experience partnering with companies in niche markets filling specialized needs for individuals. Investments include Careismatic Brands (medical scrubs and related uniforms); GSM Outdoors (hunting and sport shooting products); Spinrite (craft yarn products); and Cabi (specialized women's apparel).

NEW YORK, October 25, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced its acquisition of Controlled Products, a market-leading manufacturer and distributor of premium synthetic turf products for landscape, sports, commercial, and specialty applications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Controlled Products develops and distributes a variety of premium synthetic turf solutions through a network of dealers and customers across an international network and to its company-owned and franchised Purchase Green® stores. Controlled Products serves a diverse group of residential, commercial, and field customers with leading name brands including GrassTex™, SporTurf™, and Synthetic Turf International™, as well as private label products.

"With its talented management team, exceptional product quality, and best-in-class marketing capabilities, Controlled Products is well-positioned to capitalize on the strong secular trends in the synthetic turf industry,” said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. "We are excited to partner with the Controlled Products team to continue driving acquisitive and organic growth.”

"This is an exciting time for our company as we look to expand upon our proven success and bring our industry-leading turf solutions to new markets and customers,” said Controlled Products President and CEO Scott Lowrie. "Sentinel is the perfect partner to help us achieve our goals.”

Sentinel has significant prior investment experience with niche manufacturing and distribution businesses, including PlayCore (play, park and recreation products), Chase Doors (specialty doors), Chromalox (precision heating technology), Colson (casters and wheels), ECM Industries (electrical products), Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators and valves), LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems), RotoMetrics (precision rotary tooling), and SONNY’s Enterprises (car wash systems).

NEW YORK, August 20, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced a new partnership with Bridgeview Partners, a management service provider to eye care practices in Indiana and northwest Ohio. Bridgeview is owned and managed by its founding doctors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Bridgeview provides management services to one of the largest providers of integrated eye care services in Indiana and northwest Ohio. Bridgeview's affiliated optometry and ophthalmology practices provide patients a full spectrum of eye care, including primary care, surgical services, LASIK, and prescription eyewear. As of the closing, these practices operated in 54 locations, primarily in rural and secondary markets, and employed more than 74 healthcare specialists. Since its inception, Bridgeview has completed 43 acquisitions, has invested meaningfully in its infrastructure to support growth via acquisition, and is well positioned to continue its growth strategy.

"Bridgeview's system is one of the fastest growing providers of eye care in Indiana and Ohio," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "Bridgeview's highly experienced and tenured management team is deeply committed to providing world-class patient care and to supporting its partner providers. As an acquisition platform, Bridgeview has a proven record and sophisticated infrastructure that enables it to attract new practices to its network and drive impressive growth."

"We are very excited to partner with Sentinel in our next phase of growth," said Dr. Bruce Trump, Co-Founder and CEO of Bridgeview. "Sentinel has deep experience assisting founder entrepreneurs in the healthcare services sector to pursue sustainable growth and offer meaningful value to healthcare providers. Our vertically integrated eye care delivery model is strategically differentiated and offers tangible value and high quality patient care."

Sentinel has a well-established record of investing in the healthcare services sector, including investments in pain management, hospice, home healthcare, and dentistry. Sentinel's prior healthcare investments include Altima Dental Centers, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Hospice Advantage, a hospice care organization; Interim Healthcare, a provider of home healthcare and staffing services; MB2 Dental, a dental service organization with a unique doctor-centric ownership model; National Spine & Pain Centers, a service provider to interventional pain management physicians; New You Bariatric Group, a provider of administrative support services to bariatric surgery offices; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.

NEW YORK, August 19, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the sale of Corporate Visions Inc., the leading sales and marketing enablement company in the U.S., to The Riverside Company. The terms were not disclosed.

Based in Reno, Nevada, Corporate Visions offers sales, marketing, and customer success messaging, content, and IP-based training solutions to B2B companies. Corporate Visions is a thought leader and innovator in the marketing and sales enablement industry, developing and applying research from its decision-making sciences to help clients win more business and increase profitability. Corporate Visions’ customer base is highly diversified, consisting of global, blue-chip, Fortune 1000 companies with large sales and marketing organizations. Customer loyalty and satisfaction is high and Corporate Visions has delivered its products in more than 60 countries.

“We are extremely pleased with Corporate Visions’ expansion into new product categories and successful navigation into the virtual learning environment,” said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. “Corporate Visions is a market leader that uses science to develop insights which fuel innovative solutions for businesses seeking specialized and sophisticated B2B marketing and selling messages, tools, and skills. Corporate Visions is well positioned in an attractive, growing market with a value proposition that is not easily replicated. We have been honored to work with Corporate Vision’s highly committed and talented management team who have superbly positioned the company for continued growth.” “It has been a pleasure partnering with Sentinel as we have significantly grown our customer base and solutions offerings,” commented Erik Peterson, CEO of Corporate Visions. “We appreciate the confidence Sentinel placed in our team and the resources they contributed, which helped us execute our growth strategy and further expand this unique platform.”

Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to Corporate Visions.

Sentinel has broad experience investing in the business services sector. Examples include: Transystems, a provider of engineering, architectural, and design consulting solutions; Apex Companies, a provider of professional and field services to assess and prevent environmental issues related to water, ground, facilities, and air quality; CIN Group, a provider of data, tools, and training for consumer bankruptcy attorneys; Inscape Publishing, a developer and provider of corporate training solutions that develop employee leadership, teamwork, and communications skills; Precision Pipeline Solutions, a provider of specialty inspection services to utilities; Total Military Management, a global provider of relocation services for U.S. military and government personnel; Trinity Consultants, a provider of air quality consulting and compliance services; and Vintage Parts, a logistics provider that manages original slow moving and inactive OEM replacement parts for long-lived automotive and industrial equipment.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising midmarket companies, today announced a strategic partnership led by funds managed by Blackstone's GP Stakes business ("Blackstone") and including RidgeLake Partners ("RidgeLake"). As investors with deep experience partnering with top-tier private equity firms, Blackstone and RidgeLake take a long-term approach to collaborating with general partners. Blackstone and RidgeLake are providing primary equity capital as minority investors.

Blackstone's GP Stakes business specializes in value-added, long-term partnerships with leading private-market alternative asset managers. The partnership will give Sentinel's portfolio companies access to Blackstone's group purchasing programs, which leverage the buying power of the $150 billion revenue base across Blackstone's entire investment platform. Sentinel will also be able to draw from a wide range of other services Blackstone provides internally and to its portfolio companies, including sustainability, ESG and cybersecurity.

The investment from RidgeLake, a partnership between PA Capital and Ottawa Avenue Private Capital, will give Sentinel access to additional sources of potential deal flow and industry know-how. RidgeLake brings more than 40 years of experience as an active private markets investor and industry thought leader in the middle market.

"In Blackstone and RidgeLake, Sentinel has partnered with two outstanding firms that we believe bring significant strategic value," said John McCormack, Co-Founder and Senior Partner. Added David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner, "Blackstone is sharing with us the resources of its extraordinary platform, which we expect to bring tangible advantages in terms of value creation and proprietary intellectual capital. And RidgeLake's broad network and unique set of industry relationships open new possibilities for expanding our deal flow and augmenting our operating capabilities. These exciting enhancements have the potential to position Sentinel to create additional enterprise value for our portfolio companies, access untapped deal flow sources, and use balance sheet capital to pursue opportunistic investment opportunities."

"Sentinel has established a stellar reputation since its founding and has a track record that has placed it at the top of its competitive space. We are delighted to be entering into this partnership with the Sentinel team," said Mustafa M. Siddiqui, Head of Blackstone's GP Stakes business. "Our partnership will help Sentinel access a broad set of strategic opportunities and enhance their ability to deliver attractive investment returns," added Ward Young, a Managing Director at Blackstone.

"Over 25 years, Sentinel has built an impressive private equity team, with what we view as an exceptional track record," said Michael Lunt and Todd Milligan, Co-Heads of RidgeLake Partners. "Sentinel's prudent investment approach has stood the test of time, and we believe the firm will continue thriving in the years ahead. We look forward to partnering with them to further extend their network of relationships in the market."

Evercore was the financial advisor to Sentinel, and Kirkland & Ellis provided legal services.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $649 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

About RidgeLake Partners
RidgeLake Partners is a strategic partnership between Ottawa Avenue Private Capital and PA Capital, an affiliate of New York Life Investments Alternatives, focused on acquiring minority equity stakes in top-tier midmarket private equity firms. RidgeLake partners with firms focused on buyout, growth, distressed, secondaries or real assets strategies across the private markets. RidgeLake seeks to forge long-term relationships with its general partners, and brings strategic counsel borne from more than 40 years of combined midmarket investment experience.

Bowling Green, KY – July 16, 2021 – Holley Inc. ("Holley" or the "Company"), the largest and fastest growing platform in the enthusiast branded performance automotive aftermarket category, today announced the closing of its previously announced business combination with Empower Ltd. ("Empower"), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company formed by MidOcean Partners. The business combination was approved by Empower's stockholders on July 14, 2021. Holley is a portfolio company of Sentinel Capital Partners, who will continue to have a significant stake in the Company. Beginning July 19, 2021, Holley's shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HLLY."

Holley's President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Tomlinson, and the current management team will continue to lead the Company. Matthew Rubel, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Empower, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Holley.

Holley plans to continue investing in the Company's growth initiatives by accelerating its penetration across categories and platforms; supporting strategic M&A activity; and further expanding its unique event based experiential and digital marketing efforts.

Tom Tomlinson, Holley CEO, stated "This is an exciting day for our Company and marks an important milestone in our history. We are enthusiasts and we built this business for our enthusiast customers. As we look to the future, we will remain relentlessly focused on our performance automotive enthusiast community, innovative and exciting new product, and accretive M&A."

"We are pleased to close the business combination with Holley and officially list the Company on the New York Stock Exchange," said Matthew Rubel, the Chairman of Holley's Board of Directors. "Together, with our respective strengths, we look forward to the growth opportunities ahead, further building the business for future success, gaining additional market share and continuing to grow as a leader in the enthusiast performance automotive industry."

Since announcing the planned business combination Holley acquired substantially all of the assets of Advanced Engine Management, Inc. (dba AEM Performance Electronics), a leading developer and supplier of electronic control and monitoring systems for performance automotive applications. Additionally, Holley appointed two key executives in an effort to further drive long- term growth, Chief Financial Officer, Dominic Bardos, and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and New Ventures, Vinny Nimmagadda, and continues to see strong financial performance, recently reporting first quarter 2021 results which saw robust organic and acquired growth.

Following the closing of the business combination, Holley's Board of Directors now consists of seven directors who bring decades of deep industry experience and leadership roles scaling billion- dollar enterprises at various stages. The newly appointed Board will serve as a valuable asset to the Company as it seeks to drive growth and maximize shareholder value. The Board of Directors includes:

About Holley
Holley is a leading designer, marketer, and manufacturer of high-performance products for car and truck enthusiasts. Holley offers the largest portfolio of iconic brands that deliver innovation and inspiration to a large and diverse community of millions of avid automotive enthusiasts who are passionate about the performance and personalization of their classic and modern cars. Holley has disrupted the performance category by putting the enthusiast consumer first, developing innovative new products, and building a robust M&A process that has added meaningful scale and diversity to its platform.

About Empower Ltd.
Empower was a blank check company formed by MidOcean Partners whose business purpose was to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Empower's management team was led by Mr. Rubel, its Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of its Board of Directors, and Mr. Clempson, Empower's President. Empower raised $250,000,000 in its initial public offering in October 2020 and was listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbols "EMPW", "EMPW-UN" and "EMPW-WT".

About Sentinel Capital Partners
Sentinel specializes in buying and building lower midmarket businesses in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets business services, consumer, healthcare services, and industrial businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, going-private transactions, and structured equity investments of established businesses with EBITDA of up to $80 million. Sentinel also invests in special situations, including balance sheet restructurings and operational turnarounds.

Forward Looking Statement
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Holley's future financial or operating performance. For example, projections of future sales and other metrics are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "would," "will continue," "will be," "will likely result," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "project," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Holley and its management, are inherently uncertain factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: 1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Holley or others following the closing of the business combination; 2) the ability to meet the NYSE's listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; 3) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Holley as a result of consummation of the business combination; 4) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; 5) costs related to the business combination; 6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; 7) the possibility that Holley may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; and 8) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements; Market, Ranking and Other Industry Data" in Empower's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and other documents of Empower filed, or of Holley, to be filed, with the SEC. Although Holley believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward looking statements will be achieved. There may be additional risks that Holley presently does not know or that Holley currently believes is immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Holley does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.

NEW YORK, April 1, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the recapitalization of TranSystems, a leading provider of engineering, architectural, and design consulting solutions for United States transportation end markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

TranSystems plans, inspects, designs, and provides related services to some of the most complex transportation infrastructure projects in the U.S. With more than 750 highly skilled engineers and technical employees working from 30 strategically located offices, the company serves a diverse client base across both the public and private sectors, including government, freight, transit, aviation, and intermodal end markets. TranSystems' expertise includes award-winning design and engineering services work on bridges, highways, tunnels, railroads, airports, and multi-modal facilities.

"TranSystems is well positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for engineering and design work to inspect and maintain our country's aging transportation infrastructure," said Michael Fabian, a Sentinel Partner. "We're very excited to partner with TranSystems' talented management team to support their ambitious growth strategy."

"Our partnership with Sentinel comes at an exciting time for our employees and for our company," said Richard Morsches, TranSystems' Chief Executive Officer, who will continue to lead the company. "We are looking forward to leveraging the many actionable infrastructure services opportunities ahead of us to drive organic and acquisitive growth in our business to better serve our clients."

TranSystems represents the latest investment in the business services sector for Sentinel. Sentinel's current and prior investments include Apex Companies, an environmental services company specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; Corporate Visions, a provider of training services to improve sales force productivity; MCA, a regional provider of communications solutions and services; New Era Technology, a global provider of managed information technology services focused on collaboration and data networks; Revenew, a provider of cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits; Total Military Management, a global provider of relocation services for U.S. military and government personnel; Trinity Consultants, a national provider of air quality consulting and compliance services; and UBEO, a provider of best-in-class document management services.

NEW YORK, March 10, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the sale of Pet Supplies Plus ("PSP"), the third largest pet specialty chain in the U.S., to Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRG). The deal is valued at $700 million.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, PSP is the leading franchisor and operator of pet-specialty stores that provide a customer-centric shopping experience in smaller stores that have a neighborhood feel. PSP blends the advantages of national scale with those of a friendly, local neighborhood pet store. Stores have a streamlined design, which makes them easy to navigate, and a wide assortment of proprietary and third-party branded pet foods, hard goods, and pet services. PSP also offers online shopping alternatives with same-day delivery from local stores or curbside pick-up. PSP is recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as the top full-service pet supplies franchise for its excellent performance, financial strength and stability, growth rate, and system size. At the time of Sentinel's acquisition, PSP's system comprised 448 stores serving 33 states, split evenly between franchised and company-owned locations. After two years of significant growth and strategic transformation, PSP's footprint includes 537 stores covering 36 states, with approximately 58% of the stores now owned by franchisees.

"We are extremely pleased with PSP's significant expansion and successful integration of new franchisees into its system," said Marc Buan, a Sentinel Principal. "PSP is the #1 pet franchisor in the U.S. in an attractive, growing market driven by loyal consumers passionate about pet ownership. We were honored to work with PSP's highly committed and talented management team who have superbly positioned the company for continued growth."

"It was a pleasure to partner with Sentinel as we significantly grew the franchisee base through geographic in-fill and expansion into white space," said Chris Rowland, CEO of Pet Supplies Plus. "Sentinel's deep experience investing in franchise-related businesses was a great asset to us throughout this entire period."

Sentinel has deep experience investing in franchise businesses, both as a franchisor and franchisee. Sentinel has acquired 14 franchise investments over the course of its history, including Border Foods, a franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Captain D's, a franchisor and operator of more than 530 Captain D's seafood restaurants; Checkers, a franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru quick service restaurants; Cottman Transmission Systems, a franchisor of automotive transmission centers; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Fazoli's, a regional franchisor and operator of Italian fast-casual restaurants; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home healthcare and supplemental healthcare staffing services; Huddle House, a franchisor of family dining restaurants; Massage Envy, the nation's largest franchisor of therapeutic massage services; Newk's Eatery, a franchisor and operator of fast-casual restaurants in the Southeast; Southern California Pizza Company, the exclusive Pizza Hut franchisee in the greater Los Angeles market; TGI Fridays, a global franchisor and operator of iconic American-style bar and grill restaurants; Tony Roma's, a franchisor of casual dining restaurants; and Vital Care, a franchisor of home infusion services.

NEW YORK, January 29, 2021 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the sale of MB2 Dental, a dental partnership organization ("DPO") with a unique doctor-centric ownership model. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and serving patients in 24 states, MB2 is a leading DPO offering general dentistry services, orthodontics, pediatrics, prosthodontics, and periodontics. MB2 employs a unique partnership model through which affiliated dentists enjoy the clinical benefits of a private practice and the infrastructure, compliance, marketing, and purchasing advantages of a traditional dental service organization. Drawing on the energy of its highly engaged dentist owners, MB2 has grown rapidly through de novo openings, add-on acquisitions, and strong existing-office growth since its founding in 2007. During its partnership with Sentinel, MB2 grew from 85 affiliated practices to 275, and expanded its geographic footprint from six states to 24.

"It has been an extraordinary experience working with MB2's talented and dynamic management team as the business expanded exponentially over the past three years," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "MB2 has demonstrated the ability to attract and retain capable and highly motivated entrepreneurial dentists by offering clinical autonomy and the opportunity to be owners of their own practices. We are confident that MB2 is well-positioned for future growth and success."

"Working alongside Sentinel, MB2's first institutional investor, has been extremely rewarding and has given us the opportunity to capitalize on the strengths of our unique business model," said Dr. Chris Villanueva, Founder and CEO of MB2. "We expect to continue expanding our platform in existing and new geographies, and we thank Sentinel for helping take us this far." Dr. Villanueva, management and MB2's dentist owners reinvested a substantial percentage of their equity in the new ownership structure.

Sentinel has established a long-term record of investing in the dental sector going back to 2003. Sentinel currently is an investor in Altima Dental Centers, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada. In addition to MB2, Sentinel's prior dental investments include Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.

NEW YORK, December 16, 2020 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced a minority, structured equity investment in Vital Care, a pharmacy franchise business that provides home infusion services. The investment supported the recapitalization of Vital Care led by Linden Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on the healthcare industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, Vital Care is the premier franchisor of home infusion services in the United States. Vital Care serves the medical needs of a wide range of patients, including those with chronic and acute conditions. Home infusion therapy involves the intravenous or subcutaneous administration of drugs or biologicals to patients at home. Vital Care supports more than 50 franchises across 20 states and focuses on underserved secondary markets.

"Vital Care is an attractive business with a passionate and committed management team," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Vital Care provides an essential service to an underserved market using a franchise model with which Sentinel has considerable expertise, and is well positioned for future growth."

"We are excited to welcome Sentinel to the Vital Care team," said Ed Eiland, CEO of Vital Care. "Sentinel's experience in franchising and healthcare will be a valuable addition to our partnership with Linden. Vital Care's goal is to improve the lives of our patients by providing access to the best care and service possible."

Sentinel's investment in Vital Care was made from Sentinel Junior Capital I, L.P., which specializes in non-control junior capital investing in the lower midmarket.

NEW YORK, November 17, 2020 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the sale of GSM Outdoors, a leading provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, GSM has a broad portfolio of innovative hunting and sport shooting products sold under highly recognized brand names. GSM's industry leading brands include Walker's (hearing protection and enhancement devices); Muddy, Hawk, and Big Game (tree stands and box blinds); Stealth Cam (technologically-advanced game scouting cameras); Birchwood Casey, SME, TekMat, GPS Bags, and CrossFire (shooting targets, holsters, range bags, and related accessories); HME, Skull Hooker, and Viking Solutions (hunting tools, mounts, and knives); Hunters Specialties and Western Rivers (scent attractants, scent control products, and game calls); Cyclops (specialty outdoor lighting); Boss Buck and American Hunter (game feeders); and NAP (broadheads and other archery accessories). GSM sells through a diverse mix of channels, including online retailers, sporting goods stores, mass merchants, outdoorsman retailers, farm and fleet stores, and distributors across the U.S. and Canada.

"Sentinel has been an extremely supportive partner during this dynamic period of growth for our company," said GSM CEO Eddie Castro. "We are passionate about our brands, just like the customers and outdoor enthusiasts we serve. Innovation, acquisition and integration of new brands, and strong placement across multiple sales channels has given us the foundation for continued strong performance. We look forward to continuing our impressive growth trajectory."

"It has been a privilege to partner with Eddie Castro and the rest of the GSM management team as they solidified GSM as the leader in the outdoor enthusiast industry," said John Van Sickle, a partner at Sentinel. "In our two and a half years together, GSM executed a well conceived acquisition strategy that, combined with its product innovation and development capabilities, expanded GSM's brand offering, grew its market share, and deepened its loyal customer base. GSM has even greater potential ahead, and all of us at Sentinel wish Eddie and his team continued success."

Sentinel has made a number of investments in consumer enthusiast businesses like GSM. Other such investments include Holley, a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of specialty automotive aftermarket performance products; Pet Supplies Plus, a franchisor and operator of pet-specialty stores; and Spinrite, a manufacturer and marketer of craft yarn products.

NEW YORK, August 6, 2020 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the sale of SONNY'S, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems, chemicals, service, parts and supplies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SONNY'S is the largest global manufacturer of conveyorized car wash systems and provides a complete, integrated suite of products and services that meets all the needs of car wash owners and operators. Beginning with expert guidance in site planning and construction, SONNY's provides end-to-end support to more than 6,000 customers ranging from individual car wash owner-operators to large multi-unit consolidators. Established in 1949, SONNY's has been led by the Fazio family since inception.

"Working closely with CEO Paul Fazio and his team as they pursued their vision of market leadership for SONNY's has been an absolute privilege and pleasure," said Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel. "Over the past four years, SONNY'S has significantly expanded its market leadership as a total car wash solutions provider by broadening its product offering, consolidating distribution, and expanding geographically to the West Coast through both strategic acquisition and organic growth. SONNY's installed base of car wash tunnels has grown considerably and contributed to its exceptional financial performance. We believe the future is bright for this extraordinary business and we wish the best to Paul and the entire SONNY's team."

"The Sentinel team has been an outstanding partner to SONNY's since our relationship began and we've built lasting friendships with them," said CEO Paul Fazio. "With Sentinel's help, we have increased our growth trajectory, expanded into new product lines through transformative acquisitions, and moved closer to realizing our vision of being the premier one-stop provider of products and services to car wash professionals. We look forward to building on our success with our new private equity partners."

Sentinel has a long history of investing in niche manufacturing businesses like SONNY's, including Chromalox, a leading global branded manufacturer of commercial and industrial electric heating products and systems; IEP Technologies, a global provider of systems and services that detect and suppress potential combustible dust or vapor explosions in process industries; Luminaires, a manufacturer of specification-grade and architectural lighting fixtures; PlayCore, a playground equipment and recreation products company; and RotoMetrics, a global provider of precision rotary tooling for the printing and converting industries.

NEW YORK, December 23, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the acquisition of ECM Industries, a global manufacturer and supplier of electrical products for construction, maintenance, lighting, irrigation, landscape supply, and gas utility markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

ECM serves professional electricians, contractors, maintenance technicians, and do-it-yourselfers with a wide range of premium brands, including Gardner Bender – ECM's flagship brand that provides a wide variety of rough electrical products and tools; King Innovation – a market leader in harsh environment connectors; and Bergen – a leader in the design and manufacturing of construction and maintenance lighting. ECM manages more than 3,000 SKUs and leverages long-term relationships across diverse sales channels, including distributors, specialty hardware stores, and home centers. ECM enjoys sophisticated operational and sourcing capabilities through six separate global locations, including a new, purpose-built facility in New Berlin, Wisconsin, designed to support future growth.

"We know the ECM team well through having worked closely with them in our prior investment in Power Products, and we are very excited to again partner with them as they pursue a multiyear strategic plan to build an electrical products platform with a diverse mix of brands, markets, and channels," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel Partner. "ECM has an exceptional financial profile, and has proven itself an innovator and consolidator in the electrical products industry. ECM is well positioned to continue driving strong performance."

"ECM serves a growing $2+ billion addressable market with favorable secular trends and has a significant opportunity to expand in both core segments and adjacencies," said Mike Masino, ECM's CEO. "We provide the widest product offering in our industry and enjoy strong customer loyalty strengthened by our extensive technical expertise and resources that are a key part of our unique capabilities. My team and I are very excited to work with Sentinel again, who understands our industry and has a proven track record with us as investment partners."

The past year has been highly active for Sentinel. Besides acquiring ECM, Sentinel made three new platform investments, including MCA, a communications solutions and services provider; New Era Technology, a technology solutions provider; and New You Bariatric Group, an administrative support service provider to a network of bariatric surgery offices. Sentinel also completed two exits, including CINgroup, a workflow solutions provider to the consumer bankruptcy market, and The Luminaires Group, a leader in the specification-grade lighting industry.

NEW YORK, September 25, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the recapitalization of New Era Technology, a technology solutions provider serving customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New Era provides a comprehensive suite of managed services and systems integration capabilities for a wide range of IT solutions, including collaboration, data networking, and security. Employing a customer-centric business model, New Era is a trusted technology advisor to more than 6,500 worldwide customers – often name-brand, blue-chip multinational businesses – that span diverse end markets, including healthcare, education, corporate, government and financial services. Founded in 2013, New Era has driven significant organic growth and successfully completed 12 add-on acquisitions.

Sentinel partnered with New Era's management team and incumbent investor, Gemini Investors, to complete the transaction.

"New Era is strategically positioned to capitalize on favorable secular trends underpinning the evolving technology landscape," said Michael Fabian, a Sentinel Partner. "With a talented, highly experienced management team and a deep bench of technical professionals, New Era is well-positioned to continue along its impressive growth trajectory. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the New Era team."

"As technology systems increase in complexity and the pace of technological change accelerates, organizations require integrated, flexible, and scalable solutions that incorporate a wide range of technologies," said Joe Ewart, New Era's CEO. "Partnering with Sentinel provides us a tremendous opportunity to continue our acquisition strategy, which complements our organic growth. The New Era team is excited to be working with a partner with Sentinel's experience and continue our successful partnership with Gemini."

The past 12 months have been highly active for Sentinel. Besides acquiring New Era, Sentinel made five new platform investments, including Apex Companies, an environmental services firm; Holley Performance Products, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded aftermarket automotive performance products; MCA, a communications solutions and services provider; New You Bariatric Group, an administrative support service provider to a network of bariatric surgery offices; and Pet Supplies Plus, a franchisor and operator of pet-specialty stores. Sentinel also completed two exits, including CINgroup, a workflow solutions provider to the consumer bankruptcy market, and The Luminaires Group, a leader in the specification-grade lighting industry.

NEW YORK, September 10, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade and architectural lighting fixtures, to Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Luminaires' management team, under the leadership of Christian Fabi, built a world-class business with an incredible culture and a deep commitment to serving its customers with innovative lighting solutions," said Marc Buan, a Sentinel Principal. "During our partnership, Luminaires has successfully completed a complex consolidation of three separate divisions and has integrated two add-on acquisitions, which enabled the company to centralize management, streamline operations, and expand its product offerings. We are thrilled to have worked with this team and see a very bright future for Luminaires as part of Acuity Brands."

Luminaires President, Christian Fabi, commented, "Throughout our partnership, Sentinel has offered a strong and guiding hand during a formative and highly successful period in our company's history."

Luminaires' strategy is to acquire companies that bring specific competences to the group and support and accelerate their growth initiatives. Luminaires also leverages the combined knowledge and expertise of its group to improve process and product design, deliver the best possible combination of cutting edge lighting, and provide unsurpassed support. Each division in the group retains its autonomy and brand identity, which facilitates an organizational culture that is nimble and able to quickly react to its own market needs.

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides selling Luminaires, Sentinel sold CINgroup, a workflow solutions provider to the consumer bankruptcy market, and made five new platform investments—Apex Companies, an environmental services firm; Holley Performance Products, a manufacturer of branded performance products for automotive enthusiasts; MCA, a communications solutions and services provider; New You Bariatric Group, an administrative support service provider to a network of bariatric surgery offices; and Pet Supplies Plus, a franchisor and operator of local neighborhood pet stores.

NEW YORK, August 27, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced the acquisition of New You Bariatric Group, the leading provider of administrative support services to bariatric surgery offices in the New York metropolitan area. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

NYBG provides administrative services to 15 bariatric surgery offices in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut that collectively operate as the New York Bariatric Group and employ bariatric surgeons, other specialists, and physician assistants. Founded by Dr. Shawn Garber, NYBG supports practices that offer a full suite of bariatric surgical procedures, pre- and post-op support, related plastic surgery, and innovative non-surgical treatments to meet patients' needs. NYBG's affiliated practices also offer a "One-Day Workup," a comprehensive pre-operative evaluation with on-site cardiologists, pulmonologists, psychologists, and nutritionists, thereby eliminating the need for patients to schedule multiple appointments in different locations prior to surgery. In addition, NYBG's affiliated practices maintain strong relationships with leading health systems in its regional markets and also manage bariatric programs for several hospitals. NYBG's affiliated doctors have completed more than 18,000 bariatric surgeries since inception, which establishes NYBG as the leading U.S. provider of administrative services for bariatric practices.

"NYBG supports one of the fastest growing providers of bariatric surgery and weight-loss treatment options in the country," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "NYBG is an innovative, technology-enabled company with a robust marketing strategy and strong patient satisfaction scores at its affiliated practices. NYBG 's affiliated practices are nationally recognized clinical leaders and industry pioneers. We see a significant runway for growth and are thrilled to partner with Dr. Garber and his talented team."

"We are excited to partner with Sentinel in our next phase of growth," said Dr. Shawn Garber, founder and CEO of NYBG. "Sentinel will help us expand our business geographically and extend our service offering into other markets. Obesity is a national epidemic and we have seen the need for our unique approach grow significantly over the past twenty years. Through collaboration, we are improving the quality of treatment and success that our affiliate practices' patients are seeing. Bariatric surgery is a safe, highly-effective solution to treat obesity and several related diseases, and we expect to see continued growth in demand for these services."

Sentinel has a well-established record of investing in the healthcare services sector, including investments in pain management, hospice, home healthcare, and dentistry. Sentinel's prior healthcare investments include Altima Dental Centers, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Hospice Advantage, a hospice care organization; Interim Healthcare, a provider of home healthcare and staffing; MB2 Dental, a dental service organization with a unique doctor-centric ownership model; National Spine & Pain Centers, a service provider to interventional pain management physicians; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.

NEW YORK, March 4, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced the acquisition of MCA, a leading provider of communications solutions and services in North America and one of Motorola Solutions' largest channel partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, MCA is a provider of communications and network solutions and services which enhance the safety, security, and operating efficiency of a diverse base of more than 10,000 customers. MCA's customer base includes public safety institutions and some of the largest, most well-known corporate clients in North America. MCA sells Land Mobile Radios and related network infrastructure products and offers services across all aspects of the communications solutions lifecycle, including system design, installation, and ongoing maintenance and repair. MCA focuses on the Southeast and enjoys regional density through 41 locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, with the capability of serving national commercial customers across the United States.

"MCA is one of the largest communications solutions provider of its type in North America and is well positioned to deliver highly technical, scalable, and mission critical–grade services," said Scott Perry, a Sentinel partner. "MCA's emphasis on service differentiates it from its industry peers, many of whom focus on traditional product distribution. We are excited to work with MCA's seasoned and highly talented leadership team to continue executing its strategy of acquisitive and organic growth."

"MCA's success is built on key relationships fostered by an established culture of service-first, engagement, collaboration, and trust which is written in our DNA," said Vince Foody, MCA's CEO. "We look forward to partnering with Sentinel and leveraging its experience to help us grow."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides acquiring MCA, Sentinel made five other new platform investments—Apex Companies, an environmental services firm specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; GSM Outdoors, a provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, shooting, and outdoorsman markets; Holley Performance Products, a manufacturer of branded performance products for automotive enthusiasts; Pet Supplies Plus, a franchisor and operator of local neighborhood pet stores; and UBEO, a regional provider of document processing services. During the past year, Sentinel also completed four exits—CINgroup, a provider of innovative software and due diligence solutions for attorneys and their clients; Huddle House, a franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; Rotometrics, a global provider of high precision rotary cutting tool solutions; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a North American marketer of OTC health brands.

NEW YORK, March 1, 2019 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced the sale of CINgroup, a provider of innovative software and due diligence solutions to attorneys and their clients. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

CINgroup is the world’s leading bankruptcy workflow solutions provider to the consumer bankruptcy market. The Company manages a suite of technology-based solutions with widely recognized name brands, including Best Case® Bankruptcy, CINcompass®, and CIN Legal Data Services®. These products and services function seamlessly with bankruptcy courts, trustees, creditors, and other service providers within the consumer bankruptcy ecosystem. Best Case and CINcompass are used to facilitate case preparation, electronic filing, and bankruptcy workflow; CIN Legal Data Services provides credit reports, tax transcripts, and other attorney due diligence products as well as solutions to facilitate review and acceptance by their clients.

"Sentinel has worked closely with CINgroup’s experienced and talented management team to successfully build a business with a strong foundation and significant future growth opportunity," said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel Partner. "During our ownership, despite a steady decline in U.S. personal bankruptcy filings, we went on the offensive by making several strategic acquisitions to cement CINgroup’s position as a leader in both software and data products. Through these initiatives, CINgroup successfully diversified and balanced its product portfolio and created a powerful operating platform."

"CINgroup has a long history of providing market-leading solutions for bankruptcy attorneys and their clients." said Dave Danielson, CEO of CINgroup. "Our products and services are essential elements to our customers’ daily workflow processes and ongoing success."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides selling CINgroup, Sentinel also completed three other exits—Huddle House, a franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; Rotometrics, a global provider of high precision rotary cutting tool solutions; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a North American marketer of OTC health brands. Also during the past year, Sentinel made five new platform investments—Apex Companies, an environmental services firm specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene; GSM Outdoors, a provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, shooting, and outdoorsman markets; Holley Performance Products, a manufacturer of branded performance products for automotive enthusiasts; and UBEO, a regional provider of document processing services.

NEW YORK, December 13, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced the acquisition of Pet Supplies Plus ("PSP"), the third largest pet specialty chain in the U.S. and the largest independent pet-specialty operator. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, PSP is a leading franchisor and operator of pet-specialty stores that provide a customer-centric shopping experience in smaller stores that have a neighborhood feel. PSP blends the advantages of national scale with those of a friendly, local neighborhood pet store. Stores have a streamlined design, which makes them easy to navigate, and a wide assortment of natural foods, hard goods, and pet services. Serving 33 states, PSP's system comprises 448 stores, split evenly between franchised and company-owned locations. PSP also operates a distribution network with significant buying power that provides scale, profitability, and operational advantages to its franchisees. Pet Supplies Plus is recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as the top full-service pet supplies franchise for its excellent performance, financial strength and stability, growth rate, and system size.

"PSP is the #1 pet franchise system in the U.S. with an expanding footprint and a large white-space opportunity," said Marc Buan, a Sentinel Principal. "The pet industry is very attractive due to its stability, growth, and passionate consumer base. PSP has a strong position in the pet retail segment and a very loyal customer base. Led by a highly committed and talented management team, PSP has delivered consistent performance and steady growth. We are excited to partner with PSP during the next phase of its growth."

"PSP combines the convenience, expertise, and high-touch experience of a local neighborhood pet store with the curated selection and value of a national player," said Chris Rowland, CEO of Pet Supplies Plus. "We look forward to partnering with Sentinel, a firm with deep franchising expertise, to help us drive revenue growth and geographic expansion."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in franchise businesses. Sentinel has acquired 13 franchise investments over the course of its history, including Border Foods, a franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Captain D's, a franchisor and operator of more than 500 Captain D's seafood restaurants; Checkers, a franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru quick service restaurants; Cottman Transmission Systems, a franchisor of automotive transmission centers; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Fazoli's, a regional franchisor and operator of Italian fast-casual restaurants; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home healthcare and supplemental healthcare staffing services; Huddle House, a franchisor of family dining restaurants; Massage Envy, the nation's largest franchisor of therapeutic massage services; Newk's Eatery, a franchisor and operator of fast-casual restaurants in the Southeast; Southern California Pizza Company, the exclusive Pizza Hut franchisee in the greater Los Angeles market; TGI Fridays, a global franchisor and operator of iconic American-style bar and grill restaurants; and Tony Roma's, a franchisor of casual dining restaurants.

NEW YORK, November 28, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the acquisition of Apex Companies, LLC, a leading environmental services firm specializing in water resources, land restoration, and industrial hygiene. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Apex offers comprehensive services to assess, prevent, and cure environmental issues related to water, ground, facilities, and air quality. Apex serves a large and diverse client base spanning both the public and private sectors and a broad range of end markets, including energy, industrial, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and telecom. Apex's client-centric operating model, nationwide presence, and industry reputation as a leader in environmental compliance and risk management are the foundation of its impressive blue-chip client base and 30-year history. Apex services the entire environmental compliance and risk continuum with a team of over 700 geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, air quality specialists, environmental scientists, information management experts, industrial hygienists, and field technicians.

"Apex is a leading growth platform in the highly attractive environmental services market," said Michael Fabian, a Sentinel Partner. "With a highly capable, passionate management team and a dedicated team of employees, we believe Apex is well-positioned to continue its history of growth, both organically and through acquisition. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the Apex team."

"Partnering with Sentinel provides us a tremendous opportunity to accelerate our growth, while preserving the agility and flexibility that is so highly valued by our clients and employees," said David Fabianski, Apex CEO. "Our management team and staff are thrilled to be aligned with the team at Sentinel."

Apex is Sentinel’s second acquisition in the environmental services industry. Sentinel previously invested in Trinity Consultants, a highly successful provider of air quality consulting and compliance services in the United States.

NEW YORK, October 29, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the acquisition of Holley Performance Products, a market leader in branded performance products for automotive enthusiasts. Sentinel acquired Holley from Lincolnshire Management, Inc. and will combine Holley with Driven Performance Brands ("Driven"), a platform acquired by Sentinel in 2015. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Holley markets and manufactures a wide range of branded high-performance products including fuel injection systems, engine tuning and ignition solutions, carburetors, and exhaust systems. Holley's portfolio includes leading brands such as Holley, Sniper EFI, MSD, Accel, Diablosport, Superchips, Edge, and Hooker Blackheart, each with its own identity that allows the company to target specific consumers across the late-model, classic, truck and jeep, and racing vehicle sub-segments. Utilizing direct feedback from consumers to guide the focus of its powerful engineering division, Holley has had a consistent commitment to leading-edge R&D and to introducing innovative new products. Headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Holley has been in operation for 115 years.

Driven develops, manufactures, and distributes high-performance automotive aftermarket products for a wide range of vehicles including late-model European imports, classic muscle cars, and trucks. Driven's products include mufflers, exhaust kits, shifters, transmission kits, torque converters, and electronic tuning solutions. Driven goes to market under five highly regarded and well-established brands: Flowmaster, B&M, Hurst, APR, and Dinan. Like Holley, Driven has a deep commitment to product development and innovation. Driven is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California and its brands date back more than 65 years

"Holley is a strong, consumer-focused company with a portfolio of powerful brands and a meaningful edge in engineering and technology," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Holley operates in the large, highly-fragmented, and steadily growing automotive enthusiast market. Led by a deeply-involved and experienced management team, Holley has a proven ability to integrate add-on businesses successfully and leads the industry when it comes to product innovation. We believe that Holley and Driven are extremely complementary in terms of culture, brands, and capabilities. Combining Holley and Driven creates the largest and most diversified business in the industry."

"Holley provides a large and vibrant community of passionate consumers with high-performance products that are essential to their lifestyle," said Tom Tomlinson, President and CEO of Holley. "Uniting Holley and Driven expands our product offering and market-leading portfolio, deepens our connection to our enthusiast base, and, importantly, brings together two highly talented management teams."

"As one business, Holley and Driven will be a powerhouse at the center of a fragmented industry with highly favorable market dynamics," said Driven CEO Brian Appelgate. "We share with Holley many similarities in how we interact with and earn the loyalty of our passionate customers. In addition, our brand portfolios are highly complementary and the combined business will be highly adept at identifying, acquiring, and investing in new brands."

NEW YORK, August 6, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower midmarket, today announced the sale of WellSpring Pharma Services, a leading North American pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

WellSpring Pharma Services provides outsourced manufacturing and contract development services to emerging-growth, mid-sized, and large pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in the US and Canada. WellSpring has particular strength working with clients that need flexibility, customization, personalized attention, and technical expertise. WellSpring is equipped to manufacture prescription drug products in virtually all non-sterile finished dosage forms and also provides primary and secondary packaging services. WellSpring also offers formulation, tech transfer, and analytical chemistry services to its clients.

"Trends in the pharmaceutical industry have continued to drive demand for WellSpring's manufacturing services," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel partner. "WellSpring addresses this demand with an industry-recognized commitment to quality and regulatory compliance."

At the outset of Sentinel's 2011 investment, WellSpring consisted of three divisions: a consumer portfolio of over-the-counter health and personal care products; a portfolio of specialty prescription drugs; and a contract manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Under Sentinel's ownership, WellSpring sharpened its focus by divesting its specialty Rx portfolio and bolstering the market position of its consumer healthcare portfolio with three OTC add-ons. WellSpring then sold its consumer healthcare business in 2017. The sale of WellSpring Pharma Services completes Sentinel's final exit from its original WellSpring investment.

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides the sale of WellSpring Pharma Services, Sentinel also completed three other exits—Huddle House, a leading regional franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; Playcore, the leading North American designer, supplier of play, park, and recreation products; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands. In the same time period, Sentinel made five new platform investments—Captain D's, a leading franchisor and operator of seafood quick service restaurants; GSM Outdoors, a leading provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast markets; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing regional dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets; and UBEO, a leading provider of document processing services in Texas.

NEW YORK, June 7, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced its acquisition of GSM Outdoors, a leading provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, GSM has a broad portfolio of innovative hunting and sport shooting products sold under highly recognized brand names. GSM's industry leading brands include Stealth Cam (technologically advanced game scouting cameras); Walker's (hearing protection and enhancement devices); Cyclops (specialty outdoor lighting); Western Rivers (game calls); American Hunter (game feeders); HME (hunting knives and tools); and SME (targets and related accessories). GSM sells through a diverse mix of channels, including online retailers, sporting goods stores, mass merchants, outdoorsman retailers, farm and fleet stores, and distributors across the U.S. and Canada.

"GSM has an extremely passionate, talented, and committed management team that has built a strong platform of coveted brands," said John Van Sickle, a partner at Sentinel. "GSM is an industry leader and innovator and is driving growth through developing innovative, high quality products. GSM is positioned as a vendor-of-choice with leading retailers and has a highly engaged consumer enthusiast following. Importantly, GSM's management has created a culture of success and has positioned GSM as a consolidator of choice in the large and highly-fragmented hunting and sport shooting accessories market."

"We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we execute the next phase of our growth," said GSM CEO Eddie Castro. "We have an incredibly committed and competitive culture and are passionate about our brands and the customers we serve. Our enthusiast end-user base is loyal and growing. We plan to leverage Sentinel's extensive experience investing in specialty consumer businesses and making add-on acquisitions to continue our strong growth trajectory."

The past 12 months have been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides acquiring GSM Outdoors, Sentinel made four other platform investments—Captain D's, the leading franchisor and operator of seafood quick service restaurants; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing regional dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets; and UBEO, a leading provider of document processing services in Texas. During this same period, Sentinel also completed exits from Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; Playcore, the leading North American designer, supplier of play, park, and recreation products; RotoMetrics, the leading global provider of precision rotary cutting tools; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands.

In January 2018, Sentinel also announced the closing of its $2.15 billion sixth private equity fund and its $460 million inaugural junior capital fund.

NEW YORK, June 4, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced its sale of RotoMetrics, the leading global provider of high precision rotary cutting tool solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, RotoMetrics provides made-to-order precision rotary cutting dies and engineered tooling for web converting and printing applications. These products are critical components in the production of a wide array of tags, labels, and packaging items used in the consumer goods, healthcare, electrical component, automotive, and industrial markets. RotoMetrics has an established global footprint of ten sales offices and eight manufacturing facilities across five continents and maintains deep relationships with a highly diverse blue chip customer base of more than 5,500 converters and OEMs. RotoMetrics holds the leading position in the core tag and label market.

"We are extremely pleased with our investment in RotoMetrics," said Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel. "Thanks to its hugely talented management team, RotoMetrics has become a powerful platform for growth. On our watch, RotoMetrics not only grew organically but also successfully completed five add-on acquisitions."

"Sentinel has been an excellent partner," said RotoMetrics CEO Bob Spiller. "We have accomplished a number of key initiatives together, including global expansion, repositioning our European operations, and driving organic and acquisition growth. Sentinel's support and long-term perspective helped us immensely and contributed meaningfully to successfully positioning RotoMetrics for long-term, sustainable growth."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides selling RotoMetrics, Sentinel also completed four other exits—Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; Playcore, the leading North American designer, supplier of play, park, and recreation products; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands. Also during the past year, Sentinel made four new platform investments—Captain D's, the leading franchisor and operator of seafood quick service restaurants; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing regional dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets; and UBEO, a leading provider of document processing services in Texas.

In January 2018, Sentinel also announced the closing of its $2.15 billion sixth private equity fund and its $460 million inaugural junior capital fund.

NEW YORK, April 5, , 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the midmarket, today announced the acquisition of UBEO, LLC, a premier provider of printer, copier, and related office equipment sales and services in Texas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, UBEO is a provider of best-in-class document management equipment and related services. UBEO facilitates business technology integration by offering the newest, best, and most innovative ideas in hardware and software solutions to its customer base of approximately 6,000 mid-sized businesses, schools, and municipalities. With a team of more than 225 salespeople, technicians, and support staff, UBEO sells and services globally-recognized copier and printer equipment in major Texas metropolitan markets and operates seven sales sites serving the San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston metropolitan areas. UBEO manages an installed base of approximately 20,000 machines and maintains long-term relationships with leading vendors such as Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Ricoh, and Xerox.

"We are very excited about the acquisition of UBEO and partnering with a regional market leader with a stable, highly recurring business model, high margins and strong free cash flow characteristics," said Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel. "As the largest independent dealer in Texas, UBEO is a scalable platform and ideal for consolidating its highly fragmented industry. We are very pleased to partner with a highly experienced, talented, and strongly committed management team that has a proven record of profitable growth."

"We are very proud of the reputation we have built," said Jim Sheffield, President and CEO of UBEO. "UBEO outperforms its competition in the service categories that our customers value most – technical capability, service quality, and on-time delivery. Partnering with Sentinel well positions us for our next phase of profitable growth."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides acquiring UBEO, Sentinel has made four other platform investments – Altima Dental, a leading dental services organization in Canada; Captain D's, the leading franchisor and operator of seafood quick service restaurants; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing regional dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; and Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets. During this same period, Sentinel sold Checkers & Rally's Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; Playcore, the leading North American designer, supplier of play, park, and recreation products; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands.

In January 2018, Sentinel also announced the closing of its $2.15 billion sixth private equity fund and its $460 million inaugural junior capital fund.

NEW YORK, February 1, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower midmarket companies, today announced it has sold Huddle House, Inc., a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Huddle House was founded in 1964 with a focus on serving quality food in warm, friendly environments that bring communities together. Huddle House offers customers "Any Meal. Any Time." with a broad menu of high quality, cooked-to-order food, 24-hour service, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner served all day. Huddle House has 349 units that generate more than $240 million in annual system-wide sales.

"Working closely with Huddle House's talented management team has been a great experience," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Throughout our ownership, Huddle House has achieved impressive, system-wide operational results that have increased efficiency and improved productivity at the individual restaurant level. Average unit volume increased by 14% on our watch, which reflects the commitment and dedication to excellence of the entire Huddle House team."

"Sentinel has been a great partner to Huddle House and over the past six years, has helped us set and achieve meaningful strategic milestones," said Michael Abt, CEO of Huddle House. "Our customers, franchisees, operators, and employees are super excited about Huddle House's future."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides selling Huddle House, Sentinel also completed exits from Checkers/Rally's, the nation's largest franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru hamburger QSRs; National Spine & Pain Centers,, a leading service provider to interventional pain management physicians; PlayCore, the leading North American supplier of play, park, and recreation products; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a North American marketer of OTC health brands. Also during the past year, Sentinel made four new platform investments: cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; Captain D's, a leading restaurant operator in the QSR seafood sector; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; and Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets.

In January 2018, Sentinel also announced the closing of its $2.15 billion sixth private equity fund and its $460 million inaugural junior capital fund.

NEW YORK, January 25, 2018 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies, today announced the simultaneous closings of Sentinel Capital Partners VI, L.P. at $2.15 billion and Sentinel Junior Capital I, L.P. at $460 million. Total capital raised for the two new funds was $2.6 billion.

"We are delighted by this fundraising outcome and grateful for the strong show of support from our existing investors and several new prominent investors," said David S. Lobel, founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel. "We are also very pleased to launch our inaugural junior capital fund, which will serve the financing needs of our lower midmarket companies."

Sentinel will continue the same investment strategy it has employed and refined in previous funds—partnering with talented management teams to acquire companies with up to $65 million in EBITDA and solid business fundamentals, in industries where Sentinel has significant experience. For its platform acquisitions, Sentinel will continue to pursue small tuck-in and transformational, like-sized add-on acquisitions as an important dimension of its investment strategy. The junior capital fund will primarily serve as a mezzanine financing source for new Sentinel platform companies.

"Over the course of five private equity funds and 22 years, Sentinel has developed a consistent and reliable way of doing business that has proven appealing to corporate sellers, small business owners, institutional sellers, and management teams," said John F. McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder. "In many of the businesses we have invested in, our ability and willingness to tackle financial and business complexity and relationship-intensive situations have worked well for us."

The new funds' investors include college and university endowments, foundations, state and government retirement systems, corporate pension plans, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, investment advisors, family offices, and Taft-Hartley plans located in the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, and the Middle East. Sentinel's most recent prior fund, Sentinel Capital Partners V, L.P., initiated investment operations in 2014 with $1.3 billion of committed capital and is currently approximately 80% drawn.

Law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP represented Sentinel. The Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC served in an advisory capacity with respect to the private placement.

NEW YORK, December 18, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced that it has acquired Captain D's, the franchisor and operator of 530 Captain D's QSR seafood restaurants spanning 21 U.S. states. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Captain D's system consists of 227 franchised and 303 company-owned locations with established strongholds in the American Southeast and Midwest. Captain D's is the nation's leading restaurant operator in the underpenetrated quick service restaurant seafood sector. With Captain D's seafood menu based on ocean-caught fish and a beach-themed dining format, it is uniquely positioned in the QSR market, a sub category that has outgrown the broader restaurant industry since 2011.

"We are very excited to partner with Captain D's highly-experienced and accomplished management team," said John McCormack, a Sentinel senior partner. "Captain D's holds a unique market position and was recently recognized as one of the top 10 brands in America for consumer loyalty. Captain D's continues to attract younger guests and is the clear category leader. Moreover, its same-store-sales growth over the past decade is in the very top QSR tier regardless of category."

Captain D's CEO, Phil Greifeld, a 22-year QSR industry veteran who has led Captain D's for the past seven years, commented, "Sentinel's more than two decades of experience in the restaurant franchising sector makes the firm an ideal partner for us as we enter a new phase of expansion. We see significant opportunities to grow inside our existing footprint as well as into new regions. Our brand has never been stronger."

"Captain D's provides highly attractive and consistent unit economics for its franchise partners," added Michael Fabian, a Sentinel partner. "This has fueled substantial growth in new franchise sales and openings over the last several years. We look forward to partnering with Phil and his talented team to help accelerate this growth in years ahead."

Besides Captain D's, since its inception, Sentinel has made eight other restaurant franchise investments—Border Foods, a leading QSR franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Checkers/Rally's, the largest franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru hamburger QSRs in the U.S.; Falcon Holdings, one of the largest QSR franchisees of Church's Chicken restaurants; Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants; Newk's Eatery, a rapidly growing market leader in the fast casual restaurant segment; Southern California Pizza Company, the largest Pizza Hut QSR franchisee in the greater Los Angeles market; and TGI Friday's, a global franchisor of casual dining bar and grill restaurants.

NEW YORK, November 1, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, Nekoosa produces a comprehensive suite of specialty engineered materials in four key product areas: application and pressure sensitive tapes used to protect and transfer graphics onto surfaces such as store windows and commercial vehicles; specialty synthetic papers that offer a digitally printable tear-and-water-proof alternative to lamination; sheeted digital and offset grade carbonless paper; and extruded film products used in wall panel, credit card, and lighting applications. Through a network of more than 1,000 global distributor partners, Nekoosa serves a highly-diverse base of more than 70,000 commercial print and graphics shops in 65 countries.

"Nekoosa gives Sentinel an opportunity to partner with a differentiated industry leader that draws on a unique, niche product offering that is considered the ‘gold standard' in its markets," said Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel. "Nekoosa has enhanced its leadership position through its highly-specialized operational expertise, unparalleled distribution network, and excellent corporate culture committed to developing a first-class employee base. We are thrilled to partner with Nekoosa's highly talented and committed management team."

"Nekoosa has a long, successful track record of innovation, leadership, and growth driven by dedicated employees," said Paul Charapata, CEO of Nekoosa. "In the last five years, we have successfully executed four add-on acquisitions and have developed a playbook for the identification and integration of complementary businesses. We look forward to working closely with our new partners at Sentinel to continue this positive trajectory."

The past 12 months have been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides acquiring Nekoosa, Sentinel made four other platform investments—Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; and SONNY'S Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems. During this same period, Sentinel sold Checkers & Rally's Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; Playcore, a North American designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of play, park, and recreation products; Power Products, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands.

NEW YORK, September 29, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced a new partnership with MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, and serving patients in Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, MB2 is a leading DSO that employs a 'joint venture' business model through which affiliated dentists enjoy the clinical benefits of a private practice and the infrastructure, compliance, marketing, and purchasing advantages of the traditional DSO model. MB2 draws on the energy of highly-engaged dentist partners with deep commitment and aligned interests. MB2 has grown rapidly through de novo openings, add-on acquisitions, and strong existing-office growth. Beginning with two practices in 2007, today MB2 has 85 affiliated practices. MB2 offers general dentistry services, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and oral surgery.

"MB2 bridges the gap between private practice and traditional DSOs," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "With a motto that 'patients come before profits,' MB2 attracts and retains highly talented and motivated entrepreneurial dentists by offering clinical autonomy and the opportunity to become owners of their own practices, while using an efficient and established operating model. We look forward to partnering with MB2's team of dentist/owners and helping MB2's talented management team continue to achieve their vision and goals."

"We are very excited to join forces with Sentinel in our next phase of growth," said Dr. Chris Villanueva, founder and CEO of MB2. "MB2 has developed a unique approach, which we designed primarily to serve the interests of dentists and their patients. We believe that our engagement and alignment with dentists and patients is the primary driver of our rapid growth and low dentist turnover. We see a significant opportunity to continue expanding our platform in existing and new geographies by capitalizing on meaningful demand for our unique dentist partnership model."

Sentinel has a well established record of investing in the dental sector and MB2 represents its sixth dental platform. More recently, in December 2016, Sentinel acquired Altima Dental Centers, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada. Sentinel's prior dental investments include Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, each a leading regional dental service provider; Northeast Dental Management, a leading dental service provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leader in mobile dentistry.

NEW YORK, September 29, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower middle market, today announced the sale of PlayCore, the leading North American designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of play, park, and recreation products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are very pleased with the excellent results PlayCore has achieved," said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. "PlayCore has successfully executed a broad range of organic growth and add-on acquisition initiatives. PlayCore's talented management team has incorporated new brands seamlessly and accelerated growth by cross-selling, accessing new market opportunities, and capturing cost efficiencies. During our ownership, PlayCore has not missed a beat, which is a tremendous credit to its outstanding management team, and we leave the company well-positioned for future success as the industry leader."

Since Sentinel's 2014 investment, PlayCore has successfully pursued its mission of building communities through play and recreation. PlayCore has completed 14 add-on acquisitions, and today owns 27 complementary brands and serves more than 8,000 customers.

PlayCore's President and CEO, Roger Posacki, commented, "Sentinel has been a strong and supportive partner during a highly successful period in PlayCore's history. Sentinel has played a very important role in our acquisition strategy and we look forward to continuing this success with our new private equity owners."

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, PlayCore designs and builds a wide spectrum of commercial playground, park, recreation, performance, and specialty equipment ranging from basic modular play structures to complex, theme-based play environments that require significant creative and engineering competencies. PlayCore also provides a broad array of site amenities, surfacing, seating, performance, and fitness solutions, including picnic tables, benches, bleachers, bike racks, and outdoor fitness stations. Widely recognized as the industry thought leader, PlayCore also offers highly-differentiated, value-added services such as designing curriculum-based education programs for playgrounds and parks, and helps customers access funding sources. PlayCore is the market leader in play and recreation and has built the industry's most expansive distribution network.

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides exiting PlayCore, Sentinel recently sold WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands; Checkers & Rally's Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; and Power Products, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems. And during the past year, Sentinel has made three new platform investments: Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, September 25, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower middle market, today announced the sale of WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a North American marketer of leading consumer health brands. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

WellSpring Consumer Healthcare manages a portfolio of high-performing consumer healthcare brands, including Emetrol, Bonine, Bactine, GlaxalBase, and FDS. These brands occupy the #1 or #2 positions in their respective segments and benefit from a long-standing heritage, high awareness among consumers, and an entrenched retail presence. WellSpring Consumer Healthcare possesses an in-house acquisition capability coupled with a highly efficient and scalable operating model which has proven its ability to identify and integrate new brands and successfully scale its portfolio.

"WellSpring owns iconic brands with strong leadership positions," said John Van Sickle, a Sentinel partner. "WellSpring's OTC business is a proven M&A platform with a compelling financial profile and a meaningful runway for future growth. Moreover, a fertile M&A environment has produced a large supply of high quality, actionable add-on acquisitions."

At the outset of Sentinel's 2011 investment in WellSpring, the company consisted of three divisions; a consumer portfolio of over-the-counter health and personal care products; a portfolio of specialty prescription drugs; and a contract manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Under Sentinel's ownership, WellSpring sharpened its focus by divesting its Rx portfolio and bolstered its market position by completing three OTC add-on acquisitions for its consumer healthcare portfolio. Following the sale of WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, Sentinel will continue to own WellSpring's contract manufacturing business.

Sawaya Segalas & Co., which assisted WellSpring with its OTC acquisition strategy, was lead advisor to WellSpring in the transaction. Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. served as co-advisor.

Besides the divestiture of WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, Sentinel sold Checkers and Rally's Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain, National Spine & Pain Centers, a leading service provider to interventional pain management physicians, and Power Products, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems. And during the past year, Sentinel has made three new platform investments: Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, June 2, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the sale of National Spine & Pain Centers ("NSPC"), a leading service provider to interventional pain management physicians. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Acquired by Sentinel in 2011, NSPC provides administrative and support services to physicians who offer a comprehensive approach to the treatment of neck and back pain through the use of advanced, minimally invasive, interventional procedures. NSPC treatments provide both immediate and long-lasting pain relief and enable patients and payors to avoid more costly and invasive surgical procedures. Affiliated physicians are fellowship-trained and board-certified/board-eligible pain specialists. Many are nationally recognized leaders in pain management.

Under Sentinel's ownership, NSPC achieved significant growth and has emerged as the national leader in serving interventional pain management physician groups. At the time of Sentinel's original investment in 2011, NSPC served nine clinics, all located in Maryland. Today, five years later, NSPC has grown eightfold, and now serves 69 clinics in seven states, including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

"Our investment in National Spine & Pain was a unique opportunity to partner with highly talented and dedicated physician entrepreneurs in building a leading, specialty healthcare provider," said Paul Murphy, a Sentinel partner. "Chronic and debilitating pain affect more people in the United States than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. We believe that NSPC is well-positioned to continue the impressive growth trends that we've witness during our ownership."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides exiting NSPC, Sentinel also recently completed the sales of two other portfolio companies—Checkers, an iconic and innovative drive-thru QSR restaurant chain, and Power Products, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems. And during the past year, Sentinel has made six new platform investments: Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, April 25, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the closing of its sale of Checkers and Rally's Restaurants, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at $525 million.

Checkers & Rally's Restaurants, Inc. is an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain with 850 restaurants and room to grow. Checkers & Rally's differentiates itself by delivering high quality, craveable meals at exceptional values. Checkers and Rally's, together with its outstanding franchisee partners, offers a distinctive menu focused on bold, innovative products that are delivered to guests with category-leading value.

"Since the beginning of our investment, it has been a great pleasure partnering with Checkers' exceptional, highly talented management team," said Michael Fabian, a Sentinel partner. "Over the past three years, Checkers' same-store sales have outpaced the hamburger QSR segment, and its store footprint has expanded by more than 10%. In addition, through important operational initiatives, store profit margins have improved steadily. Checkers is well-positioned to continue as a vibrant and successful franchise brand."

Rick Silva, President and CEO of Checkers, commented, "We are delivering record growth at Checkers and Rally's, and our franchisees, operators, and employees are more excited than ever about our future."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides exiting Checkers, Sentinel also recently announced its exit of Power Products, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems. And during the past year, Sentinel has made six new platform investments, including: Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, March 2, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of cabi Holding Co. LLC, a leading direct seller of women's apparel in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2002, cabi sells high-quality, on trend, accessibly-priced designer clothing to a broad, female demographic via a proprietary network of approximately 3,500 independent stylists who conduct private shows in the homes of more than 78,000 hostesses. At the forefront of an emerging trend in how women shop, cabi's stylists provide a high-touch, personalized shopping experience to the more than one million prospective clients who attend its shows annually. Cabi also offers a compelling career opportunity for entrepreneurial women seeking a meaningful income opportunity, while preserving flexibility and work/life balance.

"As consumer behavior shifts away from traditional retail environments, we feel that cabi is revolutionizing the shopping experience for women," said Lynne Coté, cabi's CEO. "Our entrepreneurial culture, growing base of highly-trained, committed, and close-knit stylists, and distinctive home show experience are the foundation of our value proposition. Our partnership with Sentinel will help drive cabi's next level of growth."

"We are very excited about our investment in cabi," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Its unique business model has a demonstrated ability and consistent record of generating strong growth, and cabi's value proposition to its network of stylists, hostesses, and clients is one of the most compelling we have seen. We are highly impressed with cabi's talented management team and look forward to working closely with them to drive future growth."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides cabi, Sentinel has made six other new platform investments: Altima Dental, one of the largest dental services organizations in Canada; The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Marketplace Events, the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, January 3, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced a new partnership with Altima Dental Centers, one of the largest dental services organization in Canada. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Toronto, Altima's clinic network includes offices across six provinces in Canada. Altima-affiliated practices have an excellent reputation for providing high-quality dental services and always putting patients first. Altima's strategy is to continue growing through affiliation with other dental offices throughout Canada.

"Altima is well known throughout the Canadian market for second-to-none care, top notch providers and staff, and a broad suite of convenient services," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "Altima's founders, Drs. Grail and Christodoulou, have built an impressive business during the past 23 years and we're thrilled to be their partners for Altima's next phase of growth."

"During our search for an ideal investment partner, we determined there were three must-haves to ensure success for Altima's patients and employees: a close cultural alignment between Altima and our partner, deep and successful dental industry experience, and a complementary skill set to help us accelerate Altima's growth trajectory," said Dr. Sven Grail, co-founder and co-CEO of Altima. "We are confident we have found all three qualities in Sentinel."

"Sentinel has shown great respect for the service standards we have built at Altima," said Dr. George Christodoulou, co-founder and co-CEO of Altima. "Together, we will become even stronger as we continue to improve upon our culture of gold-standard patient care, while providing a thriving environment for our valued team members."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides Altima, Sentinel has made five other new platform investments: The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Marketplace Events, the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, December 5, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower end of the middle market, today announced the recapitalization of SONNY'S Enterprises, Inc., the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Established in 1949, SONNY'S is the largest global manufacturer of conveyorized car wash systems. SONNY'S designs and manufactures car wash systems in its 135,000 sq. ft. facility in Tamarac, Florida and will continue to be managed by the same family that has run the business since its inception.

"SONNY'S is a leading car care platform with strong development and design capabilities, a record of innovation, and unparalleled customer relationships," said Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel. "SONNY'S offers an impressive breadth of products and has built longstanding sales relationships and distribution channels throughout North America. We are very excited about this investment and the opportunity to partner with SONNY'S outstanding management team. We see a bright future for SONNY'S, which has an exciting opportunity to grow organically and through acquisitions."

"SONNY'S will continue to execute on the vision and plan that my father set for the company… to be the premier provider of car care products to car wash professionals," said CEO Paul Fazio. "Sentinel was very different from any other firm that contacted me in the past. From the first conversation, it was clear that a partnership with Sentinel will allow SONNY'S to accelerate its rapid growth record and to expand the number of worldclass products and services to our clients."

The past 12 months have been highly active for Sentinel. Besides SONNY'S, Sentinel has made four other new platform investments: The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Marketplace Events, a business services company that is the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; and Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services.

NEW YORK, March 10, 2017 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the sale of Power Products, LLC, a leading global provider of branded electrical products and systems. Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Power Products designs, manufactures, and distributes branded electrical tools, components, and power conversion products and solutions. Power Products primarily serves the electrical construction, repair and remodel, marine and recreation, industrial, power, and transportation end markets. Power Products owns a broad portfolio of industry-leading brands including BEP, Blue Sea Systems, Del City, Gardner Bender, Lenco Marine, Marinco, Mastervolt, ProMariner, and Sperry Instruments.

"We are very proud of what was accomplished in partnership with Power Products' incredibly talented management team," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "Following the carveout of Power Products from Actuant Corporation in 2013, together with management, we were able to create a robust, standalone business, refocus it strategically through several acquisitions and divestitures, and reduce its overall complexity. Power Products has excelled over the past three years, and we are confident they will continue to succeed under the leadership of existing management."

Power Products' CEO, David Scheer, an electrical industry veteran who has served as its head since 2011, commented, "We thank Sentinel for a very rewarding partnership over the past three years. Together, we built Power Products into a worldclass business with a leading portfolio of brands and positioned it well for long-term growth."

The past year has been highly productive for Sentinel. Besides exiting Power Products, Sentinel has made six other new platform investments: Altima Dental, the largest dental services organization in Canada; Cabi, a leading direct marketer of women's fashion apparel; The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Quick Weight Loss Centers, a multistate provider of highly differentiated weight loss management services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; and Sonny's Enterprises, the worldwide leader in conveyorized car wash systems.

NEW YORK, August 23, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Quick Weight Loss Centers, a leading, multistate health and wellness company that provides highly differentiated weight loss management services. Sentinel invested in the transaction with minority partner Skyline Global Partners LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Through a combined 32 weight loss management centers in Texas and Florida, Quick Weight Loss offers a proprietary, retail-based weight loss program that teaches customers how to lose weight through nutritional programs that are augmented with significant one-on-one, in-person counseling and supplemental product sales. Quick Weight Loss’s nutritional programs teach clients how to eat well-balanced diets without counting calories or eating pre-packed food, and high frequency, in-person counseling drives accountability and positive customer outcomes.

"Quick Weight Loss is a leading wellness platform, addressing the nation’s growing obesity problem through differentiated weight loss programs that enable clients to achieve and maintain their weight loss goals," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "We look forward to working with Quick Weight Loss’s talented executives as they build on their impressive record by expanding into new markets, continuing to generate strong financial performance, and pursuing attractive add-on acquisitions."

"Sentinel has helped successful companies like Quick Weight Loss strengthen their market leadership positions through sustainable growth initiatives," said Lynn Allen, CEO of Quick Weight Loss Centers. "Quick Weight Loss is in a unique position to capitalize on the high fragmentation in the weight loss industry and will benefit from the resources of partnering with a leading private equity firm. We are excited to partner with Sentinel as we continue to address our clients’ desires to lose weight and lead healthier lives."

The past 12 months have been highly active for Sentinel. Besides Quick Weight Loss Centers, Sentinel made five other new investments: Revenew International, a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services; The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Marketplace Events, a business services company that is the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts; and Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants. Sentinel also completed five successful exits in the past year: Hospice Advantage, a leading healthcare provider of end-of-life care to patients in their homes; IEP Technologies, an industrials business that is a global leader in industrial explosion protection; Northeast Dental Management, a leading regional dental care company; Spinrite, North America's leading supplier of consumer yarn products for knitting enthusiasts; and Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain and logistics services for slow-moving and inactive OEM parts.

NEW YORK, July 19, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Revenew International ("Revenew"), a leading provider of cost recovery and cost containment services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Revenew provides cost recovery and cost containment services that deliver monetary recoveries and cost reduction benefits. Revenew serves a blue-chip customer base, with particular expertise in the energy, utilities, and manufacturing sectors, through two core services lines: contract compliance and supplier payment review. Revenew's comprehensive suite of cost recovery solutions presents unique and highly compelling opportunities for clients to identify incorrect payments and recover overbilled amounts.

"Revenew has built a leading industry position, an impressive client base, and a record of superior financial performance," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "We are excited to partner with Revenew's talented management team and believe that Revenew offers a compelling suite of services to address the growing need for cost recovery solutions."

"Sentinel has a proven record of helping strong middle market companies drive growth," said Kris Westbrook, President of Revenew. "Revenew is the clear leader in the recession-resistant and fragmented cost recovery solutions industry. Our strong value proposition is highly attractive to new clients and also helps expand existing client relationships."

The past 12 months have been highly active for Sentinel. Besides Revenew, Sentinel made five other new investments: The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade lighting products; Marketplace Events, a business services company that is the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Corporate Visions, another business services company that provides marketing and sales enablement solutions; Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts; and Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants. Sentinel also completed five successful exits in the past year: Hospice Advantage, a leading healthcare provider of end-of-life care to patients in their homes; IEP Technologies, an industrials business that is a global leader in industrial explosion protection; Northeast Dental Management, a leading regional dental care company; Spinrite, North America's leading supplier of consumer yarn products for knitting enthusiasts; and Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain and logistics services for slow-moving and inactive OEM parts.

NEW YORK, June 8, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the recapitalization of The Luminaires Group, a leading North American manufacturer of specification-grade and architectural lighting fixtures. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1987, Luminairesdesigns, develops, manufactures, and distributes specification-grade lighting products across North America via three niche brands, each with its own focus. Eureka concentrates on indoor and outdoor decorative lighting; Amerillum focuses on indoor and outdoor architectural lighting; and Cyclone specializes in outdoor area lighting. Luminairesserves commercial, institutional, hospitality, and municipal end markets and offers a wide range of contemporary lighting fixtures for interior and exterior use. Luminaireshas received many industry awards for its innovative lighting designs and product excellence, including several prestigious Reddot Awards.

"Luminairesis a leading lighting platform with strong development and design capabilities and a record of innovation," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "Luminairesenjoys an impressive breadth of award-winning products and benefits from longstanding sales relationships and distribution channels in North America. We're very excited about this investment and the opportunity to partner with Luminaires' talented management team."

"Sentinel has a record of helping middle market companies like ours accelerate top-line growth, make strategic add-on acquisitions, and drive operational improvement," said Christian Fabi, President of Luminaires. "We are well-positioned to grow organically by expanding our product offering, utilizing our strong network, and applying the unique, individual strengths of our product lines. We also see the potential to grow through acquisitions and expand into new markets."

"In a highly-fragmented market, Luminaireshas always been a leader in best practices and operational excellence," said Patrick Foley, Executive Vice President of Luminaires. "We look forward to continuing this tradition and preserving our strong firm culture."

The past year has been highly active for Sentinel. Besides The Luminaires Group, Sentinel made five other new investments: Marketplace Events, a business services company that is the largest operator of consumer home and garden shows in North America; Corporate Visions, another business services company that provides marketing and sales enablement solutions; Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts; Fazoli’s Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; and Total Military Management, a provider of relocation services to U.S. military and government personnel. Sentinel also completed five successful exits in the past year: Hospice Advantage, a leading healthcare provider of end-of-life care to patients in their homes; IEP Technologies, an industrials business that is a global leader in industrial explosion protection; Northeast Dental Management, a leading regional dental care company; Spinrite, North America’s leading supplier of consumer yarn products for knitting enthusiasts; and Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain and logistics services for slow-moving and inactive OEM parts.

NEW YORK, January 27, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Marketplace Events, the largest organizer of consumer home and garden shows in North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, Marketplace Events organizes and operates consumer shows targeting the home improvement and enthusiast market including remodeling, home décor, and gardening. Marketplace's show portfolio is comprised of 44 total events, including 29 U.S. home and garden shows, 13 Canadian home and garden shows, and two holiday boutique shows. Leveraging scale, technology, and predictability, Marketplace Events brings together 14,000 exhibitors, 1.5 million consumers, and 1.5 million unique web visitors on an annual basis. Marketplace Events employs 110 people across 12 offices in North America with the goal of making a lasting, material difference to employees, exhibitors, attendees, and communities.

"We have never been more confident in our business model or our future than we are now," said Tom Baugh, Marketplace Events' Chief Executive Officer. "Our shows provide an invaluable face-to-face meeting place for our exhibitors and consumers. We believe our partnership with Sentinel will allow us to accelerate our growth, both organically and through acquisitions."

"We are very excited about our investment in Marketplace Events," said Michael Fabian, a partner at Sentinel. "We seek to invest in niche market leaders, and Marketplace Events is the clear leader in the North American home and garden show industry. Moreover, the business was extremely resilient during the 2008 economic downturn and should benefit from positive tailwinds in the home remodeling and repair sector in the years ahead."

For Sentinel, the past year has been highly productive. Besides Marketplace, Sentinel made four other new platform investments: Corporate Visions, a provider of marketing and sales enablement solutions; Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts; Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; and Total Military Management, a provider of relocation services to U.S. military and government personnel. Sentinel also completed six successful exits in the past year: Hospice Advantage, a leading provider of end-of-life care to patients in their homes; IEP Technologies, a global leader in industrial explosion protection; Northeast Dental Management, a leading provider of dental office support services; North American Rescue, a leading supplier of tactical life-saving equipment to the U.S. military; Spinrite, North America's leading manufacturer of consumer yarn; and Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain and logistics services for slow-moving and inactive OEM parts.

NEW YORK, January 7, 2016 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its sale of Northeast Dental Management ("NEDM"), a leading provider of dental office support services in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey, NEDM provides administrative staffing, human resources, purchasing, financial, and information technology support services to 65 locally-branded dental offices. NEDM's affiliated offices provide the highest quality dental care to nearly 200,000 patients annually, and offer a full suite of best-in-class general and specialty dental services, including general dentistry, oral hygiene, oral surgery, periodontics, pedodontics, and orthodontics.

Under Sentinel's ownership, the number of offices served by NEDM grew from 29 to 65 through 24 add-on affiliations. Through these new affiliations, NEDM significantly increased its density in the Amtrak corridor and expanded its service offering into Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

"NEDM is an outstanding business with tremendous growth and impressive financial performance," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We were fortunate to work alongside NEDM's extremely talented management team and we wish them continued success as NEDM enters its next stage of growth."

"Our partnership with Sentinel has been highly productive. Sentinel has given us the guidance and support needed to grow our business," said NEDM Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Craig Abramowitz. "We have created a strong, integrated platform capable of providing our dentists with topflight administrative support that allows them to provide their patients with the highest level of dental care."

Sentinel has an established record of investing in the dental and healthcare sectors. In addition to NEDM, Sentinel's dental portfolio has included Castle Dental and Metro Dentalcare, both leading regional providers of general and specialty dentistry office support services; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a leading provider of administrative support services to mobile dentists. Sentinel's current and former healthcare investments include Hospice Advantage, a leading provider of end-of-life care and family support services to patients in their homes; Interim Healthcare Holdings, a leading provider and franchisor of home healthcare services; National Spine & Pain Centers, the top provider of interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain; and Wellspring Pharmaceutical Corp., a manufacturer and marketer of specialty pharmaceuticals.

For Sentinel, 2015 was highly productive. During the year, Sentinel made four new platform investments: Corporate Visions, a provider of marketing and sales enablement solutions; Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts; Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; and Total Military Management, a provider of relocation services to U.S. military and government personnel. Sentinel also completed five successful exits in 2015: Hospice Advantage (described above); IEP Technologies, a global leader in industrial explosion protection; North American Rescue, a leading supplier of tactical life-saving equipment to the U.S. military; Spinrite, North America's leading manufacturer of consumer yarn; and Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain, logistics, and distribution management services for slow-moving and inactive parts.

NEW YORK, October 8 , 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its sale of Spinrite LP, North America's leading manufacturer of consumer craft yarn. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Listowel, Ontario, Spinrite is the largest producer and marketer of craft yarn in North America. Established in 1952, Spinrite is well known to the hobby market for its Patons, Bernat, Lily, Peaches & Creme, Caron and Phentex brands, which are sold through mass merchants, craft stores, and independent specialty stores. Spinrite markets approximately 4,000 SKUs across more than 100 product families, possesses the most diversified craft yarn manufacturing operation in North America, and is recognized as a market leader in new product development.

"We have been fortunate to partner with Spinrite's talented management team that has significantly increased sales since 2008," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "Spinrite has a highly defensible business model, an exciting growth strategy, and we wish them continued success as they enter their next stage of growth."

"Our long partnership with Sentinel has been highly productive," said Spinrite CEO Ryan Newell. "Our work together over the past decade has helped refine our business model and well positions us for long term growth."

For Sentinel, 2015 has been a highly productive year. Since May 2015, Sentinel acquired Corporate Visions, a provider of marketing and sales enablement solutions; Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants; and Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket products for car and truck enthusiasts. During this period, Sentinel sold IEP Technologies, a global leader in industrial explosion protection; Vintage Parts, a leader in supply chain, logistics, and distribution management services for slow-moving and inactive parts; and Hospice Advantage, a leading hospice care organization.

NEW YORK, October 7, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the sale of Hospice Advantage, a leading hospice care organization, to Compassus, a nationwide network of community-based hospice programs and palliative care services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Bay City, Michigan, Hospice Advantage was founded in 2004 by CEO Rod Hildebrant, a veteran hospice executive with more than 35 years of health care and hospice experience, to serve the needs of terminally ill patients. Hospice Advantage currently operates more than 60 locations in 14 states throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and South.

"We are thrilled with our investment in Hospice Advantage and grateful to have been partners with Rod Hildebrant, who is an extraordinarily talented healthcare executive," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We have enjoyed working closely with Rod and his highly capable management team, and together, we have developed a leading hospice care organization."

Under Sentinel's ownership, Hospice Advantage grew its business organically and through acquisitions. During this period, Hospice Advantage completed 15 tuck-in acquisitions and opened locations in four new states.

"We are very excited about what we have achieved with Sentinel as our partner. Sentinel's support and long-term growth perspective helped us to exceed our goals and now positions us for continued success," said Rod Hildebrant. "This is an exciting time for our company, as Hospice Advantage joins with Compassus to create a leading national provider of hospice and palliative care services."

Other Sentinel investments in healthcare services include Interim Healthcare (home healthcare provider); Metro Dentalcare (dental services); National Spine & Pain (pain management healthcare); Northeast Dental Management (dental services); and ReachOut Healthcare America (mobile dental services).

NEW YORK, September 21, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its sale of Vintage Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a Vintage Parts), a leader in supply chain, logistics, and distribution management services for slow-moving and inactive parts from original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Vintage Parts buys and warehouses for future sale inventories of original slow-moving and inactive parts that OEMs no longer find economical to maintain themselves. Vintage Parts has exclusive long-term service agreements with 66 leading OEMs in the automotive, agriculture, heavy-truck, construction, industrial engine, material handling, mining, and oil and gas industries. Vintage Parts has relationships with some of the most recognized industrial brands in the world, including CNH, Caterpillar, Chrysler, Ford, GM, John Deere, Harley Davidson, Honda, Komatsu, and Mercedes-Benz. Vintage Parts employs an innovative approach that provides compelling economic benefits to its OEM partners and exceptional service levels to its authorized OEM dealers and distributors.

"Vintage Parts is an industry pioneer that has performed superbly during our eight-year ownership," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Since we acquired the business, Vintage Parts has added 30 new OEM partners and entered several new end markets. If we could, we would own Vintage Parts forever. It is a great business with an outstanding management team, and the investment has been very rewarding for us."

"Our long partnership with Sentinel has been very productive," said Vintage Parts CEO Darrell Armbruster. "We worked alongside Sentinel to continue to refine our business model and, as a result, we have seen significant growth in our revenue and OEM partner base over the last several years. Looking forward, we see many more opportunities to grow."

The Vintage Parts sale coincides with a highly productive period for Sentinel. Since May 2015, Sentinel acquired Corporate Visions, a provider of marketing and sales enablement solutions; Fazoli's Group, a franchisor and operator of Fazoli's fast casual restaurants; and Driven Performance Brands, a manufacturer of high performance automotive aftermarket performance products. And earlier this month, Sentinel sold IEP Technologies, a global leader in industrial explosion protection.

NEW YORK, September 10, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its acquisition of Driven Performance Brands ("DPB"), a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of specialty automotive aftermarket performance products for car and truck enthusiasts. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

DPB offers a variety of uniquely designed and stylized products to a wide range of automotive enthusiasts who consider what they drive and how the vehicle performs an important lifestyle choice. DPB's product line touches almost every part of the undercar, from exhaust to transmission, drivetrain, and electronic tuning products, and is marketed under five leading brands: Flowmaster, B&M Racing and Performance, Hurst Shifters, Hurst Driveline Conversions, and Dinan Engineering. DPB sells through online specialty retailers, warehouse distributors, auto dealers, traditional auto parts retailers, and OEMs, as well as directly to consumers. Founded in 1953, DPB is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California.

"DPB is a strong, consumer-focused company with a portfolio of iconic brands and an unmatched distribution network," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "As a result of significant past investments in systems and infrastructure, DPB is an excellent platform for industry consolidation and organic growth. We're very excited about this investment and the opportunity to work with DPB's talented management team."

"We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we set our course towards future success," said DPB CEO Brian Appelgate. "DPB benefits from highly favorable market dynamics. We operate in a large and fragmented industry, yet we sell to a committed and loyal customer base of devoted automotive enthusiasts. The appeal of our products has an intangible quality and we are extremely well positioned to add similarly compelling brands to our portfolio."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty consumer businesses. Current and prior investments include: Hollander Sleep Products (specialty bedding); Spinrite (craft yarn); Strategic Partners (medical uniforms); and WellSpring Pharmaceutical (OTC products). Sentinel also has specific experience investing in the automotive aftermarket through its investments in Cottman Transmission (transmission repair centers) and Vintage Parts (distribution of slow moving automotive OEM parts).

NEW YORK, September 2, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the sale of IEP Technologies, a leading global, industrial explosion protection company, to Switzerland-based ho*rBIGER Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, IEP provides systems and services that detect and suppress combustible dust or vapor explosions in process industries, including best-in-class explosion protection systems, design engineering, replacement parts, and service and support to its global customer base. IEP was created two years ago through a carveout of the industrial explosion protection businesses of United Technologies Corp. Each business represented a legacy brand, operating in its own geographic market. Under Sentinel's ownership, management integrated the legacy businesses and created the global IEP Technologies brand. Today, IEP operates under one brand from locations in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, France, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

"Our investment in IEP began as a complex carveout and included the integration of five separate global business units spread across multiple locations throughout the U.S. and Europe," said Eric D. Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "During our ownership, management built a freestanding business that became the leader in a highly specialized, niche industry. We are proud to have been associated with such an outstanding business and are confident that IEP will continue to excel under the leadership of its talented management team."

Under Sentinel's ownership, IEP successfully completed a number of important strategic initiatives that resulted in a fully integrated, global platform, unified systems and infrastructure, and strong management architecture. In transitioning to a standalone business, IEP relocated to new facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Massachusetts, expanded into new geographies and markets, and expanded its customer base. During this transformation, IEP also increased its revenue and profitability.

"We are very excited about what we have achieved in partnership with Sentinel. Their support and long-term perspective helped us perform well and also positioned us for continued success," said Randy Davis, CEO of IEP Technologies. "This is an exciting time for our company, as IEP prepares for the next stage of growth. Under the umbrella of the ho*rBIGER Group, we will have exceptional opportunities to execute our successful growth strategy long-term."

Other Sentinel investments in specialty industrial businesses include Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment); Chase Doors (specialty door systems); Chromalox (precision heating technology); Colson (casters and wheels); Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators, valves); Fasloc (underground mine roof support systems); LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems); PlayCore (commercial playground and recreation equipment), and RotoMetrics (precision rotary tooling).

NEW YORK, July 7, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Fazoli's Group, Inc., a franchisor and operator of Italian fast casual restaurants in the United States. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, Fazoli's is the leading Italian fast casual dining concept that offers moderately priced, freshly-prepared pasta entrees, sandwiches, pizza and salads in a convenient, friendly environment. Fazoli's blends the low price point and speed of a quick service restaurant with the quality, atmosphere and service traditionally found in the casual dining segment. With strong brand awareness and a loyal customer base, Fazoli's was named the 2013 Fast Casual Brand of the Year and its CEO, Carl Howard, the 2014 Fast Casual Dining Executive of the Year. In 2015, it was named one of Franchise Business Review's "Top 40 Food Franchises."

"Fazoli's has consistently outperformed its competitors and will be a strong addition to our restaurant portfolio," said John McCormack, a partner at Sentinel. "The business has demonstrated robust financial performance and recently built impressive momentum. Fazoli's is positioned as "affordable fast casual" and combines the strengths of the fast-casual, quick-service and full-service formats, which is a competitive differentiator and also provides resilience during economic downturns. We are highly impressed with Fazoli's' management team and look forward to working closely with them to drive future growth."

"Our new partnership with Sentinel is an exciting move for us, and we plan to benefit from their deep investment experience in the restaurant sector," said Carl Howard, CEO of Fazoli's Group, Inc. "We have been engaged in a very exciting and successful period of investment, innovation and growth during which we sharpened the focus of our brand strategy, optimized and upgraded our menu, and expanded our geographic profile."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in restaurant and franchise businesses. In total, Sentinel's current restaurant portfolio comprises more than 2,300 units operating in 61 countries and generates annual systemwide sales of almost $4.0 billion. Sentinel's restaurant investments include Newk's Eatery, franchisor and operator of a rapidly growing, fast casual restaurant chain in the US Southeast; TGI Fridays, franchisor and operator of an iconic globally-recognized brand of American-style bar and grill restaurants; Checkers, a franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru quick service restaurants; Huddle House, a franchisor of family dining restaurants; Border Foods, a franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; and Southern California Pizza Company, a Pizza Hut franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market.

NEW YORK, May 29, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the acquisition of Corporate Visions Inc., a leading provider of marketing and sales enablement solutions that optimize the performance of commercial teams within client organizations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Larkspur, California, Corporate Visions offers consulting and training products and services that help companies create, elevate, and capture value in their interactions with customers. Corporate Visions is a thought leader and innovator in the marketing and sales enablement industry, developing and applying research from the decision-making sciences to help its clients win more business and increase profitability.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Corporate Visions," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "It fits perfectly into our business services portfolio. They are a true market leader that provides innovative solutions to businesses seeking a specialized and sophisticated set of B2B marketing and selling messages, tools, and skills. The Corporate Visions value proposition is not easily replicated by competitors."

"Since 2008, Corporate Visions has taken aggressive strategic steps—both organically and acquisitively—towards creating a comprehensive and proven solution for improving sales performance across the entire customer buying cycle, which differentiates us from our competitors," commented Joe Terry, CEO of Corporate Visions. "Our new partnership with Sentinel is an exciting move for us that well positions us for ongoing innovation and growth."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in the business services sector. Examples include: CIN Group, a provider of data, tools, and training for consumer bankruptcy attorneys; Growing Family, an operator of three complementary businesses serving new parents and companies that want to reach them; Inscape Publishing, a developer and provider of corporate training solutions that develop employee leadership, teamwork, and communications skills; Precision Pipeline Solutions, a provider of specialty inspection services to utilities; Total Military Management, a global provider of relocation services for U.S. military and government personnel; Trinity Consultants, a provider of air quality consulting and compliance services; and Vintage Parts, a logistics provider that manages original slow moving and inactive OEM replacement parts for long-lived automotive and industrial equipment.

NEW YORK, April 20, 2015 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the recapitalization of Total Military Management ("TMM"), a leading technology-enabled, asset-light provider of relocation services to U.S. military and government personnel. The investment was made in partnership with TMM's founders. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, TMM targets the fragmented $2.5 billion U.S. military moving and storage industry, which is comprised of approximately 300,000 annual relocations of the 1.3 million active duty U.S. military members and their families. TMM utilizes its sophisticated technology systems, operating infrastructure, and global network of service providers to manage the resource-intensive and administratively complex logistical tasks associated with domestic and international military relocations. Since its founding in 2003 by Matt Connell, TMM has become a leading outsourced provider in the military household relocation industry with a strong dedication to high levels of customer service.

"We are excited to partner with Total Military Management and its entrepreneurial management team," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel who previously served as an officer in the U.S. Army. "TMM has been on an impressive growth path. Its asset-light model is a highly efficient way to address the ongoing relocation needs of military personnel driven by frequent base-to-base moves, an important aspect of military life. We expect TMM will continue to grow and deliver high quality relocation services for U.S. military personnel and their families."

"This investment marks the next chapter in TMM's growth," said Matt Connell, CEO and President of TMM. "We welcome Sentinel's significant experience in helping service businesses drive innovation and revenue growth."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in the business services sector and in companies that provide products and services to the U.S. government. Examples include: Critical Solutions International, a global supplier of landmine and improvised explosive device detection vehicles, systems and support services to the U.S. and international military services; North American Rescue, a leading developer and distributor of tactical emergency medical equipment to military and first-responder markets; and ReachOut Healthcare America, a provider of mobile dental services to U.S. Army and National Guard units.

NEW YORK, November 18, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its acquisition of RotoMetrics, the leading global provider of precision rotary tooling and accessories. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, RotoMetrics provides made-to-order precision rotary cutting dies and engineered tooling for web converting and printing applications. These products are critical components in the production of a wide array of tags, labels, and packaging items used in the consumer goods, healthcare and industrial markets. RotoMetrics has an established global footprint of 11 facilities spanning nine countries on four continents and maintains deep relationships with a highly diverse blue chip customer base of more than 5,000 converters and OEMs. RotoMetrics enjoys the #1 position in its core tag and label market.

"We are excited to partner with RotoMetrics, a company with a 57-year history of providing great products and services to a longstanding and loyal customer base," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Under its current management team, RotoMetrics has undergone a fundamental transformation to a global leader with a strong financial profile, and is superbly positioned for future growth."

"We are very pleased to have Sentinel as our new partner," said RotoMetrics CEO Bob Spiller. "Sentinel’s deep experience investing in specialty industrial businesses will support our efforts to expand and strengthen our worldwide market presence."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty industrial businesses. Current and prior investments include: Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment); Chase Doors (specialty doors); Chromalox (precision heating technology); Colson (casters and wheels); Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators, valves); Fasloc (underground mine roof support systems); IEP Technologies (industrial explosion protection products); LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems); and PlayCore (commercial playground and recreation equipment).

NEW YORK, October 21, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced its acquisition of Hollander Sleep Products, the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of basic bedding products in North America. Transaction terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Hollander is a leader in the North American basic bedding segment producing bed pillows, mattress pads, comforters, foam products, and related sleep accessories. The company markets its products under a portfolio of highly recognizable proprietary, licensed, and retail partner brands including Ralph Lauren®, Simmons®, Beautyrest®, Laura Ashley®, Nautica®, Waverly®, and Live Comfortably®. Hollander operates nine facilities across North America and employs 1,650 people worldwide.

"Hollander is a leader in its industry with a talented management team that possesses extensive market knowledge and deep functional expertise," stated Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. "We are thrilled to be partnering with such a deep and experienced team."

"We are excited about our new partnership with Sentinel," commented Chris Baker, CEO of Hollander. "This marks a new chapter for our company as we continue to build upon our long record of industry leading design, innovation, quality and service."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty consumer businesses. Comparable prior investments include Spinrite (craft yarns) and Strategic Partners (medical uniforms).

NEW YORK, September 17, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies at the lower end of the middle market, today announced the sale of Chase Industries, Inc. ("Chase Doors"), the global leader and most recognized manufacturer of high-quality, made-to-order impact traffic doors and specialty door systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1932, Chase Doors is the world's oldest and largest manufacturer of double-acting impact traffic doors. Chase Doors offers superior design and engineering processes which enhance the functionality, durability and life of its products. Chase Doors also proudly supports the development of green product innovations. Chase Doors' family of brands includes Chase™, Chem-Pruf™, ColdGuard™, Econo Max™, Eliason™, Fib-R-Dor™, Saino™, and Simon™.

"We are extremely pleased with our investment in Chase Doors," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Working alongside Chase's talented management team, we took an already-established market leader to the next level and also positioned it for continued growth."

Under Sentinel's ownership, Chase Doors grew its business organically and through strategic acquisitions, allowing it to double revenue and increase EBITDA threefold. Chase Doors' acquisitions of Chem-Pruf in 2011 and Eliason in 2012 expanded its product offering in corrosion-resistant doors and solidified its leadership position in the impact traffic door market.

Chase Doors' CEO, Jeffrey Stark, will continue to lead the company and current management will retain an equity stake. "Sentinel was an excellent partner for Chase and its support and long-term perspective have positioned our company for the next phase of growth," said Mr. Stark.

Houlihan Lokey and Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised Chase Doors in the transaction.

Other Sentinel investments in specialty industrial businesses include Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment); Chromalox (precision heating technology); Colson (casters and wheels); Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators, valves); Fasloc (underground mine roof support systems); IEP Technologies (industrial explosion protection); LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems); and PlayCore (commercial playground and recreation equipment).

NEW YORK, July 15, 2014 – Today Sentinel announced that it has acquired TGI Fridays® Restaurants from Carlson, Inc., a global hospitality and travel company. Sentinel partnered with TriArtisan Capital Partners in the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, the TGI Fridays system comprises more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries, including more than 500 restaurants in the U.S. TGI Fridays boasts the largest international presence of any U.S. casual dining chain, and customers around the world equate the highly recognizable brand with classic American fare and expert service.

"We are proud of the Fridays brand and strong marketplace momentum that has been created over the past nearly four decades," said Carlson President and CEO Trudy Rautio. "This transaction is a win for all parties and we are excited and confident that under Sentinel’s ownership Fridays will continue to experience significant growth and capitalize on new opportunities. For Carlson, this transaction frees up resources that the company can deploy to focus on and accelerate the growth of its hotel and travel businesses, at a time when significant opportunities exist in these markets."

The first TGI Fridays restaurant opened in 1965 in New York City, building a brand known for handcrafted American food and legendary drinks, served with genuine personal service. Carlson acquired TGI Fridays in 1975 when the brand had just 12 restaurants. Since that time TGI Fridays has become a brand loved around the world, today with more than 900 restaurants in operation globally in 60 countries and reported system-wide sales of $2.7 billion in 2013. TGI Fridays restaurants include TGI Fridays, Fridays FrontRow Sports Grill and Fridays American Bar, and employ over 70,000 people globally.

We are very excited to partner with TGI Fridays’ outstanding management team," said John McCormack, a Sentinel senior partner. "TGI Fridays is an iconic global brand with a long history of solid performance and a significant opportunity for future growth."

Sentinel, who is TGI Fridays’ majority shareholder, has extensive restaurant and franchising investment experience and a demonstrated ability to create successful independent businesses through complex corporate carve outs. Sentinel has completed numerous acquisitions of both franchisors and franchisees, including Checkers/Rally’s, the largest franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru hamburger QSRs in the United States; Newk’s Eatery, a rapidly growing fast-casual concept in the Southeast United States; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage and spa services; and Southern California Pizza Company, a 223-unit Pizza Hut franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market.

NEW YORK, May 30, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower middle market, today announced its acquisition of PlayCore, the leading North American designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of playground, park, and recreation products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, PlayCore designs and builds a wide spectrum of commercial playground, park, recreation, performance and specialty equipment ranging from basic, modular play structures to complex, theme-based play environments that require significant creative and engineering competencies. PlayCore also provides a broad array of site amenities, surfacing, seating, performance, and fitness solutions, including picnic tables, benches, bleachers, bike racks, and outdoor fitness stations. Widely recognized as the industry thought leader, PlayCore also offers highly differentiated value-added services such as designing curriculum-based education programs for playgrounds and parks and helps customers access funding sources.

PlayCore’s President and CEO, Bob Farnsworth commented, "We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we take PlayCore to its next stage of growth. Sentinel has a reputation as a value added partner and we look forward to working with Sentinel at a time when our industry is poised for growth."

"PlayCore is an innovative leader and possesses a strong portfolio of leading brands in the playground and recreation market," said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. "We are very excited to partner with PlayCore’s talented management team and support the continued growth of this great business."

Sentinel has broad experience investing in specialty industrial businesses. Prior investments include: Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment), Chase Doors (specialty doors), Chromalox (precision heating technology), Colson (casters and wheels), Engineered Controls International (pressure regulators, valves), Fasloc (underground mine roof support systems), IEP Technologies (industrial explosion protection), and LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems.

NEW YORK, March 24, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising companies in the lower end of the middle market, today announced the closing of its acquisition of Newk’s Holding Company, LLC, owner and operator of the Newk’s Eatery franchise. Terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed. Arlington Capital Advisors served as financial advisor to Newk’s.

Newk’s is a rapidly growing market leader in the fast casual restaurant segment with a diverse menu of high quality, made-from-scratch sandwiches, soups, salads, and pizzas. The Newk’s Eatery system consists of 67 restaurants located in the Southeast.

Chris Newcomb, CEO and co-founder of Newk’s Eatery, commented, "Sentinel is a perfect strategic partner whose deep experience and success in supporting high growth restaurant and franchising businesses will allow Newk’s to realize its full potential."

The acquisition of Newk’s Eatery adds to Sentinel’s extensive franchising experience. Since its inception, Sentinel has completed eight similar transactions including Border Foods, a leading franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Checkers/Rally’s, the largest franchisor and operator of dual drive-thru hamburger QSRs in the U.S.; Cottman Transmission Systems, the nation’s second-largest franchisor of transmission repair depots; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest franchisor of home-based healthcare services; Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage and spa services; and Southern California Pizza Company, a 223-unit Pizza Hut franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market.

NEW YORK, March 10, 2014 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the closing of its acquisition of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., the franchisor and operator of 782 Checkers® and Rally’s® restaurants. Terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

The Checkers system consists of 450 franchised and 332 company-owned locations with established strongholds in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Checkers is the largest quick service restaurant (“QSR") operator of dual drive-through restaurants and differentiates itself through its craveable food and exceptional value. Checkers/Rally’s operates within the $65 billion hamburger QSR market and has achieved steady growth since 2001.

"We are very excited to partner with Checkers’ exceptional and operation-focused management team," said James Coady, a Sentinel partner. “Checkers and Rally’s are well established brands with a long history of solid performance and a significant opportunity for future growth."

Checkers/Rally’s CEO, Rick Silva, a 20-year QSR industry veteran with seven years at Checkers/Rally’s, commented, "Sentinel is an ideal partner for us as we grow our brands. Sentinel has almost 20 years of experience and success in restaurant and franchising investments, and they share our passion and commitment to growing the Checkers and Rally’s brands."

Since its inception, Sentinel has made seven other franchise investments besides Checkers/Rally’s, including Border Foods, a leading QSR franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Cottman Transmission Systems, the nation’s second-largest franchisor of transmission repair centers; Falcon Holdings, the largest QSR franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider and franchisor of home-based healthcare services; Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage and spa services; and Southern California Pizza Company, a 223-unit Pizza Hut QSR franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market.

NEW YORK, December 13, 2013 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the closing of its acquisition of Power Products, the electrical segment of Actuant Corporation (NYSE:ATU), for a purchase price of $258 million.

Power Products, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a global, diversified electrical products platform that designs, manufactures and distributes branded electrical tools, consumables, wiring products, harsh-environment power conversion solutions, transformers, inverters, switches, and other related electrical products and accessories. Power Products serves the construction and remodeling, marine and recreation, industrial, and utility markets through a variety of sales channels including OEMs, wholesale distributors, internet, catalog, and retail outlets. Power Products owns a portfolio of recognized brand names – Del City, Gardner Bender, Marinco, Mastervolt, Acme, and Turner Electric – all of which will be retained after the sale.

"We are very excited to work with Power Products’ management to help build the business,” said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. “Power Products owns great brands and has a long history of successfully serving its many customers, a very talented management team, and exciting growth opportunities."

Power Products’ CEO, David Scheer, an electrical industry veteran with 26 years’ experience, who has served as its head since 2011, commented, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Sentinel. Our new partnership will enable us to sharpen the focus of the business, dedicate additional resources to supporting our best performing brands, and accelerate growth. Power Products is also in a strong position to benefit from the global economic recovery already underway."

The acquisition of Power Products adds another corporate carveout transaction to Sentinel’s portfolio. Sentinel has now completed six similar transactions including IEP Technologies from United Technologies, Pizza Hut stores in southern California from Yum! Brands, Vintage Parts from The Swire Group, Fasloc from DuPont, Alemite from Invensys, and Taco Bell stores in Minnesota from Pepsico. Sentinel has built a reputation as a reliable partner and trusted business steward among corporate sellers seeking to divest their smaller operations.

NEW YORK, December 3, 2013 – Sentinel Capital Partners, L.L.C., a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Engineered Controls International, LLC (“ECI”), the global leader and most-recognized provider of specialized pressure regulators, valves and other control equipment used in the transportation, delivery, and storage of propane, liquefied natural gas, and other cryogenic gases. The buyer was private equity firm Windjammer Capital Investors. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Elon, North Carolina, ECI is the leader across all of its product lines in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its brands, which include RegO® and Goddard®, are highly trusted and respected by its customers. Since its founding in 1908, ECI has grown significantly and serves a diversified international base of more than 550 customers, including propane and cryogenic gas distributors and leading global storage tank OEMs located in more than 100 countries. ECI provides mission critical products for applications where safety, durability, and performance are primary concerns.

“It has been a privilege working alongside ECI’s exceptional management team,” said Eric D. Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. “Since we made our investment, ECI has built upon its core strengths by expanding its product offering while continuing to deliver mission critical products to its customers. We are proud to have been associated with such an outstanding business and are confident that ECI will continue to excel under the leadership of its existing management team.”

“We are very excited about what we have achieved in partnership with Sentinel,” said Thomas Farrell, ECI’s CEO. “ECI is strategically well-positioned to maintain its global leadership position and remains dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services to its customers.”

Sentinel’s investments in other specialty industrial businesses include Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment), Chase Doors (specialty doors), Chromalox (precision heating technology), Colson (casters and wheels), Fasloc (specialized resin cartridges used in underground mine roof support), IEP Technologies (industrial explosion protection), LTI Boyd (rubber and plastic sealing systems), Nivel (aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories), and Trussbilt (specialty corrections industry security products).

NEW YORK, July 31, 2013 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the first and final closing of Sentinel Capital Partners V, L.P. at $1.3 billion.

"We are delighted at this fundraising outcome and grateful for the strong show of support from our existing investors and from several new, global investors," said David S. Lobel, founder and managing partner of Sentinel.

Sentinel will continue to focus on the same investment strategy it has employed and refined in previous funds—partnering with talented management teams to acquire companies with up to $35 million in EBITDA and solid businesses fundamentals, in industries where the firm has significant experience. In addition to platform acquisitions, Sentinel will continue to pursue small tuck-in and transformational, like-size add-on acquisitions for its portfolio companies as an important dimension of its investment strategy.

“Over the course of four funds, Sentinel has developed a consistent and reliable way of doing business that has proven appealing to corporate sellers, small business owners, institutional sellers, and management teams," said John F. McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder. "In a good number of businesses we have invested in, our ability and willingness to tackle financial and business complexity and relationship-intensive situations has worked well for us."

Fund V's investors include institutions in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and Australia, and also include college and university endowments, foundations, state and government retirement systems, corporate pension plans, diversified financial institutions, insurance companies, investment advisors, and Taft Hartley plans. Sentinel's most recent prior fund, Sentinel Capital Partners IV, L.P., initiated investment operations in 2009 with $765 million.

Law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP represented Sentinel. The Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) Inc. LLC served in an advisory capacity with respect to the private placement.

NEW YORK, July 22, 2013 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the formation of IEP Technologies, a company created through a carve-out of the industrial explosion protection businesses of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. These businesses, which currently go to market under the names Fenwal Explosion Protection (USA), Incom Explosionsschutz (Switzerland), Kidde Explosionsschutz (Germany) and Kidde Explosion Protection (United Kingdom), have combined under IEP Technologies to form the global leader in the industrial explosion protection industry.

Headquartered in the greater Boston area, IEP Technologies provides systems and services that suppress, isolate and / or vent potential combustible dust or vapor explosions in process industries. IEP Technologies provides best-in-class explosion protection systems, design engineering, replacement parts, material testing, and service and support to its global customer base.

“We are very excited about IEP Technologies’ growth potential and thrilled to be partnering with its talented management team,” said Eric D. Bommer, a Sentinel partner. “IEP Technologies’ creation came about through a lot of hard work by IEP Technologies’ management, Sentinel’s team, and a large group of dedicated outside advisors to complete a highly complex corporate carve-out, including four separate business units spread across four different countries.” The newly-combined IEP Technologies is well positioned to build collaboratively on the significant collective, global strengths of its existing system design platforms. IEP Technologies’ platforms include sophisticated computer calculation tools, and have been subjected to thousands of full-scale explosion tests spanning five decades of field experience. IEP Technologies will continue to lead the industry in research and development and make investments in new product technologies and existing product innovations.

IEP Technologies is led by CEO Randy Davis, an industry veteran and the previous General Manager of UTC Climate, Controls & Security’s Fenwal Explosion Protection group. IEP Technologies will also retain the local leadership in each of its existing geographies.

“I believe the formation of IEP Technologies is a significant event in the evolution of the industrial explosion protection industry,” commented Mr. Davis. “For the first time, one company will encompass the product development, application design engineering, and field service capabilities of four market leaders across the globe. This, in turn, will lead to enhanced product innovation and robust service and support for our customers. Our executive team members are shareholders in our business and our goal, with Sentinel’s support, is to further cement IEP Technologies’ position as the global market leader in providing explosion protection solutions for combustible dust and vapor threats.”

NEW YORK, December 28, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced it has sold portfolio company Chromalox, the leading global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electric heating solutions for demanding, mission-critical process control applications in energy, industrial, and commercial market sectors. The buyer was private equity firm Irving Place Capital. In connection with this transaction, the senior management team of Chromalox has increased its ownership in the company and will retain a substantial stake in the business going forward. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1918, Chromalox is the premier brand in the electric heating market, providing the most comprehensive suite of products and serving as the industry’s technological innovator. Over its nearly 100-year history, the Chromalox name has become known for engineering excellence, innovative solutions, and unsurpassed performance. Chromalox's product catalog, known as the Big Red Book, is the industry's "go-to" technical resource for engineers and technicians, with thousands of pages of product information, technical reference guides, and design tutorials.

During Sentinel's ownership, Chromalox opened a new manufacturing facility in China to serve that growing market, opened new sales offices in India, Germany, and parts of Asia, and significantly improved the performance of Chromalox's European operations.

“Chromalox’s management team has done a superb job driving product application growth, while maintaining operational excellence,” said John McCormack, Sentinel co-founder and senior partner. “Combined with its global footprint, Chromalox is very well positioned to respond to the rapidly growing energy and power generation industries worldwide. We couldn’t be more pleased with our investment and would like to thank Chromalox's management team for being such great partners and for their dedication to excellence."

"Chromalox thrived during our partnership with Sentinel. Their support, coaching, and long-term perspective helped us perform well during their investment period while positioning us for continued success in the future," said Scott Dysert, CEO. "This is an exciting time for our company, as Chromalox prepares for the next stage of growth in our long history."

In addition to the exit of Chromalox, Sentinel announced last week the acquisition of Hospice Advantage, a leading hospice organization that provides end-of-life care, palliative treatment, personal care, and family support services, primarily to patients in their homes. Both transactions conclude a highly active 2012 that saw Sentinel successfully complete six exits and make four new platform investments. The six exits are Chromalox; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of assessment and training products and services that develop interpersonal skills; Interim Healthcare, a leading franchisor of skilled home healthcare services; LTI Boyd, a leading industrial manufacturer of mission-critical sealing and energy management solutions; Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of massage therapy and facial treatment services; and Southern California Pizza Company, the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in southern California. The four new 2012 platform investments are Colson, the leading global industrial manufacturer of casters and wheels; Hospice Advantage; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; and Northeast Dental Management, a regional dental practice management company in the mid-Atlantic.

NEW YORK, December 14, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced it has recapitalized Hospice Advantage, a leading hospice organization that provides end-of-life care, palliative treatment, personal care, and family support services, primarily to patients in their homes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Michigan, Hospice Advantage was founded in 2004 by Rod Hildebrant, a veteran hospice industry executive with more than 35 years of experience, to better serve the needs of terminally ill patients. Hospice Advantage currently operates 56 locations in 10 states throughout the Midwest, Southeast and South.

“Hospice Advantage provides valuable services and compassionate care to terminally ill patients and their families,” said Paul Murphy, a Sentinel partner. “We are thrilled to be partners with Rod Hildebrant, a pioneer of the hospice industry in the U.S., and his team.”

"With the graying of America, Hospice care has become an important and growing component of healthcare in the United States,” added Michael Fabian, a Sentinel principal. “We are delighted to support one of the most talented and experienced management teams in this industry.”

Hospice Advantage has built a strong brand name and referral network complemented by a scalable back office operation that includes compliance and quality assurance, billing, human resources, facility development, and information technology. This infrastructure will support further growth in the Midwest and South.

“We are very pleased to partner with Sentinel as we take our company into its next stage of development,” said Mr. Hildebrant, Hospice Advantage’s founder and president. “Their proven expertise in healthcare services made Sentinel our partner of choice. We very much look forward to working with our new partners at Sentinel and continuing our leadership in the hospice community.”

Sentinel’s investment in Hospice Advantage further expands the firm’s commitment to the healthcare sector. Sentinel’s healthcare portfolio currently include National Spine & Pain Centers, the country’s leading provider of interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain; North American Rescue, a leading supplier of tactical life-saving equipment to the U.S. military; Northeast Dental Management, a leading provider of office support services to dental clinics in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic; and Wellspring Pharmaceutical Corp., a manufacturer and marketer of specialty pharmaceuticals in the U.S. and Canada.

NEW YORK, December 10, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Southern California Pizza Company, the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in southern California with 224 locations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Sentinel built Southern California Pizza during the course of four years through two major transactions as well as opening new locations. In 2008, Southern California Pizza acquired its first 123 restaurants through a corporate divestiture by franchisor Pizza Hut, Inc.. A year later, Sentinel acquired an additional 98 restaurants from Pizza Hut, Inc. These two acquisitions together with new unit openings made Southern California Pizza the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in California and the third largest in the 7,600-store U.S. Pizza Hut system. All 224 Southern California Pizza restaurants are located in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties.

“We are extremely pleased with our investment in Southern California Pizza,” said John McCormack, senior partner at Sentinel. “During our ownership, we were fortunate to partner with one of the top management teams in the industry and to receive strong brand support from Pizza Hut. We feel privileged to have been part of the Pizza Hut system during the past four years and thank the management teams at both Pizza Hut and parent company YUM! Brands for their outstanding leadership.”

“Together with our partners at Sentinel, we created a powerful Pizza Hut platform that is a leader in the important Los Angeles quick-service restaurant market,” said Jerry Ardizzone, CEO of Southern California Pizza and a Pizza Hut veteran. “Our company remains well-positioned for the future and we are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

The investment in Southern California Pizza is consistent with Sentinel’s successful investment history in restaurants and franchising. Prior investments include Falcon Holdings, a Church’s Chicken franchisee; and Border Foods, a Taco Bell franchisee. Both were highly successful for Sentinel. Earlier this year, Sentinel acquired Huddle House, a leading franchisor and operator of family dining restaurants in the southeastern U.S.

The exit of Southern California Pizza marks the latest event in an active year for Sentinel. The firm successfully completed four other exits in 2012: Interim Healthcare, a leading franchisor of skilled home healthcare services; Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of massage therapy and facial treatment services; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of assessment and training products and services that develop interpersonal skills; and LTI Boyd, a leading manufacturer of mission-critical sealing and energy management solutions. During 2012, in addition to Huddle House, Sentinel made two more new platform acquisitions: Colson, the leading global manufacturer of casters, wheels, and related hardware products; and Northeast Dental Management, a regional dental practice management company in the mid-Atlantic.

NEW YORK, October 31, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation's leading franchisor of skilled home healthcare services. Financial terms of the sale are not being disclosed.

Interim is the nation's most comprehensive home healthcare provider utilizing a franchise-only business model. Based in Sunrise, Florida, Interim's diverse franchise network provides services that cover the entire continuum of home-based care, including skilled home healthcare, home hospice care, home assisted living care, and supplemental healthcare staffing. Interim's network of more than 300 locations in 43 states employs approximately 40,000 healthcare workers and provides care to 50,000 patients annually.

Under Sentinel's ownership, Interim underwent an operational transformation from a franchisor and direct provider of healthcare services into a "pure-play" healthcare franchisor. As part of the transformation, Interim refranchised all of its company-owned home healthcare locations, exited non-core healthcare businesses, and focused its efforts on recruiting new franchise owners to its network.

"We are proud of the work Sentinel was able to accomplish with Interim's highly talented and experienced management team over the course of our six-year investment," said Paul Murphy, partner at Sentinel. "We originally acquired Interim with the goal of working with its management team to redefine and refocus Interim's position in the healthcare industry. Today Interim is recognized as the nation's leading home healthcare franchisor."

Kathleen Gilmartin, Interim's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Sentinel was a fantastic partner to the Interim team during the course of their ownership. Drawing upon Sentinel's franchising experience and financial support, Interim was able to successfully navigate through a dynamic period of change in the healthcare industry. Home healthcare continues to be more cost effective and therefore more affordable than institutional care and we look forward to remaining on our current growth trajectory."

The exit marks the latest event in an active year for Sentinel. In addition to Interim Healthcare, Sentinel has successfully completed three other exits in 2012: Massage Envy, the nation's largest provider and franchisor of massage therapy and facial treatment services; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of assessment and training products and services that develop interpersonal skills; and LTI-Boyd, a leading manufacturer of mission-critical sealing and energy management solutions. During 2012, Sentinel has also completed three new platform acquisitions: Colson, a manufacturer of casters, wheels, and related hardware products; Northeast Dental Management, a dental practice management company in the mid-Atlantic; and Huddle House, a franchisor and operator of family-dining restaurants.

NEW YORK, September 30, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of massage therapy and facial treatment services, to private equity firm Roark Capital Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Massage Envy transformed the delivery of professional, convenient, and affordable massage and spa services to consumers with busy lifestyles. During Sentinel's ownership, Massage Envy grew rapidly, expanding from 600 clinics operating in 42 states to 800 locations in 45 states. Today, Massage Envy provides massage therapy, facial treatments, and wellness retail products to an active member base of more than 1.25 million every month. Massage Envy clinics are also the world's largest employers of licensed and registered massage therapists, numbering more than 20,000. Massage Envy was ranked No. 57 in Entrepreneur magazine's 2012 Franchise 500 and No. 29 in the magazine’s Fastest Growing Franchise rankings.

"Massage Envy is truly a special business that has had a profound impact on the wellness industry as well as franchising," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Since its inception a decade ago, Massage Envy has grown into a leading franchisor with $1 billion in system-wide sales, while changing the way consumers utilize massage therapy through using a membership-based model."

"The Sentinel team has been an excellent partner to us during this period of rapid growth," said David Crisalli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Massage Envy. "The Massage Envy brand and organization is stronger than ever. We are well positioned to continue its mission—providing a pathway to wellness through professional, convenient, and affordable massage therapy and spa services. We thank Sentinel for all of their contributions."

"We are fortunate to have worked with such a capable and dedicated management team," said John McCormack, co-founder and senior partner at Sentinel. "They have transformed the industry and created for Massage Envy a first mover advantage. And they have also positioned Massage Envy for further rapid growth."

Investment banking firms William Blair & Company and North Point Advisors advised Massage Envy in the transaction, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel.

NEW YORK,July 19, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of LTI Boyd, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high performance, custom engineered components for large, multinational OEMs. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Modesto, CA, LTI Boyd offers specialized solutions for gasket, sealing, insulation, and impact protection applications in the heavy truck, recreational vehicle, enterprise electronics, off-highway, aerospace, and consumer electronics markets.

During Sentinel's ownership, LTI Boyd’s revenue increased nearly five-fold through organic growth and the completion of three acquisitions.

"We are extremely pleased with LTI Boyd's performance," said John McCormack, Senior Partner at Sentinel. "We have been fortunate to partner with LTI Boyd’s talented management team and wish them continued success as they enter their next stage of growth."

"Sentinel was an ideal partner for our team," said Mitch Aiello, LTI Boyd's CEO. "Sentinel's support and help was a crucial component of LTI Boyd establishing its leading market position.

Robert W. Baird & Co., a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based investment bank, advised LTI Boyd in the transaction. William Blair & Company, a Chicago, Illinois-based investment bank, served as co-advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to LTI Boyd.

NEW YORK, April 30, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising middle market companies, today announced it has acquired Northeast Dental Management (NEDM), a leading dental services organization in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2003 by Dr. Craig Abramowitz, NEDM provides office support services to 30 locally-branded dental clinics in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Headquartered in Paramus, NJ, NEDM provides over 100 affiliated dentists and their staff with services such as administrative staffing, human resources, purchasing, financial, and information technology. NEDM’s affiliated clinics provide patients with the highest quality dental care via a full suite of best-in-class general dentistry, oral hygiene, and specialty dental services, including oral surgery, periodontics, pedodontics and orthodontics.

"NEDM has an impeccable reputation for quality care and services," said Paul Murphy, a Sentinel Partner. "With an experienced and dedicated management team, and numerous avenues for continued growth, we look forward to building upon NEDM’s success."

Dr. Abramowitz, a dentist and industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, will continue to run the day-to-day operations of NEDM as its CEO. Dr. Abramowitz will retain a stake in the business.

"NEDM could not have asked for a better partner than Sentinel," said Dr. Abramowitz. "Sentinel has a proven record in the dental practice management industry and recognizes the importance of providing high-quality patient care."

Sentinel’s investment in NEDM further expands its commitment to the dental and healthcare sectors. Sentinel’s dental portfolio has included Castle Dental Services and Metro Dentalcare, leading providers of general and specialty dentistry services; and ReachOut Healthcare America, the nation’s leading provider of mobile dental services to underserved children. Sentinel’s healthcare investments include Interim Healthcare Holdings, a leading provider and franchisor of home healthcare services; National Spine & Pain Centers, the top provider of interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain; North American Rescue, a leading supplier of tactical life-saving equipment to the U.S. military; and Wellspring Pharmaceutical Corp., a manufacturer and marketer of specialty pharmaceuticals in the U.S. and Canada.

NEW YORK, NY, April 17, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising middle market companies, today announced that it has acquired the Colson Group, a private company owned by trusts for the benefit of members of the Pritzker Family of Chicago. Sentinel partnered in the transaction with Colson’s management, Matthew Pritzker, and CITIC Capital Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Colson, acquired in 1953 by Jay and Bob Pritzker, is the worldwide leader in caster technology with 35 manufacturing and distribution facilities located in 15 countries. Colson has the most complete line of industrial casters, wheels, and hardware-related products globally. Colson’s products are used in industrial, commercial, and institutional applications, and it holds the premier position in its markets. Colson’s existing management team will continue under Sentinel’s ownership.

“Colson is a market leader in designing and manufacturing casters, and has a well developed, global footprint,” said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. “Colson has an outstanding management team and is a strong business with significant growth potential. The continued investment of members of the Pritzker Family alongside us demonstrates confidence in Colson and Sentinel’s commitment to value creation.”

"Colson was such a big part of my father's life," said Matthew Pritzker, founder and chairman of the Matthew Pritzker Company and son of the late Bob Pritzker. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to stay involved in something he created and to be a part of continuing his legacy."

“My management team and I are very pleased that Sentinel has invested in Colson,” said Scott Chahalis, Colson’s Chief Executive Officer. “Sentinel has a reputation for being a value added partner in the industrial manufacturing sector. This is an exciting opportunity for our company and employees as we combine our efforts with Sentinel’s team.”

Sentinel’s investment in Colson further expands our investment commitment to the industrial sector. Sentinel’s industrials portfolio includes Chromalox, a leading global manufacturer of commercial and industrial electric heating products and solutions; Chase Doors, the global leader in high-quality and made-to-order specialty door systems; Engineered Controls International, the leading global manufacturer of specialized pressure regulators, valves and other control equipment used in liquefied and compressed gasses; and LTI Boyd, a leading designer and manufacturer of mission-critical sealing and energy management solutions.

NEW YORK, March 30, 2012 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Marc Particelli joined the firm as an operating partner, which increases to five the number of Sentinel's operating partners. Mr. Particelli has worked closely with Sentinel since 2008 and currently is a director of Credit Infonet.

Mr. Particelli is an expert in the consumer marketing sector. He began his business career at Booz Allen & Hamilton, where he spent 21 years and was a senior partner in charge of the worldwide consumer products, services, and retail sectors. Upon leaving Booz Allen, Marc joined Odyssey Partners as an operating partner overseeing 23 portfolio companies. Upon dissolution of Odyssey, Marc joined Oak Hill Capital Management as a partner. He left private equity to become CEO of Modem Media, a leading Internet marketing services firm at the time. Since selling Modem Media, he has served as an outside director for several public and private companies, including portfolio companies of Odyssey and Oak Hill. He graduated with a BS Industrial Engineering degree from Lehigh University and an MBA from Harvard University.

NEW YORK,March 30, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced it has acquired Huddle House, Inc., a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Huddle House was founded in 1964 with a focus on serving quality food in warm, friendly environments that bring communities together. Huddle House offers customers “Any Meal. Any Time.” with a broad menu of high-quality, cooked-to-order food, and 24-hour service, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. Huddle House has 376 franchised units and 17 company-owned units in the Southeast that generate more than $225 million in annual system-wide sales. The acquisition comes after significant same-store sales increases of 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 7.2% in the first quarter of 2012

“We are excited to partner with the talented Huddle House management team and a strong group of franchisees,” said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. “We have particular expertise in franchising and restaurants, and we look forward to leveraging that experience to continue Huddle House’s success."

Sentinel has a proven track record of helping franchise businesses build value,” said Ken Keymer, CEO of Huddle House. “We have made meaningful progress with the Huddle House brand in recent years that has resulted in above average growth for our system. With Sentinel as our partner, we look forward to accelerating this growth."

Sentinel has invested in numerous franchise businesses throughout its history including Border Foods, a leading franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Cottman Transmission Systems, the nation’s second-largest franchisor of transmission repair depots; Falcon Holdings, the largest franchisee of Church's Chicken restaurants; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider and franchisor of home-based healthcare services; Southern California Pizza Company, a 223-unit Pizza Hut franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market; and Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage and spa services.

NEW YORK, March 23, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced its portfolio company National Spine & Pain Centers has acquired Capitol Spine & Pain Centers. Management teams from both companies partnered with Sentinel in the transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined company is the nation’s leading provider of management services to physicians specializing in interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain. Operating in 22 facilities in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, affiliated physicians of National Spine & Pain Centers and Capitol Spine & Pain Centers treated more than 40,000 patients in 2011.

“Our two businesses are the leaders in providing advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for patients in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Drs. Bobby Dey, Marc Loev and Les Zuckerman, co-founders of National Spine & Pain Centers. “Our two organizations have the same mission—to provide a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pain through the use of advanced, minimally invasive, interventional procedures. We also have highly compatible cultures, and look forward to working closely with Capitol Spine & Pain Centers’ talented management team to expand the breadth of our services and our presence throughout the Mid-Atlantic.”

“We are very proud of everything that we have achieved and are excited about joining with National Spine & Pain Centers to create a true market leader,” said Drs. Mayo Friedlis, Doug Wisor and Assaf Gordon, board members of Capitol Spine & Pain Centers. “We have seen the success of National Spine & Pain Centers’ partnership with Sentinel, a private equity firm with a great track record of supporting management teams seeking to build stronger healthcare businesses. We are very excited to join this partnership.”

“With chronic and debilitating pain affecting more people in the United States than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined, National Spine & Pain Centers addresses a crucial need for its patients and is well positioned in an exciting and fast growing healthcare specialty,” said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. “We are proud to be partners with these two extraordinary groups as they endeavor to integrate and grow their business.”

Sentinel’s investment in National Spine & Pain Centers continues the firm’s focus on healthcare. In November 2011, Sentinel acquired WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corporation, a North American manufacturer and marketer of specialty prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Sentinel’s investments in National Spine & Pain Centers and WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corporation bring to eight the number of healthcare investments completed by Sentinel in the past seven years. Other current Sentinel healthcare holdings include Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home nursing care and Massage Envy, the nation’s largest provider of therapeutic massage services. Sentinel successfully exited two healthcare investments in 2010, including ReachOut Healthcare America, the nation’s leader in mobile dental services, and Strategic Partners, a leading provider of medical uniforms. In 2007, Sentinel sold Metro Dentalcare, a regional multi-specialty dental group, to American Dental Partners (NASDAQ:ADPI), and in 2004, Sentinel sold Castle Dental Centers, a leading regional dental services provider, to Bright Now! Dental.

NEW YORK, February 17, 2012 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of assessment and training products that develop interpersonal skills. Inscape’s products are based upon DiSC®, a psychological assessment tool which has been widely used to evaluate behavior for nearly a century. Inscape was acquired by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE:JWa, JWb) in a transaction valued at $85 million on Feb. 16, 2012.

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Inscape’s DiSC® offerings provide a suite of content-rich, technology-enabled corporate training solutions for the development of employee skills such as sales, leadership, teamwork, communications and time management. Inscape’s products are used to train more than one million people in 70 countries and 30 different languages each year.

During Sentinel’s ownership, Inscape added a number of new assessments and related training tools to the DiSC® platform. The latest generation of products personalizes the training experience for end-users and enhances the training capabilities for Inscape’s affiliated trainers, resulting in substantial revenue and profit growth for Inscape.

“We are extremely pleased with the performance of Inscape under Jeff Sugerman’s leadership,” said Paul Murphy, a Sentinel Partner. “Inscape’s management team did a superb job advancing the DiSC® platform and extending Inscape’s leadership position in the corporate training industry. We believe Wiley is particularly well suited for Inscape’s next phase of growth and continued success.

“Sentinel was a terrific partner to the Inscape team throughout their ownership period,” said Jeff Sugerman, Inscape’s Chief Executive Officer. “Sentinel’s support during the recent economic downturn as well as their expertise in helping management drive the growth of business services companies was instrumental in our achievements in recent years.&rdquo

NEW YORK, November 29, 2011 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Trinity Consultants, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of air quality consulting and compliance services to the industrial market. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Dallas, Trinity offers a full range of air quality compliance services and has specific expertise in the energy, manufacturing, industrial and utility sectors. Trinity helps its clients comply with federal, state and local air quality regulations and manage climate change and environmental sustainability issues. Trinity also provides complementary products and services such as environment, health and safety (“EH&S”) information management solutions, educational courses, environmental modeling software and EH&S staffing services.

During Sentinel’s ownership, Trinity continued to expand its domestic footprint and extended its presence to important international markets such as China and the Middle East. In addition, heightened air quality standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including the regulation of carbon dioxide as a traditional air pollutant, fueled Trinity’s growth.

“We believe Trinity is particularly well positioned for future success,” said Eric Bommer, a Sentinel partner. “Trinity is widely recognized as the leading air quality expert in the market and has a phenomenal group of managers and employees that have driven its growth over a long period of time. We are proud to have been their partners and wish them continued success in the next stage of growth.”

Sentinel partnered with Trinity’s management and employees at the time of its 2007 acquisition. More than 70 employees invested alongside Sentinel in the transaction and collectively owned a significant equity position.

“Trinity enjoys a unique culture focused on excellence in client service; Sentinel recognized this and treated management and employees as true partners throughout their ownership period,” said Jay Hofmann, Trinity’s Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate the confidence Sentinel placed in us and the resources they contributed, which helped us to successfully execute our growth strategy.”

About Sentinel Capital Partners
Sentinel Capital Partners specializes in buying and building lower middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets eight industry sectors—aerospace / defense, business services, consumer products / services, distribution, food / restaurants, franchising, healthcare products / services, and industrial manufacturing. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, purchases of family businesses, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, and going-private transactions of established businesses with EBITDA between $7 million and $35 million.

NEW YORK, October 15, 2011 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced its acquisition of WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corporation, a North American manufacturer and marketer of branded OTC health and personal care products. Sentinel completed the transaction alongside Ancor Capital Partners, an independent sponsor with extensive healthcare expertise.

WellSpring's products have widespread distribution through pharmaceutical distributors, wholesalers, and major food and drug retailers. WellSpring prides itself on providing highly effective medications in much-needed applications for niche patient groups. WellSpring also manufactures pharmaceuticals for other drug companies on a contract basis from its production facility in Ontario, Canada.

“WellSpring is an innovator that provides quality pharmaceutical products and related services across a diverse set of end markets. The opportunity to invest alongside Ancor was also a strong incentive for us,” stated Eric Bommer, Partner at Sentinel. “We believe WellSpring is well positioned to accelerate its growth and we look forward to working with its management team and Ancor in taking WellSpring to the next level.”

“WellSpring is Ancor’s fifteenth acquisition of a healthcare company and combines our experience in pharmaceutical sales, OTC products, and contract manufacturing,” said J. Randall Keene, Managing Partner at Ancor Capital Partners, who will serve as CEO of WellSpring. “We are very pleased to have teamed with Sentinel on this acquisition and we look forward to working closely with them,” added Mr. Keene.

Dr. Robert A. Vukovich, founder and CEO of WellSpring, reinvested in the company and will serve on its board of directors. Dr. Vukovich commented, “I am pleased to have found a buyer who will continue the high quality standards that Wellspring established, and feel I have passed the company into very capable hands that will continue to accelerate growth.” Ms. Bonnie Feeney, President and COO of Wellspring Pharmaceutical Canada Corporation, and Ms. Wendy Shusko, COO and CFO of Wellspring Pharmaceutical Corporation USA, also reinvested in WellSpring and will continue in their current positions.”

NEW YORK, September 27, 2011 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced that it has invested in a recapitalization of National Spine & Pain Centers, a leading provider of management services to physicians specializing in interventional pain management procedures focused on relieving back and neck pain. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, National Spine & Pain Centers offers a comprehensive approach to the treatment of pain through the use of advanced, minimally invasive, interventional procedures. Such treatment provides both immediate and long-lasting pain relief and enables patients and payors to avoid more costly and invasive surgical procedures. National Spine & Pain Centers provides administrative and management services to physicians who are dedicated to providing high quality patient care in outpatient ambulatory surgical center settings. Affiliated physicians are fellowship-trained and board-certified/board-eligible pain specialists and many are nationally recognized leaders in pain management.

“Interventional pain management is an exciting and fast growing healthcare specialty,” said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. “We believe National Spine & Pain Centers is a premiere group operating in this attractive market. We are pleased to have partnered with the company’s founders, management team, and affiliated physicians to continue building and growing the business.”

National Spine & Pain Centers was co-founded in 1998 by three physicians — Drs. Bobby Dey, Marc Loev, and Les Zuckerman — who invested in the transaction alongside Sentinel and will continue to lead the business.

“We had numerous options in choosing a financial partner for our next stage of development,” said Dr. Marc Loev, co-founder and chief executive officer of National Spine & Pain Centers. “We chose Sentinel because of its commitment to our vision and understanding of our business, as well as a proven record investing in and growing healthcare service companies.”

“Sentinel understood our deep commitment to our patients, our staff, and to delivering outstanding quality of care,” added Dr. Les Zuckerman, National Spine & Pain Centers co-founder and chief medical officer. “Sentinel’s professionals understand that successful healthcare businesses require dedication to these elements. We are excited about our new partnership.”

Co-founder and chief development officer Dr. Bobby Dey added, “The new partnership with Sentinel will also us allow us to accelerate our growth through new site openings and select acquisitions. We have already committed to new sites and have begun seeking high-quality interventional pain groups in our region and beyond.”

NEW YORK, July 22, 2011 – Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced that portfolio company LTI Flexible Products has acquired Boyd Corporation. The combination has created a leading global provider of custom fabricated gaskets and sealing systems serving blue-chip OEMs across a diverse range of end markets. The combined company has been named LTI BOYD, and is headquartered in Modesto, California.

LTI is a leading designer and manufacturer of extruded, die-cut, and molded flexible rubber and plastic sealing systems and related components. Its products are primarily used by OEMs of recreational vehicles, heavy trucks, and agriculture and construction equipment. LTI’s products are essential to OEMs’ product quality and customer satisfaction.

Boyd is a leading designer and manufacturer of mission-critical sealing and energy management solutions for blue-chip OEMs primarily serving the electronics, heavy truck, aerospace, and medical markets. Boyd focuses on seals and gaskets that provide electromagnetic, acoustical, and electrical shielding and thermal insulation.

“The highly complementary products, end markets, and geographic locations of LTI and Boyd offer a compelling rationale for combining the two companies,” said Mitch Aiello, CEO of Boyd, who now serves as CEO of LTI BOYD. “From a diversified, worldwide platform we intend to leverage the synergies of the combined business and offer a one-stop solution to our expanded customer base.”

“This acquisition underscores our commitment to the industrial manufacturing sector,” said John McCormack, co-founder and senior partner at Sentinel. “Merging LTI and Boyd is an excellent example of how combining two strong lower middle market companies can result in the creation of a global market leader.”

NEW YORK, March 18, 2011 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced it has acquired Chromalox, Inc., a leading global branded industrial manufacturer of commercial and industrial electric heating products and solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chromalox is a pioneer in precision heat technology. Over its 90-year history, Chromalox has produced the world's broadest line of electric heat and control products, including heating components, immersion heaters, circulation systems, heat transfer systems, boilers, industrial and comfort air heating, heat trace cables, sensors and precision electronic controls. With a library of 700,000 product designs, Chromalox has the broadest product portfolio in the industry. A one-stop supplier for heating applications, Chromalox serves a diverse base of more than 60,000 registered customers, including distributors, end users, OEMs, catalog houses, and system integrators.

"Chromalox has established itself as an industry leading brand, recognized for its legacy of engineering excellence, innovative solutions and product quality across a diverse set of end markets," said John McCormack, co-founder of and senior partner at Sentinel. "Chromalox is well positioned to benefit from continued economic improvement in both the U.S. and abroad. We look forward to assisting Chromalox's talented management team during the company's next phase of growth."

"For the past 90 years, we have provided our valued customers with mission-critical products and services," said Scott Dysert, CEO of Chromalox. "We are in a strong position to continue to provide superior customer service and maintain our market leading position."

Sentinel's investments in other specialty industrial businesses include: Chase Doors (made-to-order specialty door systems); Engineered Controls International (specialized pressure regulators); Alemite (lubrication equipment); Fasloc (roof support systems for underground mines); LTI (rubber and plastic sealing systems); and Trussbilt (steel security products for prisons.

NEW YORK, February 1, 2011 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the recapitalization of Critical Solutions International ("CSI"), the leading global supplier of land mine and improvised explosive device detection vehicles, systems and support services to U.S. and foreign military forces. Sentinel partnered in the transaction with CSI's founders, Tennessee Valley Ventures, and senior management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Since 1999, CSI has been a consistent and important resource to the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, and the Canadian Armed Forces for testing, developing and supplying landmine detection vehicles and systems. CSI's primary product, the Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection ("VMMD") system, nicknamed the Husky, is a unique, life-saving, combat-proven vehicle that is blast-survivable, field-reparable, four-wheel steerable, and highly effective at detecting all forms of land-based explosive devices. Today there are more than 300 VMMD systems actively deployed, and the Husky is a Program of Record with a DX Rating—the highest possible rating granted by the U.S. armed forces.

"CSI's co-founders and management team bring a dynamic combination of technological innovation and military expertise to the table," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We look forward to working alongside the management team to help them bolster CSI's infrastructure to enter its next phase of growth."

"With a strong background in defense and a solid track record of helping companies build value, Sentinel is the ideal partner for CSI," said co-founders Ed Fearon and Shon Craig, who will continue in their current roles and remain involved as significant shareholders and board members. "While CSI has achieved considerable success in the past, the strategic and financial support Sentinel brings will put us in an even stronger position to provide quality products to our valued customers."

"CSI's life-saving products and leading market position, coupled with a highly visible future revenue stream make it an attractive investment opportunity for Sentinel," said Graham Schena, a vice president at Sentinel.

Sentinel's investments in other defense sector businesses include North American Rescue, the leading developer and distributor of tactical emergency medical equipment to the U.S. military, law enforcement and other organizations that employ trauma care professionals; and ReachOut Healthcare America, Ltd. the nation's leading provider of administrative support services to affiliated dentists in the mobile dental industry, serving military personnel, underprivileged children, and seniors.

NEW YORK, December 30, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced it has acquired Chase Industries, Inc. ("Chase Doors"), the global leader and most recognized manufacturer of high-quality, made-to-order specialty door systems. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1932, Chase Doors offers of a broad spectrum of specialty door systems employed in a variety of industrial and commercial settings including corrosion resistant doors used for hazardous material handling; cold storage doors used in walk-in freezers and refrigerators; double impact traffic doors used in supermarkets and restaurants; and strip and roll-up doors used in warehouses. Using its vertically integrated North American based door manufacturing capabilities, Chase Doors offers superior design and engineering processes which enhance the functionality, durability, and life of its products. With revenues evenly distributed across new construction, remodeling and replacement, and maintenance, Chase Doors serves a wide array of end markets, including retail, industrial, pharmaceutical, food processing, distribution, postal and institutional.

"Through the dedication and expertise of its exceptional management team, Chase Doors has earned a reputation for high quality products that are reliable and offer excellent value," said James D. Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "We look forward to supporting the Chase team's growth plans."

"We are very proud of our solid track record and strong performance," said Bob Muir, President & CEO of Chase Doors. "Sentinel brings us considerable strategic and financial guidance that positions our team to enhance Chase's current market position while continuing to grow. Entering 2011 with Sentinel as our partner is ideal."

"One of Sentinel's areas of focus is branded, niche manufacturing businesses," said Scott Perry, a vice president at Sentinel. "Our previous investments in the niche manufacturing sector have given us a keen understanding of how to foster growth for businesses like Chase. This, combined with management's deep industry experience, puts Chase Doors in a position to become an even stronger business."

Sentinel's investments in other specialty niche manufacturing businesses include: Engineered Controls International (provider of specialized pressure regulators), Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment), Fasloc (specialized roof support systems used in underground mines), LTI (rubber and plastic sealing systems), Nivel (aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories), Spinrite (craft yarn products); Strategic Partners (medical uniforms); and Trussbilt (specialty steel security products for the corrections market).

NEW YORK, December 29, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of ReachOut Healthcare America, the nation's leading provider of administrative support services to affiliated dentists in the mobile dental industry. Based in Phoenix, AZ, ReachOut's mission is to facilitate and support access to oral healthcare for underserved patient populations in the U.S. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Through its affiliated dentists, ReachOut provides a complete array of diagnostic, preventative, restorative, prosthodontic, and periodontal dental services to underserved children in schools and foster programs, the aged and disabled in residential facilities, and to US Army National Guard units throughout the country. Sentinel made its initial investment in ReachOut in 2007 in partnership with ReachOut's two founding entrepreneurs. In 2008, ReachOut acquired its largest competitor, Mobile Dentists, also in partnership with its two founding entrepreneurs, to form the nation's clear leader in mobile dental services. In early 2010, Reachout further strengthened its leadership position by acquiring Help A Child Smile, the largest mobile dental services provider in the state of Georgia. Today, ReachOut operates in 25 states and provides dental care to more than 425,000 underprivileged children, seniors, and military personnel each year.

"It has been extremely rewarding to work with the ReachOut and Mobile Dentists management teams," said David Lobel, managing partner at Sentinel. "ReachOut is now firmly established as a powerful growth platform that delivers critical dental care to large and underserved segments of the population. We are proud to be affiliated with a business that not only has done well for its investors, but also provides a greatly needed healthcare service."

"While we had several excellent choices when we originally sold our business, we chose Sentinel because of their deep experience in the dental services industry as well as proven history of partnering with entrepreneurs to grow businesses," said Michael Howell and Dan Goldsmith, co-founders of ReachOut Healthcare America. "Sentinel has brought significant dental resources to ReachOut that have helped us accelerate our growth."

Added Dr. Marcy Borofsky and Dr. Margo Woll, co-founders of Mobile Dentists, "Sentinel has demonstrated the ability to work constructively with two sets of founding entrepreneurs and has provided us the direction and support necessary to continue growing rapidly, both organically and through acquisitions."

"We wish ReachOut and its team great success in their next phase of growth," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We have enjoyed the partnership with the four co-founders, and ReachOut is truly a special enterprise. As for Sentinel, we are fortunate to have enjoyed considerable success investing in the dental industry and will continue to seek new dental investment opportunities in the future."

In addition to ReachOut, Sentinel's history of successful investments in dental services companies includes Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading dental services provider sold to Bright Now! Dental, Inc. in 2004, and Metro Dentalcare, a regional multi-specialty dental group sold to American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPI) in 2007. Sentinel has also invested in other healthcare-related businesses including Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home nursing services; Massage Envy, the nation's largest provider of therapeutic massage services; and Strategic Partners, a leading supplier of medical uniforms.

NEW YORK, August 23, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, today announced the sale of Strategic Partners, Inc., a leading supplier of medical uniforms for the specialty retail and mass merchant channels, to BAML Capital Partners, the private equity investment affiliate of Bank of America. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Chatsworth, California, Strategic Partners sells its products to independent and chain retailers of uniforms, mass merchants, and through catalogs and the Internet. Strategic Partners' brands include Baby Phat, Cherokee, Cherokee Workwear, Cherokee Studio, Dickies, and Tooniforms. With over 50 license agreements, Strategic Partners is also one of the industry's largest licensors.

"Working with Strategic Partners' superb senior management team has been extraordinarily rewarding," said David Lobel, managing partner at Sentinel. "Strategic Partners is very well positioned to continue to deliver its superior medical products and services to a growing marketplace. We are extremely proud to be affiliated with a business that provides highly needed products and services to healthcare workers, and also has done well for its stakeholders."

"We wish Strategic Partners and its team great success in their next phase of growth," said John McCormack, senior partner at Sentinel. "We have enjoyed the partnership with its founders. This company is truly a special enterprise."

In addition to Strategic Partners, Sentinel's history of successful investments in the healthcare sector includes Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading dental services provider sold to Bright Now! Dental, Inc. in 2004, and Metro Dentalcare, a regional multi-specialty dental group sold to American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPI) in 2007, and ReachOut Healthcare America sold in 2010. Sentinel has also invested in other healthcare-related businesses including Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home nursing services, and Massage Envy, the nation's largest provider of therapeutic massage services.

NEW YORK, August 16, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising middle-market companies, today announced it has acquired Engineered Controls International, LLC. ("ECI"), the global leader and most recognized provider of specialized pressure regulators, valves and other control equipment for use with liquefied and compressed gases, in partnership with ECI's senior management team. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Since its founding in 1908, ECI has grown to serve a diversified international customer base of over 550 propane and cryogenic gas distributors and the leading global storage tank OEMs in over 100 countries, providing mission critical products for applications where safety, durability and performance are primary concerns. ECI is the leader across all of its product lines in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its brands, which include RegO® and Goddard®, are highly trusted and respected within the liquefied propane gas and cryogenic gas markets.

"ECI has an exceptional management team and a reputation for quality, safety and customer service," said Eric Bommer, a Partner at Sentinel. "With a broad set of innovative products and a global customer base, ECI is positioned to build on its core strengths and become an even stronger enterprise."

"We are very proud of everything achieved in the past 100 years, but we believe the best is yet to come," said Gary Boone, CEO of ECI. "Our partnership with Sentinel puts us in a position to continue to grow globally while delivering the highest quality products to our customers."

"Our successful prior investments in branded niche manufacturing businesses, such as Alemite, Fasloc, and Nivel, have provided us with insights into ECI's business model and value proposition," said Scott Perry, a Vice President at Sentinel. "Most importantly, we have built up a strong rapport with ECI's highly experienced management team and are excited to support them through the company's next phase of growth."

Sentinel's investments in other specialty niche manufacturing businesses include: Alemite (industrial lubrication equipment), Fasloc (specialized resin cartridges used in underground mines), LTI (rubber and plastic sealing systems), Nivel (aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories), Spinrite (craft yarn products); Strategic Partners (medical uniforms), and Trussbilt (steel security products).

NEW YORK, February 8, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Edward Kuntz joined the firm as an operating partner, which increases to four the number of Sentinel's operating partners. Mr. Kuntz has worked closely with Sentinel since 2003 and currently is a director of Interim Healthcare and ReachOut Healthcare America. He also served as a director of Castle Dental Centers and Metro Dentalcare prior to the sale of these businesses.

Mr. Kuntz also serves as chairman of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE), one of the largest providers of long-term health care services in the United States. He joined Kindred in 1998 and served as CEO from 1999 to 2003. In 2004, he retired as CEO and became Executive Chairman. Mr. Kuntz also serves as a director of Rotech Healthcare, a publicly held provider of oxygen and related healthcare products. Previously, Mr. Kuntz was Chairman and CEO of Living Centers of America (NYSE), a long-term health care company operating more than 250 nursing centers and a pharmaceutical distribution and contract rehabilitation therapy business.

Mr. Kuntz has been active in numerous professional and trade associations. He is a director of the Alliance for Quality Healthcare, a multi-facility long-term care organization. He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the American Health Care Association and a former director of the Federation of American Hospitals.

Mr. Kuntz began his career in the private practice of law. He then served as Associate General Counsel of ARA Services (now Aramark) from 1978-1985 when he became Executive Vice President of ARA Living Centers. He held that position from 1985 until the formation of Living Centers of America in 1992. Mr. Kuntz received a BA degree, magna cum laude, and JD and Master of Law degrees from Temple University, where he was an editor of the law review and a Barenkopf Scholar.

Sentinel Capital Partners is a private equity firm that specializes in buying and building smaller middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets consumer products, food and restaurants, franchising, manufacturing, and service businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and going-private transactions of established businesses with EBITDA of between $5 million and $35 million.

NEW YORK, February 8, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Sidney Feltenstein joined the firm as an operating partner, which increases to four the number of Sentinel's operating partners. Mr. Feltenstein has worked closely with Sentinel since 2001 and currently is a director of Interim Healthcare, Inscape Publishing, Massage Envy, and Southern California Pizza Company. He also served as a director of Tony Roma's prior to the sale of this business.

Mr. Feltenstein has had a successful career as a corporate executive and successful entrepreneur. In 1995, he led an private equity investment group that acquired A&W Restaurants. Under his leadership, the chain grew from 450 to almost 1,000 units in just five years. In 1999, FeItenstein led A&W's purchase of Long John Silver's. Under his leadership, A&W/Long John Silver's sales grew five times and its operating profits grew by 40 times. The company was sold to YUM! Brands in 2002 in a highly successful transaction.

Previously, Mr. Feltenstein was EVP of Worldwide Marketing for the Burger King Corporation and is credited for reversing an eight-year decline in customer traffic. Before that, he spent 19 years at Dunkin' Donuts in both operations and marketing positions. Most recently, he served as its Chief Marketing Officer.

Mr. Feltenstein is a past chairman of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and a former chairman of the IFA Educational Foundation. He also was the recipient of IFA's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Mr. Feltenstein is a Trustee of Boston University and Chairman of its audit committee. He received a BA degree from Boston University.

Sentinel Capital Partners is a private equity firm that specializes in buying and building smaller middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets consumer products, food and restaurants, franchising, manufacturing, and service businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and going-private transactions of established businesses with operating profit of between $5 million and $25 million.

NEW YORK, January 4, 2010 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising smaller middle-market companies, today announced it has acquired Massage Envy, LLC. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Massage Envy is the nation's largest provider and franchisor of therapeutic massage services. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Massage Envy offers professional and affordable therapeutic massage services to consumers with busy lifestyles, offering convenience, high quality, and excellent value. Since its founding in 2002, Massage Envy has established itself as the leading franchisor of massage therapy services in the United States, with more than 600 clinics operating in 42 states generating more than $450 million in systemwide sales. With a highly trained and committed workforce of more than 10,000 employees, Massage Envy offers a range of services that include full-body and partial-body massage therapies and facial skin treatments.

Massage Envy operates through a membership model, giving the company and its franchisees the benefit of recurring, predictable revenues. In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500® ranked Massage Envy as one of the nation's 20 "Fastest Growing Franchises" in addition to #1 in the "Massage Services" category.

"We are very proud of Massage Envy's market leadership and are excited about the growth prospects for our convenient, high-quality, competitively priced therapeutic massage and spa services," said David Humphrey, CEO of Massage Envy. "Sentinel has a proven record of helping franchise businesses grow and build value, and with Sentinel as our partner, we possess the strategic and financial resources to capitalize on our numerous growth opportunities," added Mr. Humphrey.

"At Sentinel, we aim to form strong partnerships with talented management teams of businesses that are market leaders in industries we know well," said John F. McCormack, a co-founder and senior partner at Sentinel. "We have been investing in multi-unit and franchising businesses for more than 20 years, and we are very excited to be partners with Massage Envy's highly capable management team."

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, the many powerful benefits of therapeutic massage include reducing fatigue, lower back pain, and post-operative pain; boosting the body's immune system; decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome; lowering blood pressure; and diminishing headache frequency."

"Massage Envy has taken an exclusive, high-priced service and made it affordable to and accessible for the general public. Today, millions of Americans find therapeutic massage to be an invaluable component of their wellness," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "With more than 200 additional franchise licenses in development and more than 680,000 Massage Envy members nationwide, we are very excited about the company's prospects to continue to expand its geographic footprint and grow its delivery system."

Sentinel has invested in several franchise and multi-unit businesses, including Border Foods, a leading franchisee in the Taco Bell system; Castle Dental, a leading dental clinic operator in the Sunbelt; Cottman Transmission Systems, the nation's second-largest franchisor of transmission repair depots; Falcon Holdings, one of the largest franchisees of Church's Chicken restaurants; Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider and franchisor of home healthcare services; Metro Dentalcare, a leading dental clinic practice operator in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area; and Southern California Pizza Company, a 224-unit Pizza Hut franchisee operating in the greater Los Angeles market.

NEW YORK, October 9, 2009 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising lower middle market companies, today announced the recapitalization of North American Rescue, Inc. ("NAR"), the leading developer and distributor of tactical emergency medical equipment to the U.S. military, law enforcement and other organizations that employ trauma care professionals. The investment was made in partnership with NAR's founder and senior management team. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996 by Mr. Robert Castellani, NAR serves armed forces medical personnel, first responders, and other healthcare professionals by providing solutions that decrease preventable deaths on the battlefield and other austere conditions. Castellani, a former U.S. Air Force pararescueman who focused on specialty rescue and medical equipment during his service, recognized a need for quality casualty care products and procedures to treat combat-related injuries. In leveraging his significant military casualty care experience, Castellani and his management team have developed many life-saving products that are now standard-issue equipment for combat soldiers and tactical vehicles.

"NAR is the clear leader and premier provider of life-saving tactical emergency medical products," said Graham Schena, a vice president at Sentinel. "This investment fits well with Sentinel's core strategy of investing in niche market leaders."

"For the past 15 years, NAR has demonstrated a keen understanding of casualty care solutions and a strong commitment to excellence," said Bob Castellani, vice chairman and founder of NAR. "With Sentinel as our partner, we look forward to increasing the breadth and depth of our capabilities while continuing to serve our valued customer base."

"At Sentinel, forming strong partnerships with management is an important component of our investment philosophy," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We are pleased that the entire senior management team is investing alongside us in this transaction and we are eager to work with them to take the company to the next level of growth."

NAR is Sentinel's second investment in the defense sector. The first was ReachOut Healthcare America, Ltd. the nation's leading provider of administrative support services to affiliated dentists in the mobile dental industry, serving underprivileged children, seniors, and military personnel.

NEW YORK, September 9, 2009 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today an investment in Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC with PPS management. PPS is a specialty utility services provider that provides technical services that enable utilities to maintain and operate their natural gas and electric infrastructure. Management and Sentinel are partners in the transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed.

"The energy infrastructure in the United States, particularly in older cities, such as those in the Northeast, where PPS operates, has a continuing need for the services provided by PPS," said Michael Fabian, a vice president at Sentinel. "We believe this is a promising market in which to invest, and PPS is particularly well-positioned for growth."

Headquartered in Newburgh, NY, PPS is a valued partner of its utility clients. PPS's technically qualified personnel provide a broad range of services, including inspecting, repairing, replacing, and maintaining natural gas and electric transmission, distribution, and generation systems, as well as providing specialized consulting and auditing services.

"We take great pride in the critical services we provide for our utility clients," said Jon Selander, founder and CEO of Precision Pipeline Solutions. "There is considerable demand for service providers like PPS that approach utilities with a partnership philosophy and a broad portfolio of services. The Sentinel team has a reputation for helping service businesses become stronger competitors, and we believe their support will help us continue to grow our business."

"All of us at Sentinel are excited to partner with PPS's management team," added Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "Not only are Jon and his team highly skilled and experienced, but they possess an outstanding reputation with utilities throughout the Northeast. We are eager to help them build on this foundation and expand PPS's presence."

NEW YORK, August 24, 2009 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today that its portfolio company, Southern California Pizza Company, has purchased 98 Pizza Hut restaurants in the Los Angeles area from Pizza Hut, increasing the total number of Pizza Hut restaurants it owns to 224.

Southern California Pizza was established by Sentinel and management as a platform company to own and operate Pizza Huts. In August 2008, Southern California Pizza made its first acquisition—126 Pizza Huts in the greater Los Angeles market. Today it is the third largest franchisee in the Pizza Hut system and the largest in California.

"This purchase marks an important step forward in the strategic plan laid out by Sentinel and management to create a powerful and even more successful Pizza Hut platform," said Jerry Ardizzone, President and CEO of Southern California Pizza. "We have further solidified our leadership in the attractive Los Angeles market and we are positioned for continued growth."

"Southern California Pizza has all the ingredients of a successful Sentinel investment," said John McCormack, senior partner at Sentinel. "It is a market leader with solid fundamentals in an industry we know very well, and importantly, our management team is best-in-class and continues to demonstrate an ability to drive growth in a very challenging economic environment."

The investment in Southern California Pizza is consistent with Sentinel's successful investment history in restaurants and franchising. Prior Sentinel investments in the quick service restaurant sector include Falcon Holdings, a Church's chicken franchisee, and Border Foods, a Taco Bell franchisee. Sentinel has also successfully invested in franchisors outside the restaurant sector, including Cottman Transmissions Systems, one of the nation's largest providers of aftermarket transmission repair services, and Interim Healthcare, the largest home nursing healthcare provider in the U.S.

NEW YORK, July 1, 2009 - Sentinel Capital Partners announced today the passing of our friend and colleague, Michael J. Myers, at the age of 69.

An executive with a long and distinguished career in private equity, Michael Myers was a Senior Advisory Partner to Sentinel Capital Partners since its inception in 1995. He made a profound impact on Sentinel's founders during an association that spanned almost three decades.

Mr. Myers previously served as a Director of Sentinel portfolio companies Growing Family, Floral Plant Growers, and Tony Roma's prior to the sale of these businesses.

In 1972, Mr. Myers co-founded First Century Partners, the venture capital affiliate of Smith Barney, and has had overall responsibility for First Century's investment operations for the next 23 years. During this period, First Century invested in more than 60 venture-stage and middle market companies, primarily in the consumer, healthcare, and technology industries. In addition to serving as a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Smith Barney, Mr. Myers was associated as an investor or director of several highly successful companies including American Health Corp., Apple Computer, Applicon, Entre Computer Centers, Colorcon, Floating Point Systems, FoxMeyer, HealthSouth, Iomega Corporation, Mobex Corporation, Office Depot, Perrigo Corporation, PhyCor, Prime Computer, Storage Technology, Summit Design, and ValleyLab.

From 1968 to 1972, Mr. Myers was associated with J.H. Whitney, a leading venture capital firm. He held an MBA from Harvard University, a JD with Honors from George Washington University, and a BS from the University of Illinois.

Our loss is softened by knowing what a privilege it was to know Mike and to work with him. We miss him greatly.

NEW YORK, August 25, 2008 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today that its portfolio company ReachOut Healthcare America has acquired Mobile Dentists. The management teams from both companies partnered with Sentinel in the transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed.

The combined company is the nation's leader in mobile dental services, providing an array of diagnostic, preventive, restorative, prosthodontic, and periodontal dental services primarily to underserved children in schools and foster programs. Operating in 21 states, ReachOut and Mobile Dentists provided dental care to more than 250,000 low-income children in the past year.

"With eighty percent of all dental decay occurring in the poorest twenty-five percent of the population, these two businesses fill critical gaps in access to dental care," said Michael Howell and Dan Goldsmith, co-founders of ReachOut Healthcare America. "As two organizations with the same mission—to provide dental care to those who need it most—ReachOut and Mobile Dentists have highly compatible cultures. We look forward to working closely with Mobile Dentists' talented management team to expand the breadth and scope of our services and our presence throughout the country."

"We are very proud of all that we have achieved over the last decade, and we are even more excited about creating a true market leader with extraordinary growth potential by combining Mobile Dentists and ReachOut," said Dr. Marcy Borofsky and Dr. Margo Woll, co-founders of Mobile Dentists. "We have studied the success of ReachOut's partnership with Sentinel, a firm with significant experience in dental services and a great track record of supporting management teams seeking to build stronger businesses. We are very pleased to join this partnership."

"ReachOut Healthcare America is truly a great social enterprise. It performs superbly as a business and at the same time provides a real benefit to the communities in which it operates," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We are thrilled to have found a similarly positioned business in Mobile Dentists, and we are proud to support and partner with these two extraordinary management teams as they endeavor to integrate and grow the business."

Sentinel's history of successful investments in dental services companies includes stakes in Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading dental services provider sold in 2004, and Metro Dentalcare, a multi-specialty dental group sold in September 2007. Sentinel has also invested in Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home health care and supplemental health care staffing services.

NEW YORK, August 18, 2008 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, today announced the acquisition of 123 Pizza Hut restaurants in the central Los Angeles and Inland Empire markets. Sentinel acquired the restaurants in a corporate divestiture transaction from franchisor Pizza Hut, Inc., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. This is Sentinel's third investment as a franchisee in the quick-service restaurant sector and its second in the Yum! Brands system. Sentinel's two prior quick-service restaurant investments—Border Foods, a Taco Bell franchisee (part of Yum! Brands), and Falcon Holdings, a Church's Chicken franchisee—were both highly successful. Sentinel made the acquisition through an investment in newly-formed Southern California Pizza Company, which now owns the 123 Pizza Huts and the underlying real estate for many of the properties.

All 123 restaurants are located in four contiguous southern California counties—Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino, and Orange County. Measured by store count, Southern California Pizza is the largest Pizza Hut franchisee in California and among the 10 largest franchisees in the 7,515-store U.S. Pizza Hut system. Sentinel also recruited Jerry Ardizzone, a seasoned industry executive with 19 years of experience in the Pizza Hut system, to be CEO.

"We are pleased to have made our second investment in the Yum! family and to have renewed our relationship with Yum! For Sentinel, it is a privilege to manage the Pizza Hut brand in Los Angeles, one of the best quick-service pizza markets in the country," said Sentinel senior partner John McCormack. "We are impressed with Pizza Hut and the direction in which CEO Scott Bergren and his team are taking the brand," McCormack added.

"I am very happy to return home to Pizza Hut," said CEO Jerry Ardizzone. "There are tremendous growth avenues in front of us in the Los Angeles market in which we have excellent new store development opportunities."

"We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Jerry Ardizzone, a seasoned Pizza Hut operator," said Sentinel partner Jim Coady. "Together, we are building an outstanding management team to run the business and we very much look forward to a successful long-term partnership with Jerry and Pizza Hut," added Coady.

The investment in Southern California Pizza Company is consistent with Sentinel's successful investment history in restaurants and franchising. Prior Sentinel investments in the quick-service restaurant sector includes Falcon Holdings, a Church's chicken franchisee, and Border Foods, a Taco Bell franchisee, both highly successful transactions. Sentinel has also successfully invested in franchisors in other industries, including Cottman Transmissions Systems, a provider of automotive after-market services, and Interim Healthcare, the largest home nursing healthcare provider in the nation.

The Pizza Hut transaction is the latest in a highly productive period for Sentinel in terms of both new investments and realizations. Since August 2007, Sentinel has closed five new investments, one significant add-on acquisition, and the highly successful sale of one portfolio company.

NEW YORK, July 16, 2008 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, lower middle market companies, announced today the final closing of Sentinel Capital Partners IV, L.P. at $765 million. The fund, which initially targeted $600 million, was more than two times oversubscribed and closed within six months of its launch.

Sentinel will continue to focus on the same investment strategy it has successfully employed in previous funds—partnering with talented management teams to acquire businesses with $5–25 million of EBITDA and solid fundamentals in industries where the firm has significant experience and can bring valuable business insights. Sentinel invests in businesses in the consumer products, food and restaurants, franchising, manufacturing and service sectors. In addition to platform acquisitions, Fund IV will pursue transformational, like-size add-on acquisitions for its portfolio companies.

The placement agent for Fund IV was the Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) Inc. Commenting on Sentinel's successful six-month fundraising in a challenging and uncertain market environment, John Robertshaw, Managing Director and Co-head of the Private Fund Group said, "Private equity firms like Sentinel are able to efficiently raise new funds for five key reasons. First, they have superior investment records, and in most cases, generate top-quartile performance. Second, the track record includes many realizations. Third, the investment team is stable and has been responsible for the firm's long-term track record. Fourth, the firm has had a consistent focus, which investors believe will not change going forward. And last, the firm receives very strong support from its existing investors."

"We are extremely pleased to have surpassed our expectations for Fund IV by such a wide margin and with the market's strong reception," said David S. Lobel, founder and managing partner of Sentinel. "We received very strong support from our existing limited partners and from a highly regarded group of new global investors. The fact that we completed the entire fundraising process in less than six months is a credit to the hard work and commitment of our team and to Credit Suisse, our placement agent."

"Sentinel's ability to navigate complex and relationship-intensive situations is greatly valued by corporate sellers, small business owners, and management teams alike, and we believe this puts Fund IV in a position to excel," said John F. McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder. "Small businesses outnumber large businesses 10 to 1, and as Baby-Boomer entrepreneurs continue to reach retirement age, we expect a strong, steady flow of very attractive deals in our strike zone for many years to come."

Sentinel's investors include some of the most sophisticated institutions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Investors in Fund IV include college and university endowments, corporate pension plans, diversified financial institutions, foundations, insurance companies, investment advisors, state and government retirement systems, and Taft Hartley plans. Sentinel's previous fund, Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P., closed in April 2005 with $319 million.

NEW YORK, December 3, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, today announced the acquisition of Trinity Consultants, Inc., the nation's leading provider of air quality consulting and compliance services. Sentinel partnered with Trinity's management and employees in the transaction.

"Trinity is the premier player in its market and faces substantial opportunities given the increasing global focus on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions and other air quality concerns," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "This investment fits well with Sentinel's core strategy of investing in niche market leaders with promising growth prospects."

Trinity offers a full range of air quality compliance services and has specific expertise in the energy, manufacturing, industrial, and utilities sectors. Trinity helps its clients comply with federal, state, and local air quality regulations. It also provides complementary products and services, such as educational courses, dispersion modeling, and greenhouse gas emissions management practices. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Trinity has more than 270 employees in 24 strategically located offices.

"Trinity has enjoyed great success and growth over the last 30 years, and all of Trinity's management and employees are excited about this new stage in our company's development," said John E. (Jay) Hofmann, CEO of Trinity. "We firmly believe that Sentinel is the right partner for Trinity; they have already succeeded in creating a strong rapport with management and our employees."

"At Sentinel, forming strong partnerships with management and employees is an important component of our investment philosophy," said John McCormack, a senior partner at Sentinel. "We are pleased by the strong support and participation by Trinity management and employees in the transaction. We look forward to working with Trinity's highly professional and talented employees to drive continued success."

The Trinity transaction is the latest in a highly productive period for Sentinel in terms of both new investments and realizations. To date in 2007, Sentinel has closed seven new investments, five since the turmoil in worldwide financial markets began in July. These investments include Midwest Wholesale Hardware, a wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware; Trussbilt, an 80 year-old manufacturer of steel security products for the detention and corrections market; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of corporate training solutions for employee assessment and development; Vintage Parts, the leading independent distributor of slow moving and inactive original OEM replacement parts; ReachOut Healthcare America, the leading provider of mobile dental services to underserved children; Spinrite, one of North America's leading producers and marketers of consumer craft yarn for the needlepoint market; and Trinity.

For Sentinel, 2007 has also been a productive year for realizations. To date, Sentinel has sold three portfolio businesses, including Fasloc, the leading North American manufacturer of specialty safety products used for underground coal mine roof support; Metro Dentalcare, a leading regional multi-specialty dental group; and Nivel, North America's largest independent, value-added distributor of golf car aftermarket replacement parts and accessories.

NEW YORK, November 19, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, today announced the acquisition of Spinrite Income Fund, one of North America's leading manufacturers of consumer craft yarn. In January 2004, Sentinel and management acquired Spinrite from its founding family. It became a publicly traded income fund in February 2005 with Sentinel retaining a minority interest. On November 16th, Sentinel reacquired Spinrite in a take-private transaction for cash consideration equal to $2.25 per unit.

"We are a long-term investor in Spinrite and we continue to believe in the future of the company," said Eric Bommer, partner at Sentinel. "We believe our knowledge of the business, the strength of the management team, the dedication of its employees, and the advantages of private structure are the key ingredients for a stronger and more valuable enterprise."

Spinrite, located in Listowel, Ontario, is the largest producer and marketer of craft yarn in Canada and one of the largest in the United States. Established in 1952, Spinrite is well known for its Bernat, Patons, Lily Sugar'n Cream, and Phentex brands, which are sold through mass merchants, craft stores, and independent specialty stores. Spinrite possesses the most diversified craft yarn manufacturing operation in North America and is recognized as the market leader in new product development.

The acquisition of Spinrite marks Sentinel's fourth new investment during the past two and a half months. David Lobel, founder and managing partner at Sentinel, said, "Each of these acquisitions conforms to our investment strategy and we have accomplished this during a highly tumultuous credit market environment. We believe this reflects our proven experience in choppy markets and our ability to provide certainty to sellers."

To date in 2007, Sentinel has closed six new investments. In addition to Spinrite, these investments include Midwest Wholesale Hardware, a wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware; Trussbilt, an 80 year-old manufacturer of steel security products for the detention and corrections market; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of corporate training solutions for employee assessment and development; Vintage Parts, the leading independent distributor of slow moving and inactive OEM replacement parts; and ReachOut Healthcare America, the nation's leading provider of mobile dental services.

For Sentinel, 2007 has also been a productive year for realizations. To date, Sentinel has sold three portfolio businesses, including Fasloc, the leading manufacturer of resin cartridges for use in underground mine roof support in North America; Metro Dentalcare, a multi-specialty dental group; and Nivel Holdings LLC, North America's largest independent, value-added distributor of golf car aftermarket replacement parts and accessories.

NEW YORK, November 13, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, today announced an investment in ReachOut Healthcare America, the nation's leading provider of mobile dental services. Management and Sentinel are partners in the transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed.

"This is Sentinel's third investment in the dental care sector and second in mobile healthcare," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "We like to invest in market leaders in industries we know well, in partnership with highly motivated and ethical management teams. The ReachOut team, led by Michael Howell and Daniel Goldsmith, has created a successful and growing business, and one that truly benefits the communities in which it operates."

Founded in 2001 and based in Phoenix, AZ, ReachOut provides mobile dental services to under-served children in schools and foster programs, to the aged and disabled in residential facilities, and to US Army and National Guard units throughout the country. ReachOut provides dental service to nearly 80,000 children and 30,000 armed-services personnel each year. ReachOut offers a complete array of diagnostic, preventative, restorative, prostodontic, and periodontal dental services.

"ReachOut's unique model and first-mover advantage, coupled with favorable industry dynamics, make it a highly attractive investment," said Michael Fabian, a senior associate at Sentinel. "ReachOut leads a large and growing market that is significantly underserved, and its mobile model is scalable into numerous end-markets such as the military and nursing homes."

Previous Sentinel investments in the dental care sector include Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading dental services provider sold in 2004, and Metro Dentalcare, a multi-specialty dental group sold in September 2007. Sentinel has also invested in Interim Healthcare, the nation's largest provider of home health care and supplemental health care staffing services.

The ReachOut transaction is the latest in a highly productive period for Sentinel in terms of both new investments and realizations. To date in 2007, Sentinel has closed five new investments, three in the past two and a half months alone. These investments include Midwest Wholesale Hardware, a wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware; Trussbilt, an 80 year-old manufacturer of steel security products for the detention and corrections market; Inscape Publishing, a leading provider of corporate training solutions for employee assessment and development; Vintage Parts, the leading independent distributor of slow moving and inactive OEM replacement parts; and ReachOut.

For Sentinel, 2007 has also been a productive year for realizations. To date, Sentinel has sold three portfolio businesses, including Fasloc, the leading manufacturer of resin cartridges for use in underground mine roof support in North America; Metro Dentalcare; and Nivel Holdings LLC, North America's largest independent, value-added distributor of golf car aftermarket replacement parts and accessories.

NEW YORK, October 18, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, today announced the sale of Nivel Holdings LLC, one of North America's largest independent, value-added distributors of golf car aftermarket replacement parts and accessories, to Audax Group. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Nivel is a perfect example of a smaller middle-market company that thrived under our ownership. It is a niche leader in an industry that Sentinel knows well; it operated in a fragmented and growing industry that was ripe for consolidation; it has a great leader in Bill Bugg who shared our vision to create a more valuable enterprise; and the result is a business in which we were able to more than double sales and EBITDA," said John McCormack, senior partner and co-founder at Sentinel.

Nivel is the only independent golf car aftermarket replacement parts and accessories distributor with a national footprint, servicing a broad base of over 3,400 golf car dealer customers in all 50 states and abroad. Today, Nivel offers the broadest available selection of more than 3,800 SKUs, including replacement parts and accessories for all golf car models from the three major OEMs (Club Car, E-Z-GO, and Yamaha), scarce parts for older and discontinued golf cars (Cushman and Taylor-Dunn), and an extensive line of accessories for vehicle customization.

"Thanks to Sentinel's support, today Nivel is in a great position to continue to succeed," said Bill Bugg, Chief Executive Officer of Nivel. "We are consistently introducing a significant number of new products each quarter, and we now have an unmatched acquisition capability to continue our leadership role in the consolidation of the industry."

"There are an estimated 2.1 million golf cars in North America with an average useful life of 15–20 years. While both of these figures have been increasing, Nivel also has been steadily gaining market share," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Acquisitions have bolstered Nivel's product offering and dramatically enhanced its geographic reach, vastly improving combined operations and creating meaningful synergies. Since our acquisition of Nivel three years ago, we have led the industry consolidation, including the transformational acquisition of Intercoastal Manufacturing Company, then the second-largest independent aftermarket distributor of golf car replacement parts and accessories and Nivel's largest competitor."

Nivel is one of several recent Sentinel investments in the specialty distribution sector. Other investments in that category include Strategic Partners, a leading distributor of medical uniforms for healthcare professionals; Midwest Wholesale Hardware, a wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware; and most recently Vintage Parts, the leading independent distributor of original slow moving and inactive OEM replacement parts for companies such as General Motors, Ford, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Komatsu, and Honda , acquired earlier this month.

NEW YORK, October 18, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, today announced the acquisition of Vintage Parts, the leading independent supplier of original slow-moving and inactive OEM replacement parts from James Finlay, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Swire Group. Management and Sentinel are partners in the transaction, the terms of which were not disclosed.

Pursuant to long-term agreements with 37 OEMs, including General Motors, Ford, CNH Global, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Komatsu, and Honda, Vintage Parts purchases slow moving inventories for older models and warehouses them for future sale. Vintage Parts serves more than 75,000 individual customers, many of whom are authorized OEM dealers. Supplying over one million discrete part numbers, Vintage Parts is the nation's largest independent supplier of original OEM parts and accessories.

"Vintage Part's management team is very capable and experienced. They possess a unique understanding of the slow moving replacement parts market, and have the ability and technology tools in place to accurately forecast demand for older models and thereby efficiently manage inventories," said Scott Perry, a Senior Associate at Sentinel. "We have significant prior experience with wholesale businesses, and Vintage has impressed us a great deal with its ability to add value to both ends of the supply chain and build solid long-term relationships with OEMs and a diverse group of customers of the OEMs."

"We are extremely proud to have achieved double-digit sales growth in each of the last four years. Looking forward, there are still significant opportunities to grow by increasing the quantity and quality of parts purchased from our current OEM relationships and also by purchasing inventory from new OEM customers, both in our targeted industries and in selected new industries," said Darrell Armbruster, Chief Executive Officer of Vintage Parts. "With Sentinel's knowledge of our industry and distribution businesses, we now have the strategic and financial resources to truly accelerate our growth plan."

"This deal is right in our strike-zone and builds on our significant momentum in 2007. This year, we acquired four businesses, recapitalized two and sold two, all for very attractive returns," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "We actively pursue investments in strong companies with leading positions in targeted niche sectors where we have had prior success. We also look for outstanding management teams who we can work with to improve and grow businesses. Vintage Parts possesses all of these elements."

Recent Sentinel investments in the wholesaling sector include Nivel Holdings LLC, a supplier of golf car replacement parts and accessories, and Midwest Wholesale Hardware, a wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware.

NEW YORK, September 26, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced today the sale of Metropolitan Dental Holdings, Inc. (dba "Metro Dentalcare") to American Dental Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADPI).

Minneapolis-St. Paul based Metro Dentalcare is a multi-specialty dental group with more than 90 dentists, 33 dental facilities and a dental lab that has provided quality dental care since 1968. Generating approximately $70 million in patient revenue annually, Metro Dentalcare provides a complete range of services including routine, cosmetic and specialized dental health services including preventative care, whitening, crowns, veneers, dental implants, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, children's dentistry and orthodontics.

"We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and support Metro Dentalcare's talented management team in significantly growing the business, improving operations and financial performance, and transforming the company into a leading dental care provider in the Twin Cities," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "This is a great business and we are proud to have positioned it for future success with ADPI, where there is a strong strategic fit."

"This transaction brings together two leading dental companies, and we are confident that we are better positioned now than ever before to provide high quality patient care," said Dr. David Milbrath, Co-Founder and Chairman of Metro Dentalcare. "It has truly been a pleasure working closely with the team at Sentinel, and we thank them for their invaluable counsel and support."

"The Sentinel team's knowledge of and prior success in the dental industry coupled with their experience helping businesses grow made them the ideal partner for Metro Dentalcare; with Sentinel's support, we expanded from 64 doctors in 2005 to more than 90 doctors today providing care to more than 220,000 patients annually," said Dr. Marcus Gustafson, Co-Founder and CEO of Metro Dentalcare. "We look forward to continued growth under our new affiliation with ADPI."

"This transaction is a testament to the great progress Metro Dentalcare has made under the leadership of Dr. David Milbrath and Dr. Marcus Gustafson," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "Part of Sentinel's strategy is to back strong management teams in industry sectors where Sentinel has experience and has enjoyed success. Including Metro Dentalcare, we have successfully completed two dental care investments and four healthcare investments. Metro Dentalcare is also one of six recent Sentinel investments in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, a market we intently follow and like a great deal."

Sentinel's healthcare related investments include Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading dental services provider the firm sold in 2004; Interim Healthcare Holdings, Inc., the nation's largest provider of home healthcare and supplemental healthcare staffing services; and Strategic Partners, a leading supplier of medical uniforms for healthcare professionals. Sentinel has also made six investments in Minneapolis-St. Paul ­ Border Foods, Inc., the leading franchisor of Taco Bell restaurants in Minnesota; Buffets, Inc., the largest operator of buffet-style restaurants in the U.S.; LTI Flexible Products, a leader in designing and manufacturing specialty sealing systems for industrial applications; Trussbilt, LLC, a manufacturer of steel security products for the detention and corrections market; and, most recently, Inscape Publishing, Inc., a leading provider of corporate training solutions for employee assessment and development.

NEW YORK, August 20, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners , a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, has acquired Inscape Publishing, a leading developer and provider of content-rich, technology-enabled corporate training solutions that develop employee interpersonal skills such as sales, leadership, teamwork, communications and time management. The transaction closed on August 20, 2007.

"Inscape is well-positioned in the $13 billion+ corporate training industry, which we expect will experience double digit year-on-year growth," said Paul Murphy, partner at Sentinel. "Inscape has identified the growing importance of human capital as a competitive advantage, as corporations increase their commitment to employee development and training. With a loyal and diverse base of blue-chip end-users, Inscape is poised to become an even more valuable enterprise as we work with management to capitalize on these trends."

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a global network of over 2,000 consultancies, Inscape provides training applications to over 135 Fortune 500 companies and several agencies of the federal government. Since 1972, Inscape's learning instruments have been used by over 45 million individuals in 24 languages and 22 countries.

"Sentinel's track record with business services companies is impressive. We are excited about our partnership with Sentinel as we pursue strategic growth initiatives, such as development of new training solutions and international expansion," said Jeff Sugerman, Inscape's CEO. "We are proud of our performance to date, but we are eager to take the company to the next level."

"Since 2001, Jeff and his team have transformed Inscape from a single-product company focused on employee assessments into a leading developer of comprehensive corporate training solutions," said John McCormack, senior partner and co-founder of Sentinel. "This is precisely the type of management team we seek to partner with – talented and proven entrepreneurs who seek to be owners of the businesses they operate."

NEW YORK, February 20, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, and management have acquired Trussbilt, LLC, an 80 year-old manufacturer of steel security products for the detention and corrections market. The transaction closed on February 15, 2007. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Based in Minnesota and founded in 1926, Trussbilt makes correctional facilities more secure and cost-effective by designing and building security products that set the standard for safety, reliability and innovation. Trussbilt is the only company in the detention industry that offers a complete line of steel doors, walls, frames, ceilings and other furnishings for prisons and jails. The company's patented design for metal door and wall construction uses a unique manufacturing process resulting in a thin, light steel panel of tremendous strength and durability.

"Correctional institutions across the country are well in excess of capacity and the population of detainees is expected to grow by more than 13% over the next five years," said Paul Murphy, partner at Sentinel. "The significant cost and space savings offered by Trussbilt products to its customers, and the company's outstanding reputation for high product quality and reliability, position Trussbilt well to continue the market leadership role it has held for the last 80 years."

"Since Trussbilt designed the Trusscore reinforced hollow door in 1926, the company has differentiated itself from competitors with superior technology," said Timothy Browne, President of Trussbilt. "We have been impressed with Sentinel's knowledge of our business and of the manufacturing sector, and we look forward to working with them to continue our drive for quality improvements and innovations in the manufacturing process."

"Trussbilt has a seasoned management team in place to capitalize on the growth opportunities in the detention industry," said Eric Bommer, partner at Sentinel. "We look forward to partnering with management and supporting the company's talented and dedicated employees to provide the high quality products the detention construction industry has come to expect from the Trussbilt brand."

Part of Sentinel's strategy is to invest in industries where the firm has experience and has enjoyed success, such as the manufacturing sector. The firm's realized investments in Spinrite, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of craft yarn products; Alemite Holdings, LP, a leading manufacturer of industrial lubrication equipment; and Fasloc, Inc., a leading manufacturer of resin cartridges for use in underground coal mine roof support, were among its most successful. Sentinel's current portfolio companies in the manufacturing sector include Nivel Holdings LLC, an aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories manufacturer and distributor; LTI Flexible Products, a manufacturer of die-cut and molded flexible rubber and plastic components and sealing systems; and Madill, Inc., a manufacturer of forestry equipment.

NEW YORK, February 5, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, has acquired Mid-West Wholesale Hardware Co., a leading, full-service wholesaler of architecturally specified commercial door hardware, including manual and electronic locks, exit devices, door closers and related specialty items. The transaction closed on February 1, 2007. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

"The commercial construction industry is seeing a compression of building schedules and increasing demand for reduced delivery lead-times," said Jim Coady, partner at Sentinel. "With considerable barriers to entry for new wholesalers, Mid-West's outstanding management team and strong employee base are capitalizing on this trend by delivering products to its customers when they need them."

Based in Kansas City Missouri, Mid-West serves over 4,300 active customers, primarily commercial hardware distributors, throughout the U.S. Through these strategically located facilities, the company can reach 84% of the U.S. population in two business days or less.

"We are excited to be working with a partner like Sentinel that understands our business well," said Terry Moser, Mid-West's Chief Executive Officer. "With their strategic and financial support, we look forward to growing our business by adding new product lines, building out our sales and customer development functions, increasing our geographic footprint and network density, pursuing e-commerce initiatives and selectively doing add-on acquisitions."

Widely recognized as a pioneer in the wholesaling and distribution segment, Mid-West carries the broadest line of commercial door hardware in the industry, including products from more than 40 of the world's leading manufacturers, such as Schlage, Yale, Corbin Russwin and Von Duprin. Mid-West is the only contract hardware wholesaler in the U.S. that represents both of the world's leading door hardware manufacturers, ASSA ABLOY and Ingersoll-Rand.

"What we look for in all our investments is a talented management team in a well positioned business where we can leverage their considerable experience to help execute a growth strategy," said David Lobel, managing partner at Sentinel. "That is exactly what we have found at Mid-West, a market leader with strong financial performance and a great management team. We are very excited about Mid-West's prospects."

Sentinel's experience in the wholesaling sector includes an investment in Nivel Holdings LLC, a leading wholesaler of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories and Floral Plant Growers, a wholesaler of specialty floriculture products to lawn and garden centers of mass merchant retailers.

NEW YORK, January 22, 2007 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today the sale of Fasloc, Inc. to DSI USA , an affiliate of Germany-based DYWIDAG-Systems International. Financial terms of the sale are not being disclosed.

Fasloc manufactures polyester resin cartridges, under the Fasloc® and Cableloc® brands, that permanently secure roof support bolts used in mines to create stable and secure roofs, particularly in underground coal mines in the Eastern United States and hard rock mines in Canada. Sentinel purchased Fasloc from E.I. DuPont de Nemours (NYSE:DD) in 2005, and Sentinel's ownership provided the basis for Fasloc's transformation from a non-core unit of a large corporation to a successful stand-alone enterprise. DSI is a leading supplier of geotechnical, mining and tunneling systems known world wide for innovation, quality and dependability.

"Fasloc has combined with a strategic investor that sets high value on constant and successful growth and innovation based on local presence and global competence," said Paul Murphy, a partner at Sentinel. "Since Sentinel acquired Fasloc, we have helped to enhance the company's management team and structure, improve operating efficiencies and further strengthen its reputation as a product innovator and high quality service provider for the global mining industry."

According to Max Burnham, Chief Executive Officer of Fasloc, "Sentinel's support was instrumental to improving our operations, product mix and financial performance and helped lay the groundwork for this highly strategic arrangement with DSI. We are very excited about our prospects as we enter a new era of profitable growth for Fasloc."

"The Fasloc sale is an outstanding transaction for Sentinel and its investors," said Jim Coady, a partner at Sentinel. "We helped Fasloc transition from a non-core operating unit of a larger company to a strategically vital component for DSI. We've enjoyed our relationship with Fasloc's management team and employees and are pleased with the success of the deal and where the company stands today."

Part of Sentinel's strategy is to invest in industries where the firm has experience and has enjoyed success, such as the manufacturing sector. The firm's investments in Spinrite, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of craft yarn products, and Alemite Holdings, LP, a leading manufacturer of industrial lubrication equipment, were some of its most successful. Sentinel's other portfolio companies in the manufacturing sector include Nivel Holdings LLC, an aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories manufacturer and distributor; LTI Flexible Products, a manufacturer of die-cut and molded flexible rubber and plastic components and sealing systems; and Madill, Inc., a manufacturer of forestry equipment.

NEW YORK, November 20, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced the appointment of Matthew C. Harrison as operating partner of the firm, which increases to 15 the number of Sentinel's investment professionals.

Mr. Harrison most recently served as an operating partner at Hampshire Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in mid-market buyouts. He worked with Hampshire's portfolio companies in a variety of roles including interim CEO, chairman of the board, and outside director.

Previously, Mr. Harrison spent eight years as an interim executive and corporate turnaround specialist. His assignments included court-appointed trustee, corporate restructuring officer, and CEO in a variety of industries. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Harrison spent two years as a Managing Director at Buccino & Associates, Inc., a national turnaround management firm.

From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Harrison served as COO and court-appointed trustee of Wedtech Corporation, a Department of Defense contractor. In this role, while overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings of the company, he assisted federal and local government agencies to investigate and prosecute criminal cases against two U.S. congressmen and former management who had defrauded the company.

Before joining Wedtech, Mr. Harrison spent 20 years as an officer in the U.S. Army. Most recently, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel. During his 20 years in the military, Colonel Harrison served in a variety of assignments including senior intelligence officer on the Army General Staff in the Pentagon, and on the staff of the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers in Europe. He also completed two tours of duty in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.

Mr. Harrison holds an MA in International Relations from The American University, a Certificate in Special Studies from the Harvard Business School, and a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Sentinel Capital Partners specializes in buying and building smaller middle- market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets consumer products, food and restaurants, franchising, manufacturing, and service businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and going-private transactions of established businesses with operating profit of between $5 million and $25 million.

NEW YORK, August 23, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today the sale of Growing Family, Inc. in a management buyout transaction. Growing Family is the leading North American provider of in-hospital infant portrait services.

Established in 1954, Growing Family's core business provides infant photography services for 2,200 birthing hospitals in the United States and Canada, and operates under the FirstFoto trade name. Growing Family's second business is a rapidly growing information and marketing service business targeting large consumer product/service companies and new families.

Growing Family's representatives personally interact with more than 70% of all new mothers in North America within hours of the birth event. Because of this interaction, Growing Family possesses the most comprehensive and current database of families with newborns and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers. Growing Family has capitalized on its unique relationship with new mothers by building an information and marketing service business designed to provide consumer product/service companies with a portal to its customer base and to give new mothers information about and access to a variety of products and services.

NEW YORK, May 24, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, has acquired Interim Healthcare Inc., the nation's largest provider of home healthcare and supplemental health care staffing services. Based in Sunrise, Florida, Interim is the nation's oldest and best established healthcare franchise organization with an average owner tenure in excess of 23 years, more than 300 service locations in 39 states and Puerto Rico, more than $620 million in systemwide sales, and a committed workforce of 75,000 employees. The transaction closed on May 19, 2006.

"We seek to partner with talented managers of strong companies - in industries in which we have considerable experience – and to help them grow their businesses," said Paul Murphy, partner at Sentinel. "Interim is a market leader with a well-established and respected brand and a diversified mix of business and payors, and we are excited to be working with this outstanding management team to grow the company."

Allan Sorensen, Interim's Chief Executive Officer, said "With proven experience in the healthcare sector and with franchise organizations, both as franchisee and as franchisor, Sentinel understands our business well. With their strategic and financial support I am confident that our seasoned management team will take Interim to the next level."

"Key demographic trends are fueling growth in the home healthcare sector, and industry experts expect home healthcare to grow more than 40% in the next five years," said Jim Coady, partner at Sentinel. Added Coady, "With its solid business model, excellent management team and devoted franchisees and employees, few companies are better positioned than Interim to capitalize on this trend."

Sentinel has completed several transactions in both the franchising and healthcare sectors during the last two years. In May 2005, Sentinel and management acquired Metro Dentalcare, a leading regional dental clinic operator in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities area. Also in May 2005, Sentinel sold Falcon Holdings, one of the largest franchisees in the worldwide chain of Church's Chicken restaurants, to its management team. And in June 2004, Sentinel sold Castle Dental Centers, a leading national dental clinic operator, to BrightNow! Dental.

NEW YORK, May 11, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Nivel Parts and Manufacturing Co. has acquired Huntington Investment Corporation d/b/a Intercoastal Manufacturing Company or "IMC." Nivel is the leading designer and distributor of a broad range of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories. IMC, a Beaverton, Oregon-based company, also designs and distributes golf car parts and accessories.

"The IMC acquisition is consistent with our strategy of expanding Nivel's geographic presence and part and accessory product offering," said Bill Bugg, CEO of Nivel. "In addition, with the IMC acquisition we look forward to providing even better service to our many valued West Coast customers."

IMC is Nivel's second add-on acquisition since Sentinel's initial investment. The first was the September 2005 acquisition of HT Electric, the leading distributor of aftermarket golf car engines and related products. "We are pleased to continue to help Nivel build on its leading position in this niche market," said Jim Coady, partner at Sentinel. "IMC is a natural fit with Nivel, expands our product offerings, and positions Nivel as a leader in geographic areas previously under penetrated." American Capital Strategies, a minority co-investor in Nivel, provided debt financing for the acquisition.

"This acquisition is representative of the vision we share with our talented management team at Nivel and our partners at American Capital," said John McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder and senior partner. "We are very pleased with the progress of this investment, and believe the new combined company will continue to benefit from a growing market for aftermarket parts on and off the golf course."

Other recent Sentinel investments include: MetroDentalcare, a leading regional dental clinic operator and provider of group dental care in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area; Fasloc, Inc, a manufacturer of safety products used in coal mining applications; and Madill, Inc; a manufacturer of forestry equipment.

NEW YORK, April 14, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today the recapitalization of LTI FLexible Products, a leading manufacturer and distributor of extruded rubber and plastic sealing systems and components.

Headquartered in Rogers, Minnesota, LTI designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes extruded, die-cut, and molded flexible rubber and plastic components and sealing systems. The business has a history of design and manufacturing innovation related to sealing systems and applications.

"The LTI transaction is an excellent example of our partnering with management in a leading niche manufacturing business," said John McCormack, co-founder and senior partner of Sentinel. "Together with LTI's founders, we plan to continue growing the business and capitalizing on LTI's leadership position."

"With Sentinel, we have an excellent fit for both our business and employees to prosper in the future," said Doug Joseph, CEO of LTI. "We are very well positioned to continue growing our business and to benefit from Sentinel's experience helping companies our size."

"LTI's product development skill, diverse manufacturing capabilites, and stong customer relations position the business very well for growth," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "LTI is known for its premium products, superior technology, and history of innovation, and we look forward to working with this excellent management team to continue developing the business in North America."

NEW YORK, April 7, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today the recapitalization of Strategic Partners, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of medical uniforms and girls' school uniforms for the specialty retail and mass merchant channels, in partnership with management.

Headquartered in Chatsworth, California, Strategic sells its products to independent and chain retailers of uniforms, mass merchants, and through catalogs and the Internet. Strategic's brands include Baby Phat, Cherokee, H.Q., Med•Man, Rockers, Classroom, Cherokee Workwear, Cherokee Studio, Team Scrubs, and Tooniforms. With over 50 license agreements, Strategic is one of the industry's largest licensors. Strategic also supplies hospitality uniforms to hotels, casinos, and restaurants, through its House of Uniforms division.

"This is a prototypical Sentinel transaction—a growing consumer business with a leadership position in our size range where the founding management is our partner" said David Lobel, founder and managing partner of Sentinel. "We are very pleased to be partners with Strategic's outstanding management and look forward to supporting their growth vision for the business."

"We are excited about our new partnership with Sentinel," said Mike Singer, CEO of Strategic. "The management and employees of Strategic are dedicated to continuing to provide our customers with the highest level of product quality and customer service."

"Industry forecasts indicate the healthcare industry is expected to continue growing and that demand for medical uniforms will move in lock step," said John McCormack, co-founder and senior partner at Sentinel. "Cherokee® is a premium industry brand and is noted for superior quality and design innovation. We look forward to working with this excellent management team to continue developing the business."

NEW YORK, January 24, 2006 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, announced today the sale of Alemite Holdings, LP to an affiliate of Harbour Group. Alemite is a leading North American manufacturer of industrial lubrication and fluid handling equipment and systems. Alemite joins Lincoln Industrial Corporation as part of Harbour Group's Lubricating Systems Group.

"We are very proud of the growth Alemite has achieved since our acquisition in 2002 and the outstanding job management has done," said David S. Lobel, Managing Partner of Sentinel. Added Lobel, "Alemite is poised for continued growth and we wish management and Harbour Group continued success in further building the company's growth platform."

"The acquisition of Alemite is great for the company and great for our customers. It allows us to continue growing our business while maintaining the same standards of quality and innovation for which Alemite products are known," said Dana Waterman, CEO of Alemite. "We have enjoyed partnering with the Sentinel team. They have a successful track record of investing in manufacturing businesses, and have played an important role in helping management reposition Alemite. We now look forward to our association with Harbour Group and Lincoln Industrial and to continue providing Alemite customers with outstanding products and service," added Waterman.

According to Tom Fitzpatrick, Senior Operating Partner at Sentinel, "During the course of our investment we introduced a significant number of new products, implemented lean manufacturing, expanded production capacity, and revitalized the sales force." Added Fitzpatrick, "Alemite's management team has done a tremendous job taking an old line business that had stagnated and successfully executing a growth strategy."

Sentinel's investments in the manufacturing sector include: Cottman Transmissions Holdings, a provider of after-market transmission repair services; Fasloc, Inc, a manufacturer of specialized adhesive cartridges used in coal mining applications; Madill, Inc, a manufacturer of forestry equipment; and Spinrite, Inc, a manufacturer and marketer of craft yarn products for the hobby craft market. Terms of the Alemite transaction were not disclosed.

NEW YORK, October 3, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced today the acquisition of the Anchorage Systems business of E.I. du Pont Nemours and Company (NYSE: DD), a leading manufacturer of specialized resin cartridges used in underground mines to create strong and reliable roof bolting systems. Sentinel has formed a new company, Fasloc, Inc., to hold the assets acquired from DuPont. Financial terms of the sale are not being disclosed.

Headquartered in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Fasloc manufactures polyester resin cartridges, under the Fasloc® and Cableloc® brands, that permanently secure roof support bolts used in mines to create stable and secure roofs, particularly in underground coal mines in the Eastern United States. The business has a history of innovation related to manufacturing, products and applications.

"This is a classic Sentinel Capital transaction that is within our sweet spot in the niche manufacturing sector," said Paul Murphy, partner of Sentinel. "We have demonstrated again our ability to successfully acquire companies that are smaller, non-core operations of large corporations."

Anchorage Systems has nearly 100 employees and a senior leadership team who have worked together for more than 10 years. "We are excited about our new partnership with Sentinel," said Max Burnham, President of Fasloc. "The management and employees of Fasloc are dedicated to continuing to provide our customers with the highest level of product quality and technical service."

"With Sentinel, we believe that we have an excellent fit for both the business and employees to prosper in the future," said Nick Fanandakis, vice president and general manager of DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise. "Fasloc's experienced management, manufacturing and sales teams will remain in place to assure a smooth transition process providing the same high levels of service and product quality to customers."

"Industry forecasts indicate the coal mining business is expected to continue growing and that demand for roof bolt resins will mirror that trend," said Tom Fitzpatrick, an operating partner at Sentinel. "Fasloc® and Cableloc® are premium products with superior technology elements and a history of product innovation. We look forward to working with this excellent management team to continue developing the business in North America."

Sentinel recently completed raising $319 million of capital for Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P. In addition to a number of acquisitions and realizations over the past 16 months, Sentinel in June acquired Madill Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of forestry equipment, in a transaction valued at Cdn $80 million.

NEW YORK, July 25, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced the promotions of James Coady and Paul Murphy to Partner.

"I am extremely pleased to acknowledge the significant achievements of these two outstanding investment professionals," said David S. Lobel, founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel. "Our people are the reason for our success and both Jim and Paul have played a significant role in Sentinel's performance to date. They share our enthusiasm for the future of our firm and we look forward to their continued contributions as we begin investing from our latest Fund."

Messrs. Coady and Murphy are involved in all aspects of the firm's transactions, from deal sourcing to exit. In addition, they serve as members of the Boards of Directors of several Sentinel portfolio companies. Their promotion as Partners follows the firm's recent completion of its $319 million Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P.

John F. McCormack, co-founder and Senior Partner, said, "Jim and Paul understand the small buyout market very well and both have helped us greatly with our investments during their time with us. These promotions are well deserved and I want to thank them for their commitment to Sentinel and to our investors."

Among a number of acquisitions and realizations over the past 16 months, Sentinel last month acquired Madill Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of forestry equipment based in Canada. In May, Sentinel acquired Metro Dentalcare, a leading regional dental clinic operator and provider of group dental care in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Also in May, Sentinel sold Falcon Holdings, one of the largest franchisees in the worldwide chain of Church's Chicken restaurants.

Mr. Coady, formerly a Principal, joined Sentinel in 1998. He currently serves as a Director of Metro Dentalcare, Nivel and NorSun Food Group. He also served as a Director of Cottman Transmission Systems and Falcon Holdings prior to the sale of these businesses. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Coady was an Associate at First Chicago Equity Capital, and previously spent two years as an Analyst at Alex. Brown & Sons. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a BA from Harvard University where he was a member of Harvard's NCAA Championship hockey team.

Mr. Murphy joined Sentinel as a Principal in 2000. He currently serves as Chairman of Metro Dentalcare. He also served as a Director of Castle Dental Centers prior to the sale of this business. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Murphy was a Director at Dilmun Investments, Inc. Prior to working at Dilmun, Mr. Murphy was a Vice President in the Financial Buyers Group at NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc. Previously, he spent two years as an Associate in the Merchant Banking Group of Chase Manhattan Bank. Mr. Murphy holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Murphy spent five years as an Artillery officer in the US Army where he attained the rank of Captain.

NEW YORK, June 27, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced today the acquisition of Madill Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of forestry equipment. Sentinel purchased Madill from Key Equity Capital Corporation, the predecessor fund to Blue Point Capital Partners, and The CECO Group of Companies in a transaction valued at Cdn $80 million.

Founded in 1911 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Madill has grown over the past decade as the result of strategic acquisitions and organic growth. The company manufactures technologically superior mechanical harvesting and other logging equipment at its facilities in British Columbia and Washington State and has sales and distribution offices in the northwest U.S., British Columbia and Alberta. Its products are designed exclusively for the needs of the forestry industry and are purpose-built to withstand both extreme terrain and weather conditions. The Madill name is a highly regarded brand in the logging industry.

"Madill is a recognized leader with tremendous brand equity whose products are engineered specifically for forestry applications," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. "We are partnering with an outstanding management team at Madill and see opportunities to continue to grow the business through geographic and product line expansion and opportunistic strategic acquisitions."

Ron Dunbar, President of Madill, said, "We have built our reputation by providing heavy-duty, high-quality equipment that is purpose built for the performance requirements and conditions of the logging industry. The forest products market is expected to continue to exhibit steady increases in production due to strong and consistent underlying demand for wood and paper-based products worldwide. Our seasoned management team looks forward to working with Sentinel, whose proven track record of building value for its investors and management partners is well known."

John McCormack, Sentinel's co-founder and Senior Partner, said, "Madill has a long history of growth and profitability, and a high return on invested capital. Madill's excellent senior management team led by Ron will give us a distinct advantage as we implement strategic initiatives to grow the business in Canada and the U.S."

Sentinel recently completed raising $319 million of capital for Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P. In addition to a number of acquisitions and realizations over the past 16 months, Sentinel last month acquired MetroDentalcare, a leading regional dental clinic operator and provider of group dental care in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. Also in May, Sentinel sold Falcon Holdings, one of the largest franchisees in the worldwide chain of Church's Chicken restaurants. The sale returned approximately 3.1x on Sentinel's five-year investment.

NEW YORK, May 25, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced today the acquisition of MetroDentalcare, a leading regional dental clinic operator and provider of group dental care to more than 125,000 patients in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The acquisition of MetroDentalcare is Sentinel's second investment in the $78 billion dental services industry.

Founded in 1968 by Dr. David Milbrath, MetroDentalcare expanded under the stewardship of Dr. Milbrath, Dr. Marcus Gustafson, and Robert Sponsel, MetroDentalcare's current senior management team. Today, MetroDentalcare's group practice includes more than 500 doctors, hygienists and dental assistants serving patients in the Twin Cities from 23 locations. MetroDentalcare is Minnesota's fastest-growing practice and provides a range of state-of-the-art preventive, restorative, pediatric and cosmetic dental services to its patients. Annual revenues are approximately $60 million.

"MetroDentalcare is a leader in an industry we understand well and where we have had previous success," said Paul Murphy, a principal at Sentinel. "We believe this business is well positioned for continued growth and we are extremely pleased to have this opportunity to partner with a great management team to grow and expand their services throughout Minnesota."

In 2003, Sentinel acquired Castle Dental Centers, Inc., a leading provider of dental services in Texas, Florida, Tennessee and California. After the acquisition, Sentinel worked closely with the management team to implement a series of operational initiatives to improve performance and strengthen the business. Last year, Sentinel completed a merger of Castle Dental with Bright Now!® Dental, Inc.

According to Drs. Milbrath and Gustafson, "We chose Sentinel because they understand our industry and have a successful track record in building entrepreneurial businesses. The Sentinel team fits well with our philosophy of doing business and we are very confident in our ability to grow MetroDentalcare while at the same time continuing to provide the quality care our patients have come to expect."

Jim Coady, a principal at Sentinel, said, "We have come to know and respect the people at MetroDentalcare as we have reviewed the business. We are pleased that the entire senior management team is investing alongside us in this transaction and we are eager to work with them to take the company to the next level of growth. Also, MetroDentalcare is the third investment we have made in Minnesota and we like this region very much."

Sentinel recently completed raising $319 million of capital for Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P. The Fund was more than two times oversubscribed and surpassed its original target of $225 million. Over the past 16 months, Sentinel has acquired Spinrite, a leading manufacturer of craft yarn, and Nivel, a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories. Realizations over the same period have included Cottman Transmission Systems (to American Capital Strategies for $77.3 million, a return of 3x cost); the sale of Castle Dental Centers (to Bright Now! Dental, a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, for $56 million, a return of 2.2x cost); a sale of Falcon Holdings (to management, a return of 3.1x cost); and the sale of Floral Plant Growers (to Blue Point Capital, a return of 2x cost). In February 2005, after 12 months of ownership, Sentinel realized a 7.5x gain on its investment in Spinrite when that company successfully completed a Cdn$202.9 million IPO.

NEW YORK, May 25, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle-market companies, announced today the sale of Falcon Holdings to Falcon CEO Aslam Khan and his management team. With 101 units Falcon is one of the largest franchisees in the worldwide chain of Church's Chicken restaurants.

Khan and Sentinel partnered in 1999 to purchase Falcon from the company's prior lender. At the time Falcon had defaulted on its loan and was generating negative EBITDA. Khan had previously implemented a turnaround in the Church's system and the circ*mstances at Falcon were familiar to Khan. Sentinel recognized Khan's restaurant operating talent and with Khan outlined a plan to return Falcon to profitability. Immediately Sentinel and Khan recruited new executives to assist with Falcon's turnaround. Sentinel also recruited a prominent industry executive to serve on Falcon's board. Over several years Khan and his team were able to implement operating and financial systems and controls and grow comparable store sales, eventually producing EBITDA margins in excess of 10%. Today Falcon's comparable restaurant sales growth and performance metrics routinely exceed those of the Church's system and Falcon is solidly profitable.

"Falcon's restaurant operations were deteriorating rapidly when we made our initial investment in 1999," said John F. McCormack, co-founder of Sentinel. "We are contrarian investors and understood that with the right management team in place we could help reverse Falcon's declines and create a chain of better-performing QSR restaurants. Aslam now has a successful track record of transforming two Church's franchises and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to work with him and sell him a controlling interest in the business. We look forward to watching Aslam take Falcon to the next level as he works toward his goal of being one of the top restaurant operators in the country."

Financing for the transaction consisted of $27.3 million in sale-leaseback financing from Spirit Finance Corporation, a publicly traded real estate investment trust (NYSE: SFC), and $17.6 million in a senior debt facility provided by Falcon's existing lender, Wells Fargo Commercial Capital. In addition, Khan contributed his equity position in Falcon to the transaction.

"The Falcon sale is an outstanding transaction for Sentinel," said Jim Coady, a principal of Sentinel. "We've enjoyed our relationship with Aslam and his team and are pleased with the success of the deal. Aslam is in good hands with Spirit and Wells Fargo, financing sources that were a pleasure to do business with."

According to Mr. Khan, "The Sentinel team had the insight to invest in Falcon at a time when many other investors thought we could not transform this business into a leader within the Church's chain. I am grateful they had the confidence to support my team as we built Falcon into a healthy and profitable company that now has a bright future."

Franchising is a key investment sector for Sentinel. In addition to restaurants, the firm has successfully partnered with management in other industries, as with its investment in Cottman Transmissions Holdings, a provider of automotive after-market services. Cottman, which Sentinel sold in March of 2004, was an outstanding performer for Sentinel, as highlighted by an increase in franchise locations from approximately 200 to 400 across 43 states and Canada.

Sentinel recently completed raising $319 million of capital for Sentinel Capital Partners III, L.P. The Fund was more than two times oversubscribed and surpassed its original target of $225 million. Over the past 16 months, Sentinel has acquired Spinrite, a leading manufacturer of craft yarn, and Nivel, a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories. Realizations over the same period have included Cottman Transmission Systems (to American Capital Strategies for $77.3 million); the sale of Castle Dental Centers (to Bright Now! Dental, a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, for $56 million); and the sale of Floral Plant Growers (to Blue Point Capital). In February 2005, after 12 months of ownership, Sentinel successfully completed a Cdn $202.9 million IPO of Spinrite.

NEW YORK, February 8, 2005 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in promising middle market companies, today announced the initial public offering of Spinrite, a Sentinel portfolio company that is a premier manufacturer and marketer of craft yarn products in North America. Sentinel acquired the business with management in January 2004.

"The successful outcome of this investment speaks volumes about the quality of Spinrite and its management team and employees. Spinrite is a leader in its market and has tremendous potential. We are thrilled to remain significant investors in a truly exceptional business," said Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel. Thomas Fitzpatrick, a Sentinel operating partner, added, "Since making our investment, numerous operational initiatives have been implemented to help Spinrite enhance its financial performance and capitalize on significant growth opportunities. Every step of the way, Spinrite's management and employees exceeded our expectations."

Dario Margve, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spinrite, said, "We believe that Spinrite is well positioned to continue its outstanding performance. Our relationship with Sentinel has helped us reach this tremendous milestone in Spinrite's history. I am proud to lead such a great business with such a dedicated and talented group of employees."

David Lobel, Managing Partner and founder of Sentinel, said, "We are very pleased with this result and fortunate to have backed such an outstanding management team. This is Sentinel's fifth realization in in the past 10 months and we are pleased to have been able to return capital to our investors.

The Cdn $202.9 million IPO was structured through a Canadian Income Fund. Sentinel will continue holding a minority stake in Spinrite. The enterprise value of the transaction was $301 million. Spinrite Income Fund is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and will trade under the symbol "SNF.UN". The offering was underwritten by a syndicate lead by Scotia Capital Inc. and CIBC World Markets Inc and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and TD Securities Inc.

Based in Listowel, Ontario and established in 1952, Spinrite is well known for its Bernat, Patons, Lily Sugar'n Cream, and Phentex brands which are sold through mass merchants, needlecraft and hobby stores, and independent specialty stores. Spinrite possesses the most modern and diversified craft yarn manufacturing operation in North America and is recognized as the needlecraft market leader in new product development.

NEW YORK, October 28, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners announced today the sale of Floral Plant Growers, L.L.C., a leading regional producer and marketer of floriculture products, to Blue Point Capital Partners and members of the management team.

Floral Plant Growers, headquartered in Denmark, Wisconsin, produces, markets and sells floriculture products to mass-merchant retailers. Floral's primarily product is bedding plants, which are small-blooming flowers sold in trays for planting in gardens or flower boxes, a rapidly growing segment of the horticulture market that has grown 10% annually for the past 10 years. Floral manages more than 70 acres of production capacity in five highly automated greenhouses in Maryland, Delaware, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana.

"Floral is superbly positioned for continued prosperity after successfully implementing a number of strategic growth initiatives designed to improve the operations of the business on our watch," said John McCormack, co-founder and Senior Partner of Sentinel. "Sentinel's investment team partnered with Floral's experienced management to grow the business and create value for Floral's shareholders. Demographic trends have made gardening one of the most popular past time activities and strong interest in this category will continue. We expect Blue Point will also provide additional creative talent to continue Floral's growth.

Sentinel acquired Floral in 1996. Eric Bommer, a partner at Sentinel, said, "During Sentinel's ownership, we worked closely with Floral's management team to implement sophisticated operational processes that enabled Floral to better serve its customer base of big-box retailers and mass merchants. Also, we are very pleased with Sentinel's investment returns on this transaction. We have enjoyed working closely with Floral's management team and wish them great success."

Dean Chaloupka, president of Floral Plant Growers who will continue in this capacity, said, "We are very proud of all we have achieved over the past several years. We look forward with great excitement toward our next phase of development with the team at Blue Point and we are very pleased to have worked so closely with Sentinel's experienced group of executives who helped us drive the business.

Sentinel was advised in the transaction by Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, a leading international investment bank. Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor, and helped structure and negotiate the sale of Floral on behalf of Sentinel.

NEW YORK, June 17, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners announced today that its portfolio company, Castle Dental Centers, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: CASL.OB-News) has completed its merger with Bright Now! Dental, Inc. of Santa Ana, CA in a transaction valued at $56 million. Castle Dental is a leading provider of dental services in Texas, Florida, Tennessee and California. Bright Now's majority shareholder was a private equity firm.

Paul Murphy, a Principal at Sentinel, said, "Over the past year, we have worked very closely with the Castle Dental management team implementing operational enhancements to improve performance and incentive programs to align management's interests with the interests of the shareholders. We have enjoyed working with them and the results of our joint efforts have been quite rewarding.

"We have valued our partnership with Sentinel and their strategic and financial support," said John Slack, Castle Dental's Chief Executive Officer. "We are enthusiastic about joining forces with Bright Now and believe that the transaction is in the best interests of Castle Dental and all of its constituencies, including our shareholders, employees, affiliated dentists, and most important, patients.

"Castle Dental is a strong strategic fit with Bright Now", said David Lobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel Capital Partners. "We are confident that Bright Now's excellent management team will effectively capitalize on the exciting new opportunities that lie ahead to deliver quality patient care. Castle Dental is a solid business and we are pleased to be able to position the company for continued growth. We are also pleased to return capital to our investors.

In May 2003, Sentinel and management recapitalized Castle Dental. GE Healthcare Services provided debt financing for the recapitalization. Sentinel originated, sponsored and negotiated the transaction, arranged the debt financing and provided equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners II, L.P.

NEW YORK, May 12, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners and Caxton-Iseman Capital, Inc. are pleased to announce a recapitalization of Buffets, Inc. and the payment of a $75 dividend to shareholders. Buffets, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is the largest operator of high quality buffet-style restaurants in the United States with 396 restaurants in 38 states operating under the brand names Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet.

Buffets announced today that it has priced an offering of its 13 7/8% senior discount notes due 2010 in a Rule 144A offering. Gross proceeds from the offering are $75 million. Credit Suisse First Boston was lead manager for the $75 million high yield debt financing. Buffets will use the cash proceeds from the offering of the senior discount notes primarily to make a dividend distribution to stockholders.

"This recapitalization is designed to enable Buffets shareholders an opportunity to partially realize on the substantial equity appreciation Buffets has generated to date while still preserving the opportunity to remain shareholders and benefit from future equity appreciation."

Buffets is the market leader of the $4.2 billion buffet/cafeteria segment. "We are delighted to have worked on this recap with Caxton-Iseman Capital, and we look forward to continuing to serve together on Buffets' Board of Directors and to assist the company's management team in every way possible," Mr. Lobel said.

Buffets is well positioned in the mid-scale dining segment and offers a convenient, value-priced selection of high quality food and excellent customer service. Buffets was an early innovator of the scatter-bar concept, in which food is presented on self-service islands from which customers select the items and portions of their choice. With innovations such as the scatter-bar system and all-inclusive pricing, Buffets' brands are synonymous with the modern buffet concept.

Buffets' formula of exceptional value, convenience, quality, and service has generated consistent growth in sales and profits. Management's strategic objective is to reinforce Buffets' position as the market leader in the buffet-style restaurant segment by expanding its core Old Country Buffet and Hometown Buffet concepts. Buffets will also selectively expand its complementary Tahoe Joe's steakhouse concept.

About Caxton-Iseman Capital
Caxton-Iseman Capital is a leading New York-based private equity investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. The firm's investment vehicles currently have $700 million of capital available to them for leveraged buyouts. Caxton-Iseman Capital is funded primarily by affiliates of Caxton Corporation, a New York investment firm whose affiliated companies have in excess of $3.5 billion of capital.

NEW YORK, April 19, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners announced today the sale of Cottman Transmission Holdings, LLC to American Capital Strategies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS) for $77.3 million.

Cottman is a franchisor of automotive transmission centers that repair, remanufacture and service transmissions and related components. Cottman, the "Transmission Physician," opened its first transmission repair center on Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia in 1962. With more than 391 centers in the United States and Canada, Cottman is the fastest growing transmission service and repair chain in North America.

Under Sentinel's stewardship, Cottman developed innovative customer service and quality initiatives, and enhanced its franchise support system A leader in both franchising and the automotive aftermarket, Cottman is regarded as a well managed and efficient business by its franchisees and as a trustworthy choice for automotive transmission repairs by consumers. Cottman is consistently ranked among the top franchise organizations in the U.S.

"Franchising is a key investment sector for us and Cottman has been an outstanding performer for Sentinel," said David Lobel, Sentinel's founder and Managing Partner. "Todd Leff, Cottman's CEO, and the entire Cottman management team worked successfully with Sentinel to build the business by significantly increasing the number of franchise locations which are now in 43 states and Canada. We are very confident that they can continue to build the business and deliver results under the guidance of their new partners at American Capital."

"We have valued our partnership with Sentinel and their strategic and financial support as we executed our growth strategy," said Mr. Leff. "The partners at American Capital will bring a new and fresh perspective to the business and we look forward to working closely with them too." In addition to Mr. Leff, who continues as CEO, other members of senior management will remain with the company and invest in Cottman alongside American Capital.

American Capital recently supplied the senior and subordinated debt and co-invested with Sentinel in Nivel Parts and Manufacturing Co., LLC, a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories. "American Capital has become a trusted partner and financing source," said David Lobel. "This was a primary reason for selecting American Capital as the buyer of Cottman." American Capital is a publicly traded buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources in excess of $2.7 billion.

NEW YORK, February 13, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in smaller middle market management buyouts, is pleased to announce the sale of its subordinated note holdings in Castle Dental Centers, Inc. in a recapitalization transaction. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Castle Dental develops, manages and operates integrated dental networks in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and California. Castle Dental provides general dentistry, orthodontic and other dental specialty services through 76 dental clinics with approximately 200 affiliated dentists.

"The sale of our subordinated notes demonstrates the substantial progress Castle has made since we made our original investment and also enables Sentinel to achieve some liquidity," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "Castle Dental is a highly respected and recognizable brand in the dental services industry and has established a leadership position in its markets," Lobel noted.

"Castle Dental is well positioned to expand the range of specialty services it offers its patients and thereby to take advantage of the company's strong dental office system," said Paul Murphy, a Principal at Sentinel. "We continue to hold all of our common stock and therefore are well positioned to benefit as Castle grows."

NEW YORK, February 16, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a private equity firm that invests in smaller middle market buyouts, is pleased to announce the management buyout of Nivel Parts and Manufacturing Co. valued at $26.5 million. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Nivel is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket golf car replacement parts and accessories.

"We are actively pursuing investments in strong companies with leading positions in niche markets," said John McCormack, Sentinel's Co-founder and Senior Partner. "Nivel has a strong and dynamic management team that has been successful growing this business. We look forward to partnering with Nivel's entire management team to implement the strategic and operational initiatives that will enable the company to continue to grow at its historical rates."

Nivel supplies over 2,000 golf car part SKUs, including battery parts, bearings, brake parts, chargers, body accessories, motor parts and related replacement parts for all makes and models including Club Car, E-Z-Go and Yamaha. Nivel is also recognized for its leading product catalog which is distributed to 1,800 dealers worldwide

"The demand for golf car replacement parts is expected to continue to grow as more players enter the game of golf and new courses are constructed", added Jim Coady, a Principal at Sentinel. "Additionally, about 40% of the market for these cars is for use in non-traditional areas such as planned communities, industrial environments and off-road transportation vehicles, and these sectors are growing at a significantly faster rate than that for golf use."

"I look forward to working with the Sentinel team as we position Nivel for continued growth," said Pat McGrogan, Nivel's CEO. "The market for golf car replacement parts is expected to expand along with the growing number of golfers and their frequency of play. We hope to build upon our loyal customer base of original equipment and independent dealers who have come to rely upon our depth of products, timely delivery and competitive pricing. We see many opportunities to expand our product offerings and to penetrate geographic areas where we are not currently a leader."

American Capital Strategies provided debt financing for the recapitalization and is also an equity co-investor.

NEW YORK, February 12, 2004 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in promising, smaller middle market companies, is pleased to announce a recapitalization of Spinrite Inc. Headquartered in Listowel, Ontario, Spinrite is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of craft yarn products in North America.

Established 52 years ago, Spinrite is well known for its Bernat, Patons, Lily Sugar'n Cream, and Phentex brands, which are sold through mass merchants, needlecraft and hobby stores, and independent specialty stores. Spinrite possesses the most modern and diversified craft yarn manufacturing, dyeing and finishing operation in North America and is recognized as a market leader in new product development.

"Spinrite is a market leader with an outstanding reputation in the needlecraft category. We are thrilled to be associated with Spinrite and its employees. With its extensive manufacturing capabilities and first rate management team, Spinrite is well positioned to capitalize on the projected growth in the category," said Eric Bommer, a Partner at Sentinel.

"Spinrite is a market leader with an outstanding reputation in the craft yarn category. We are pleased to partner with the Sentinel team in order to build our unique business," said Robert Hay, Chief Executive Officer of Spinrite. “Since the company was founded by my father over 52 years ago, we have developed a loyal consumer following. We are confident that by working together with Sentinel we will be able to further develop our business."

"Our partnership with Spinrite's management is consistent with our strategy of backing strong management teams in growing consumer-driven businesses," said David Lobel, Sentinel's founder and Managing Partner. “We look forward to working with Spinrite's management team to continue building upon Spinrite's history of success."

Scotia Bank provided senior debt for the recapitalization and Norwest Mezzanine Partners provided subordinated debt financing .

NEW YORK, May 15, 2003 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce a $66.2 million recapitalization of Castle Dental Centers, Inc. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Castle Dental develops, manages and operates integrated dental networks in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and California. Castle Dental provides general dentistry, orthodontic and other dental specialty services through 77 dental centers with approximately 200 affiliated dentists.

"This investment is consistent with Sentinel's plan to selectively invest in quality niche service businesses," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "Castle Dental is a highly respected and recognizable brand in the dental services industry and has established a leadership position in its markets," Lobel noted. "We are also delighted to partner in this deal with Castle Dental's senior management who invested alongside us. We look forward to working closely with them and assisting in the company's growth plan," Lobel added.

"Castle Dental is well positioned to expand the range of specialty services it offers its patients and thereby to take advantage of the company's strong dental office system," said Paul Murphy, a Principal at Sentinel. "Our objective is to substantially increase Castle Dental's profitability over the next several years, and the company has the systems and infrastructure in place to accomplish this goal."

James M. Usdan, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are extremely pleased to announce the completion of our debt restructuring and recapitalization efforts, which have been ongoing for more than two years. The infusion of new equity into Castle Dental by Sentinel Capital Partners and the replacement of our senior credit facility with the new line of credit provided by GE Healthcare Services, substantially reduces our debt and provides Castle Dental a stable capital structure for the first time in several years. We have been able to achieve this result through the hard work of our employees and affiliated dentists by focusing on improving the quality of services provided to our patients, stringent cost controls, improving provider relations with our affiliated dental professionals, and selling or closing poorly performing dental centers. With our strengthened balance sheet and new financial partners, we will be able to continue our efforts to become the leading dental healthcare provider in the markets that we serve."

GE Healthcare Services, Castle Dental's existing senior lender, provided debt financing for the recapitalization.

NEW YORK, March 3, 2003 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Eric D. Bommer has been promoted to Partner.

Mr. Bommer joined Sentinel in 1997 as a Vice President and was promoted to Principal in 1999. He currently serves as a Director of Alemite Corporation, Floral Plant Growers, NorSun Food Group, and Tony Roma's. He also served as a Director of Met Merchandising Concepts prior to Met's sale. Previously, he was an Associate at Gefinor Acquisition Partners, L.P., a private equity fund that specializes in investing in underperforming, middle market companies, from 1995 to 1997. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Bommer worked in the Investment Banking Division of CS First Boston on a variety of corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. Previously, he spent a year at LaSalle Partners as a financial analyst.

From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Bommer was captain of the Livingston Kings, a Scottish professional hockey team that he helped lead to the Scottish First Division Championship. He holds a B.A. degree from Brown University with a double major in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior. He was also a captain of Brown's Varsity Hockey Team.

Sentinel Capital Partners specializes in buying and building smaller middle market companies in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets business and marketing services companies, consumer products and services, food and restaurants, franchising, and niche/light manufacturing businesses. Sentinel invests in management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and going-private transactions of established businesses with $3-15 million of operating profit.

NEW YORK, December 18, 2002 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce a $33 million leveraged recapitalization of Cottman Transmission Systems, LLC. Headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, Cottman is a leading franchisor of automotive transmission centers that repair, remanufacture and service transmissions and related drive line components.

"Cottman has demonstrated an ability to thrive during an exceedingly difficult economic environment and this recapitalization rewards the company for its superior performance," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "Moreover, Sentinel and Cottman's management were able to enjoy a partial realization on our equity investments," Mr. Lobel added.

Cottman opened its first transmission repair center on Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia in 1962. With more than 365 centers in the US and Canada, Cottman, the "Transmission Physician," operates one of the largest chains of transmission service and repair centers in North America. Cottman has earned many industry awards and has been consistently ranked among the top franchise organizations in the US.

"We are delighted to have worked on this recap with Cottman's management team who have done a fantastic job, and we look forward to continuing to assist management in every way possible," said Jim Coady, a Sentinel Principal.

Antares Capital Corporation and GE Capital Commercial Finance, Cottman's existing senior lenders, co-managed a $33 million senior secured credit facility for the transaction.

"Cottman is well positioned to continue its aggressive growth strategy in the transmission repair aftermarket. The demographics of this industry are very attractive and the interest we are receiving from prospective franchisees is unprecedented," said Todd Leff, Cottman's Chief Executive Officer. "With innovations such as our National Fleet Program, extended warranty protection, and 24-Hour Emergency Towing Hotline, Cottman has established a leadership position in the industry," added Mr. Leff.

Cottman's formula of convenience, quality, and excellent service has generated consistent growth in sales and profits. Cottman has also successfully grown comparable store sales for the past several years. Management's strategic objective is to reinforce Cottman's position as the market leader in the transmission repair aftermarket by continuing to rapidly expand its geographical coverage, providing outstanding service to its franchisees, and rolling out national advertising programs.

NEW YORK, October 15, 2002 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce that Thomas P. Fitzpatrick has joined the firm as a Senior Advisory Partner.

Mr. Fitzpatrick has worked closely with Sentinel's founders for more than a decade. He currently serves as a Director of Alemite Corporation, a Sentinel portfolio company. Previously, Mr. Fitzpatrick spent the majority of his career at Coopers & Lybrand in a variety of senior executive positions. While at Coopers & Lybrand, he led the team that supported acquisition due diligence reviews required by Sentinel to support its investment operations.

In his 34 years with Coopers & Lybrand, Mr. Fitzpatrick held a number of significant positions. He was a member of the firm's Executive Committee, National Director of Mergers and Acquisitions, and Partner in Charge of the New York office's Financial Advisory Practice. Over the course of his career, he has worked with dozens of private equity firms conducting due diligence and acquisition reviews on hundreds of investment opportunities. In addition, Mr. Fitzpatrick was the Partner in Charge of Coopers & Lybrand's Investment Committee, which was responsible for investing the partners' personal funds in private equity and venture capital.

From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Fitzpatrick was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Englehard Corporation, a Fortune 500 company involved in surface and material sciences. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a CPA and holds a BBA from St. John's University.

NEW YORK, June 30, 2002 - Sentinel Capital Partners and Caxton-Iseman Capital, Inc. are pleased to announce a $525 million leveraged recapitalization of Buffets, Inc. Buffets, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is the largest operator of high quality buffet-style restaurants in the United States with 396 restaurants in 38 states operating under the brand names Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet.

"This recapitalization is designed to give Buffets a more flexible capital structure," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "In addition, Buffets' shareholders were able to enjoy a partial realization on our equity investments," Mr. Lobel added.

Buffets is the market leader, currently holding 22% of the $4.2 billion buffet/cafeteria segment, making it nearly twice as large as its next largest competitor. "We are delighted to have worked on this recap with Caxton-Iseman Capital, and we look forward to continuing to serve together on Buffets' Board of Directors and to assist the company's management team in every way possible," Mr. Lobel said.

Credit Suisse First Boston and FleetBancBoston led a syndicate that provided a $295 million senior secured credit facility for the transaction. Credit Suisse First Boston was lead manager for a $230 million high yield debt financing. Co-managers for the high yield offering were Morgan Stanley, Salomon Smith Barney, UBS Warburg, and Fleet Securities, Inc.

Buffets is well positioned in the mid-scale dining segment and offers a convenient, value-priced selection of high quality food and excellent customer service. Buffets was an early innovator of the scatter-bar concept, in which food is presented on self-service islands from which customers select the items and portions of their choice. With innovations such as the scatter-bar system and all-inclusive pricing, Buffets' brands are synonymous with the modern buffet concept.

Buffets' formula of exceptional value, convenience, quality, and service has generated consistent growth in sales and profits. Buffets has also successfully grown comparable store sales for the past several years. Management's strategic objective is to reinforce Buffets' position as the market leader in the buffet-style restaurant segment by expanding its core Old Country Buffet and Hometown Buffet concepts. Buffets will also selectively expand its complementary Tahoe Joe's steakhouse concept.

About Caxton-Iseman Capital
Caxton-Iseman Capital is a leading New York-based private equity investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. The firm's investment vehicles currently have $700 million of capital available to them for leveraged buyouts. Caxton-Iseman Capital is funded primarily by affiliates of Caxton Corporation, a New York investment firm whose affiliated companies have in excess of $3.5 billion of capital.

NEW YORK, June 14, 2002 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce the acquisition of Alemite Corporation. Alemite is the leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of industrial lubrication equipment and components in North America.

Sentinel has acquired Alemite, a former subsidiary of Invensys plc, in a management buyout transaction valued at $39.3 million. Alemite was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Invensys plc, headquartered in London, England, is an international production technology and energy management group that specializes in helping companies to improve efficiency, performance and profitability. Sentinel originated, sponsored and negotiated the transaction, arranged the acquisition debt and provided equity financing from Sentinel Capital Partners II, L.P.

"This deal is consistent with Sentinel's plan to selectively invest in quality niche manufacturing businesses," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "Alemite is the most highly respected and recognizable brand in the lubrication industry. Alemite's product line includes grease guns, grease fittings, pumps and reels, and automatic lubrication devices. Alemite invented the hydraulic grease fitting in the 1920s and has been a leader in the industrial lubrication market for the past 80 years."

"We are delighted to partner in this deal with Alemite's senior management. We look forward to working closely with them and assisting in the company's growth plan and continued strong performance," Lobel added. AmSouth Bank, a division of AmSouth Bancorporation (NYSE: ASO), provided senior debt financing for the transaction. American Capital Strategies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ACAS) provided subordinated debt financing.

"Alemite is well positioned to expand internationally and to make complementary acquisitions in the U.S. that can take advantage of the company's strong domestic distribution channels," said John McCormack, Sentinel's Senior Partner and co-founder. "Our objective is to substantially increase Alemite's size over the next five years, and the company has the systems and infrastructure in place to accomplish this goal."

NEW YORK, January 22, 2002 - Growing Family, Inc., a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced that it has completed an add-on acquisition of the First Impressions newborn photography business. Growing Family is the nation's leader of in-hospital infant photography.

"Over the past four years, First Impressions has developed many relationships in the healthcare industry and has earned a reputation for innovative and quality service," said David A. Van Vliet, President and CEO of Growing Family, "This acquisition fits perfectly with Growing Family's growth plans and allows us to expand our in-hospital newborn portrait service coverage and help even more new families celebrate and commemorate the birth of a new baby."

With the acquisition of First Impressions, the third largest provider of infant photography, Growing Family will now secure service agreements with an additional 146 hospitals and reach approximately 3 million new families a year within hours of the child's birth.

Growing Family, the nation's leading in-hospital infant photography provider, services hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Providing products like the First Foto®, baby's first newborn photo, and WebNursery®, baby's first web page, Growing Family strives to provide valuable and relevant products and services to new parents and partner hospitals.

NEW YORK, January 4, 2002 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that James D. Coady has been promoted to Principal.

Mr. Coady joined Sentinel in 1998 as a Vice President. From 1995 to 1998, he was an Associate at First Chicago Equity Capital, the private equity division of First Chicago NBD which specializes in investing in middle market companies. Previously, Mr. Coady spent two years as an Analyst at Alex. Brown & Sons. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a BA from Harvard University where he was a member of Harvard's NCAA Championship hockey team.

NEW YORK, October 4, 2000 - Sentinel Capital Partners, Caxton-Iseman Capital, Inc. and management of Buffets, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOCB) are pleased to announce the acquisition of the company in a transaction valued at $665 million. Buffets, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, is the largest operator of high quality buffet-style restaurants in the United States with 403 restaurants in 38 states operating under the brand names Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet.

"This deal is consistent with Sentinel's plan to invest selectively in quality restaurant franchises," said David Lobel, Sentinel's Founder and Managing Partner. "Buffets enjoys a leading position in the scatter-bar segment of the restaurant industry, which has enjoyed a 17% compound annual growth rate since 1990.

"Buffets is the market leader, currently holding 22% of the $4.2 billion buffet/cafeteria segment, making it nearly twice as large as its next largest competitor," Lobel added. "Naturally, we are delighted to join in this deal with Caxton-Iseman Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm, and we look forward to serving with them on Buffets' Board of Directors as we assist the company's management team in every way possible."

Lehman Brothers Inc., Fleet Securities Inc. and First Union National Bank provided senior debt financing for the transaction. Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. arranged mezzanine financing.

Buffets is well positioned in the mid-scale dining segment and offers a convenient, value-priced selection of high quality food and excellent customer service. Buffets was an early innovator of the scatter-bar concept, in which food is presented on self-service islands from which customers select the items and portions of their choice. With innovations such as the scatter-bar system and all-inclusive pricing, Buffets' brands are synonymous with the modern buffet concept.

Buffets' formula of exceptional value, convenience, quality, and service has generated consistent growth in sales and profits for the past 16 years. Buffets has also successfully grown comparable store sales for 11 consecutive quarters. Management's strategic objective is to reinforce Buffets' position as the market leader in the buffet-style restaurant segment by expanding its core Old Country Buffet and Hometown Buffet concepts. Buffets will also selectively expand its complementary Tahoe Joe's and Original Roadhouse Grill concepts.

About Caxton-Iseman Capital
Caxton-Iseman Capital is a New York-based private equity investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. The firm's investment vehicles currently have $700 million of capital available to them for leveraged buyouts. Caxton-Iseman Capital is funded primarily by affiliates of Caxton Corporation, a New York investment firm whose affiliated companies have in excess of $3.5 billion of capital.

NEW YORK, July 18, 2000 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce that Paul F. Murphy has joined the firm as a Principal.

Prior to joining Sentinel, Mr. Murphy had been employed since 1997 by Dilmun Investments, Inc., the U.S. private equity affiliate of Bahrain International Bank E.C. While at Dilmun, Mr. Murphy focused on originating, structuring and executing private equity investments in middle market companies in a variety of industries, including consumer products, financial services, restaurants, media and entertainment, healthcare and outsourcing services.

Mr. Murphy worked closely with many portfolio companies in which Dilmun was either the sole or lead equity investor, including Sarah Michaels, Inc., a marketer of women's bath and beauty products; Thompson Products, Inc., a manufacturer of photo albums; Capital Recovery Service, Inc., a debt-collection firm; Brothers Gourmet Coffees, Inc., a roaster of gourmet coffee; Springfield Service Corporation, a medical billing firm for physician groups; Independent Pictures, Inc., an independent film production company; and Sydran Food Services II, L.P., a franchisee of Burger King restaurants.

Previously, Mr. Murphy was a Vice President in the Financial Buyers Group at NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc., where he focused on providing debt and equity financing for leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations. Prior to that, he was an Associate in the Merchant Banking Group of Chase Manhattan Bank, where he focused on private equity and subordinated debt investments in middle market companies.

Mr. Murphy holds an MBA from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Murphy is also a former Army Officer and served in an Infantry division for five years attaining the rank of Captain.

NEW YORK, January 3, 2000 - Sentinel Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm that invests in promising smaller middle market companies, today announced the sale of Border Foods, Inc., a premier franchisee in the Taco Bell system, in a recapitalization transaction valued at $58 million. The change positions Border Foods' management as the new majority owner. Sentinel sold its holdings after three years because virtually all of the investment's original objectives, which were expected to be met in five years, had been achieved. Since Sentinel's original investment, Border Foods has increased sales and profitability by more than 40% and 75%, respectively. According to executives involved with the transaction, Border Foods is now well positioned to grow its existing core Taco Bell business and its newly acquired KFC franchise.

"This marks the culmination of a terrific relationship with Sentinel," said Lee Engler, President of Border Foods. "Both parties did what they said they were going to do at the outset and are more than satisfied with the outcome."

"Lee and his team did an outstanding job. They are superb restaurant executives," observed David Lobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel. "They told us that their goal was to own the entire company," added John McCormack, Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Sentinel. "We are delighted to enable them to fulfill their dreams and are confident that they will continue to be highly successful."

Border Foods, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is one of the largest franchisees in the worldwide Taco Bell system. With approximately $5 billion in systemwide revenues and 6,800 restaurants, Taco Bell is the largest U.S. quick service restaurant chain specializing in Mexican food.

Taco Bell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tricon Global Restaurant, Inc., is the franchisor of the Taco Bell concept. Tricon is one of the world's largest operators and franchisors of QSR restaurants with more than 29,000 restaurants in 102 countries. Tricon is also the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut. Tricon's restaurant brands generate annual system-wide sales of approximately $20 billion.

NEW YORK, December 18, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Eric D. Bommer has been promoted to Principal.

Mr. Bommer joined Sentinel in 1997 as a Vice President. Previously, he was an Associate at Gefinor Acquisition Partners, L.P., a private equity fund that specializes in investing in underperforming, middle market companies, from 1995 to 1997. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Bommer worked in the Investment Banking Division of CS First Boston on a variety of corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. Previously, he spent a year at LaSalle Partners as a financial analyst.

From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Bommer was captain of the Livingston Kings, a Scottish professional hockey team that he helped lead to the Scottish First Division Championship. He holds a B.A. degree from Brown University with a double major in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior. He was also a captain of Brown's Varsity Hockey Team.

NEW YORK, December 22, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners and management of Falcon Holdings, LLC are pleased to announce the acquisition of 97 Churchs Chicken Restaurants in several Midwest markets in a transaction valued at $35 million. Sentinel sponsored the transaction and provided the equity financing.

Falcon, organized by Sentinel and management, is now the largest franchisee in the worldwide Churchs system, and operates restaurants in Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Dayton, Richmond, and Columbus. Falcon has also secured exclusive rights to develop the Churchs brand in Indianapolis and Richmond. Falcon is well-positioned to grow by building and acquiring additional restaurants within the fragmented Churchs system.

Churchs Chicken is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFC Enterprises, the franchisor of the Churchs concept and also an owner/operator of Churchs restaurants. AFC Enterprises is one of the world's largest operators and franchisors of restaurants, bakeries and cafes with more than 3,300 restaurants in 28 countries. AFC Enterprises is the parent company of Seattle's Best and Torrefazione Italita Coffees, Churchs Chicken, Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits, Cinnabon International and Ultrafryer Systems. AFC Enterprises has a long history of growth and profitability, and generates system-wide sales of more than $1.8 billion per year.

With more than $800 million in system-wide revenues and 1,400 restaurants worldwide, Churchs is the second largest QSR specializing in chicken in the United States. Established more than 45 years ago, Churchs specializes in southern-style chicken. The Churchs concept is based on a focused menu selection, value pricing and an emphasis on take-out. Churchs has generated strong operating results during the past five years with system-wide same store sales increasing an average of 4.5% per annum.

NEW YORK, November 29, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners II, LP, in partnership with company management, has acquired NorSun Food Group, LLC in a transaction valued at $43 million. Sentinel originated and sponsored the acquisition, arranged the debt and provided equity financing. Additional details of the transaction were not disclosed.

NorSun, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a leading supplier of specialty food ingredients to large packaged food companies and restaurant chains. The company has a leading share of the industrial Individually Quick Frozen ("IQF") roasted and whole baked potato market and has grown rapidly in terms of profit and revenue over the past several years. Customers such as Nestle, ConAgra, Pillsbury and Campbell Soup incorporate NorSun's ingredients into frozen entrees or soups. NorSun owns specialty processing plants in Fort Kent, Maine, and Rexbug, Idaho and markets its products under the NorSun trade name.

NorSun created the IQF roasted potato market and developed the roasting process. The company also develops proprietary flavors and processes for its customers. NorSun's growth is being driven by: expansion of the Home Meal Replacement category; increased outsourcing by large branded food companies; the introduction and early acceptance of NorSun's specialized food ingredients in restaurant and supermarket channels; healthy eating trends (NorSun's products are fat free); and growth in the roasted/flame broiled vegetable category.

NEW YORK, August 3, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners and management today announced the acquisition of Cottman Transmission Systems, Inc. in a transaction valued at $50 million. Sentinel originated and sponsored the acquisition, arranged the debt and provided equity financing.

Cottman, headquartered in Fort Washington, PA, is a franchisor of automotive transmission centers that repair, remanufacture and service transmissions and related component parts.

Cottman opened its first transmission repair center on Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia in 1962. With more than 265 centers in the U.S. and Canada, Cottman, the "Transmission Physician", operates one of the largest chains of transmission service and repair centers in North America. Cottman has earned many industry awards and has been consistently ranked among the top franchise organizations in the US.

Cottman is growing by aggressively franchising new centers and by selectively acquiring independent transmission repair chains. Several favorable industry trends are fueling Cottman's growth: an aging US vehicle population; increased popularity of front wheel and four wheel drive vehicles that have more complex transmissions; a return to high performance/high output engines that place more strain on transmissions; greater use of computers in automobiles that make transmission repair a more specialized and costly service.

NEW YORK, June 30, 1999 - Met Merchandising Concepts, a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced that it has been acquired by Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, (NYSE:LEG). Sentinel and management decided to sell Met after only eighteen months because substantially all of the investments original objectives had been achieved.

Leggett is a leading manufacturer of component and finished products for the furniture industry. In 1998, Leggett generated sales and net income of $3.4 billion and $248 million, respectively. Leggett is actively pursuing acquisitions in the fixture and display industry. Met represents an attractive strategic fit for Leggett and gains Leggett access to upscale customers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hillfiger, Levis, Timberland and Liz Claiborne.

NEW YORK, June 30, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners is today announced the final closing of Sentinel Capital Partners II, L.P., its second private equity fund. Major institutional investors include Travelers, Fleet Financial, Pacific Corporate Group, Mayo Foundation, Chase Manhattan Bank, Prudential, Kemper, Mass Mutual, Heller Financial, PNC Bank, HSBC Group, University of Wisconsin, and Provident Financial Group. Several high net worth families also invested in Sentinel.

Sentinel's investors are sophisticated direct equity and fund investors who can also participate in transactions with Sentinel in various layers of the capital structure. Sentinel believes the association with these investors brings important strategic advantages.

NEW YORK, January 4, 1999 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced a significant addition to its team. James D. Coady has joined Sentinel as a Vice President.

Since 1995, Mr. Coady has been an Associate at First Chicago Equity Capital, the private equity division of First Chicago NBD that specializes in investing in middle market companies. Previously, he spent two years as an Analyst at Alex. Brown & Sons. Mr. Coady holds an MBA degree from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a BA degree from Harvard University where he was a member of Harvard's NCAA Championship hockey team.

NEW YORK, September 30, 1998 - Growing Family, Inc., a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced the closing of a $45 million leveraged recapitalization which enables the company to prepay its original acquisition debt. The recapitalization also resulted in a partial realization of Sentinel's investment in Growing Family. Sentinel and management structured and negotiated the transaction, and arranged the senior debt financing.

Located in St. Charles, Missouri, Growing Family is the parent company of FirstFoto , the leading provider of in-hospital baby portrait services in the U.S. and Canada. First Foto enjoys exclusive, multi year contracts with more than 2,750 hospitals in North America. Approximately 3.2 million babies are born annually in hospitals served by Growing Family. In addition, Growing Family has the most comprehensive and accurate demographic database of families with newborns in North America and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers.

Growing Family is currently executing a growth strategy, called "Helping New Moms," which capitalizes on the company's proprietary database, unique relationship with mothers of newborns, and ability to access these mothers on a timely basis. Growing Family already has secured significant contracts from leading consumer product companies wishing to reach Growing Family's customers. Growing Family was established in 1954 and has an established track record of consistent growth and profitability.

NEW YORK, August 17, 1998 - Floral Plant Growers, a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company that is pursuing a consolidation growth strategy in the lawn and garden industry, today announced the acquisition of Greiling Farms Inc. in a transaction valued at $22,500,000. Sentinel arranged the senior debt financing and provided additional equity for Floral's expansion.

The Floral-Greiling combination operates more than 65 acres of enclosed, highly-automated greenhouse facilities serving the Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana markets. Floral Plant Growers has established a strong platform and is well-positioned to continue pursuing a consolidation strategy within the fragmented specialty horticulture industry.

During the past several years, mass merchant retailers have enjoyed profitable growth in the lawn and garden category. Companies such as Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Kmart and Target have built large, in-store garden centers to capitalize on favorable demographic trends fueling the growth of the gardening industry. Many small and midsize companies that currently supply the specialty horticultural industry lack the sophistication to adequately serve the mass merchant channel. Floral Plant Growers' strategy is to actively participate in consolidating the industry by acquiring these small and midsize businesses.

NEW YORK, July 1, 1998 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that is has acquired a controlling interest in Roma Restaurant Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of NPC International, Inc., in a leveraged recapitalization transaction valued at $109 million. NPC, which currently owns and operates approximately 660 Pizza Hut restaurants and is the largest franchisee in the Pizza Hut system, will continue to own a minority stake in the company. The recapitalization positions Tony Roma's for aggressive growth in the United States and internationally. To finance the transaction, Tony Roma's placed $75 million in high yield bonds through Salomon Smith Barney and Schroders. SCP originated, sponsored, negotiated, and arranged the senior debt, and provided equity financing.

Tony Roma's, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the operator and franchisor of the largest national casual dining chain specializing in ribs with 194 restaurants located in 25 states in the United States and in 18 foreign countries. Founded in 1972, Tony Roma's restaurants are primarily located in Florida, Texas and California. Both the Tony Roma's name and its "Famous for Ribs" and "A Place for Ribs" slogans are well-recognized throughout the United States. Since Tony Roma's inception, its baby back ribs have won numerous consumer and industry awards in more than 25 markets. In addition to its award-winning ribs, the menu features Tony Roma's signature deep-fried onion ring loaf.

The Tony Roma's concept is designed to serve a demographically and geographically diverse customer base, and provide high quality food at moderate prices. Tony Roma's restaurants are generally located in free-standing buildings and seat approximately 200 guests with separate bar areas. The restaurants have a fun, comfortable atmosphere with distinctive and varied decor and provide consumers with high quality, friendly service. The Tony Roma's concept is appropriate for a wide variety of casual dining occasions including family dinners and business lunches.

NEW YORK, March 31, 1998 - Growing Family, Inc., a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, announced today the acquisition of Today's Parent Group from Hunter McLean, a leading Canadian publishing company.

Today's Parent Group, based in Toronto, Ontario, is the leading Canadian provider of in-hospital product sampling services to new mothers.

Growing Family, located in St. Charles, Missouri and the parent company of FirstFoto, is the leading provider of in-hospital baby portrait services in the U.S. and Canada, and enjoys exclusive, multi year contracts with more than 2,750 hospitals in North America. Approximately 3.2 million babies are born annually in hospitals served by Growing Family. In addition, Growing Family has the most comprehensive and accurate demographic database of families with newborns in North America and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers.

Growing Family is currently executing a growth strategy, called Helping New Moms, which capitalizes on the company's proprietary database, unique relationship with mothers of newborns, and ability to access these mothers on a timely basis. The acquisition of Today's Parent enables Growing Family to accelerate the rollout of its hospital sampling service throughout North America. Growing Family already has secured significant contracts from leading consumer product companies wishing to reach Growing Family's customers. Growing Family was established in 1954 and has an established track record of consistent growth and profitability.

NEW YORK, December 27, 1997 - Sentinel Capital Partners and management of Met Merchandising Concepts today announced that they have acquired Met in a leveraged recapitalization transaction valued at $30 million. Met, located in Chicago, Illinois, designs and manufactures high quality fixtures, forms, and decorative and graphic displays for the upscale retail store industry. The recapitalization positions Met to pursue a growth strategy within the highly fragmented retail store fixtures industry. Sentinel originated and sponsored the transaction, and together with management, provided the equity financing.

Met has established a leading position in the visual merchandising industry. Met serves a diverse group of high quality department store, specialty store, and branded consumer product companies that operate vendor shops within retail stores. Met's leading edge design and product development expertise combined with its manufacturing, delivery and installation capabilities allow Met to offer one-stop solutions to its customers.

During the past several years, retailers and branded consumer companies have increasingly developed consistent identities to market and differentiate their products to remain competitive. This has resulted in the development and acceptance of the store-within-a-store or vendor-shop concept. Department stores have evolved into a series of separate brand environments with vendors heavily influencing the visual presentation of their merchandise. These changes have also led department stores to outsource more of the in-store design function to visual display companies such as Met. These industry dynamics favor companies like Met.

NEW YORK, December 16, 1997 - Border Foods, Inc., a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, today announced the acquisition of additional Taco Bell restaurants in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Border Foods owns and operates all the Taco Bell restaurants in Minnesota and has exclusive rights to develop the Taco Bell brand in that state. Sentinel is the only U.S. private equity firm to have been granted such exclusive development rights.

Border Foods originally acquired its restaurants from Taco Bell Corporation, a franchisor formerly owned by Pepsico, Inc. and now a subsidiary of Tricon Global Restaurants.

Tricon owns one of the largest worldwide Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operations, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. Taco Bell, with $6.0 billion in system-wide revenues and more than 5,700 restaurants, is the largest Mexican food QSR operation in the United States and the fourth largest QSR operation nationwide. The Taco Bell franchising system has a 70% share of the Mexican food QSR market, both nationwide and in Minnesota.

NEW YORK, March 31, 1997 - Growing Family, Inc., a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, announced today the acquisition of Forever Yours, Inc. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Forever Yours provides in-hospital infant portrait services using digital preview technology.

Located in St. Charles, MO, Growing Family is the parent company of FirstFoto, the leading provider of in-hospital baby portrait services in the U.S. and Canada. First Foto enjoys exclusive, multi year contracts with more than 2,750 hospitals in North America. Approximately 3.2 million babies are born annually in hospitals served by Growing Family. In addition, Growing Family also has the most comprehensive and accurate demographic database of families with newborns in North America and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers.

NEW YORK, March 25, 1997 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced that Eric D. Bommer has joined the firm as a Vice President.

For the past two years, Mr. Bommer has been an Associate at Gefinor Acquisition Partners, L.P., a private equity fund that specializes in investing in underperforming, middle market companies. While at Gefinor, he worked closely with Alexander Doll Company, Sheaffer Pen Company, and Fournier Furniture, Inc.

From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Bommer worked in the Investment Banking Division of CS First Boston on a variety of corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions. Previously, he spent a year at LaSalle Partners as a financial analyst where he worked on the divestiture of the RTC's National Land Fund. From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Bommer was captain of the Livingston Kings, a Scottish professional hockey team that he helped lead to the Scottish First Division Championship. He holds a B.A. degree from Brown University with a double major in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior. He was also a captain of Brown's Varsity Hockey Team.

NEW YORK, October 28, 1996 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced the acquisition of Floral Plant Growers in a management buyout transaction valued at $32.5 million. Floral, headquartered in Rising Sun, Maryland, produces, markets and sells specialty floriculture products to lawn and garden centers of mass merchant retailers. Floral owns and operates two greenhouses with 17 acres of production capacity. Floral Plant Growers is now well-positioned to pursue a consolidation strategy within the fragmented specialty horticulture industry.

Floral primarily serves the $2 billion per year bedding plant segment of the horticulture industry which has grown at 10% per annum for the past 10 years. The greying of America and the maturing of the baby-boom generation continue to fuel industry growth. Also, the aggressive entry into the market by big-box retail chains such as Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and Target, all of whom operate large enclosed greenhouses in their stores, is further fueling industry growth.

Gardening is one of the most popular leisure activities in the U.S. While big-box retailers are enjoying profitable growth in the lawn and garden category, many of their smaller suppliers lack the sophistication to adequately serve the mass merchant channel. Floral's strategy is to actively participate in consolidating the industry by acquiring these smaller companies.

NEW YORK, September 29, 1996 - Sentinel Capital Partners and management of Border Foods, Inc. are pleased to announce the acquisition of 74 Taco Bell restaurants in Minnesota from Taco Bell Corporation, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc. Border Foods now owns and operates all the Taco Bell restaurants in Minnesota and has exclusive rights to develop the Taco Bell brand in that state. Sentinel is the only U.S. private equity firm to have been granted such exclusive development rights. Sentinel originated, sponsored and provided the equity financing in a transaction valued at $33,000,000. Border Foods is well-positioned to acquire additional restaurants from Taco Bell.

PepsiCo owns one of the largest worldwide Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) operations, including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. Taco Bell, with $6.0 billion in system-wide revenues and more than 5,700 restaurants, is the largest Mexican-food QSR operation in the United States and the fourth largest QSR operation nationwide. The Taco Bell system has a 70% share of the Mexican-food QSR market, both nationwide and in Minnesota.

NEW YORK, November 15, 1995 - Sentinel Capital Partners is pleased to announce its investment in Growing Family, Inc. Sentinel originated, sponsored and provided the equity financing in a recapitalization transaction valued at $46.5 million.

Growing Family's core business is the largest provider of in-hospital infant portrait services in the United States and Canada, and operates under the FirstFoto trade name. Growing Family's second business, the rapidly growing e-commence web site growingfamily.com, offers various products and services to new families. Growing Family's third business is a rapidly growing and highly profitable information and marketing service business targeting large consumer product/service companies and new families. Growing Family was established in 1954 and has an established track record of consistent growth and profitability.

First Foto enjoys exclusive contracts with more than 2,750 of all hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Approximately 3.2 million of the 4.0 million babies born annually in North America are born in First Foto hospitals. Growing Family's representatives personally interact with more than 70% of all new mothers in North America within hours of the birth event. Because of this interaction, Growing Family possesses the most comprehensive and current database of families with newborns and can offer a powerful and captive distribution channel to leading consumer product/service companies seeking proprietary and timely access to new mothers. Growing Family has capitalized on its unique relationship with new mothers by building an information and marketing service business designed to provide consumer product/service companies with a portal to its customer base and to give new mothers information about and access to a variety of products and services.

NEW YORK, November 15, 1995 - Sentinel Capital Partners today announced a closing of its first fund, Sentinel Capital Partners, L.P.

Sentinel was established by two Smith Barney executives, David S. Lobel and John F. McCormack, investment professionals who established their track records at First Century Partners, Smith Barney's venture capital affiliate. Mr. Lobel joined Smith Barney in 1981 and has been a general partner of funds managed by First Century since 1983, as well as a Managing Director of Smith Barney. Mr. McCormack, who has worked closely together with Mr. Lobel for the past six years, joined First Century in 1990 as a Vice President.

In addition, Frank E. Richardson and Michael J. Myers, two investment professionals who bring substantial value and experience relevant to Sentinel, have become Senior Advisory Partners. Mr. Richardson is the former President of Wesray Capital Corporation, a private investment firm founded by William E. Simon, former Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Myers is the President of First Century, and has worked closely with Sentinel's founders for many years. Messrs. Richardson and Myers are also investors in Sentinel.

Major institutional investors in Sentinel include The Travelers Group, parent company of Smith Barney with whom the General Partners have been closely associated for many years; Fleet Equity Partners, the private equity affiliate of Fleet Financial Group, one of the ten largest banks in the U.S.; Mayo Foundation; PNC Venture Management, the private equity affiliate of PNC Bank; Provident Bancorp; and affiliates of Dress Barn Corporation. Sentinel's investors are sophisticated direct equity and fund investors who can also participate in transactions with Sentinel in various layers of the capital structure. Sentinel believes the association with these investors brings important strategic advantages.