Yukon Partners, a provider of mezzanine capital for middle market private equity transactions, is announced that it has partnered with Sentinel Capital Partners in its investment in GSM Outdoors, a provider of technologically-advanced, branded accessories for the hunting, sport shooting, and outdoor enthusiast markets.
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.
Sentinel sponsored the transaction in which it, Yukon, and other institutional co-investors acquired GSM. Dorsey & Whitney, LLP served as legal counsel to Yukon.
“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.”
“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.”
William Dietz, Managing Partner of Yukon, added, “GSM sells into end-markets that are well known to us personally and professionally. We are excited to partner with our friends at Sentinel as well as with Eddie Castro and his management team, to support the next phase of the Company’s growth. GSM’s reputation as a technological leader and innovator across its brands positions it favorably for continued, profitable growth.”