O2 Sponsor Finance, a division of Old Second National Bank, provided senior secured credit facilities to support Graycliff Partners' growth investment in Republic Electric Company ("Republic").

Founded in 1916, Republic is a distributor of HVAC, electrical equipment and related components for use in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Republic provides products and support to a broad base of customers, primarily HVAC and electrical contractors as well as industrial and OEM customers. The company supplies over 40,000 different products including residential and commercial HVAC systems, switch gear, controls, and lighting solutions, as well as related parts and tools. The company also provides logistical support, training, technical assistance, and other value-add services with a focus on customer service, delivery speed, reliability, and product availability. Based in Davenport, IA, Republic serves over 1,000 customers from five locations across Iowa and Illinois.

"Republic has developed a strong reputation as a value-added partner to their customer base in this region for over 100 years. We look forward to helping Graycliff and the Republic management team accelerate growth by expanding branch locations and by providing support for strategic acquisitions," said Thom Karle, Senior Vice President, O2 Sponsor Finance.