TCF Capital Funding (TCFCF), the Chicago-based cash flow and asset-based lending division of TCF National Bank, announced that it increased its existing credit facilities to support an add-on acquisition for Superior Capital Partners’ Rostra Precision Controls (“Rostra”) platform.  Vehicle Safety Manufacturing (“VSM”), a division of Rostra, has acquired the turn signal switch product line of Grote Industries. VSM is a supplier of turn signal switches, lighting products and safety components to both Original Equipment Manufacturers and aftermarket customers in the heavy duty and slow moving vehicle marketplaces.  

“We are excited to be able to support an existing TCF Capital Funding portfolio company in this accretive acquisition.  The addition of the Grote’s turn signal switch product line further strengthens VSM’s market share in this niche industry” said TCF Capital Funding President Joe Gaffigan.

Mark Carroll, Superior’s Managing Partner, commented, “The acquisition of the Grote product line represents exactly the type of operationally intensive, value-added bolt-on that we seek in order to create out-sized returns for our investors.  We’ve been working with the Rostra management team and Grote’s customers for months in preparation for the move of the product line.  When it is successfully transitioned, VSM will have the number one market position and have the lowest cost operations. The acquisition of the Grote product line also brings technology that we intend to commercialize in order to further strengthen the company’s position."

TCF Capital Funding provides cash flow and asset-based lending to lower middle market businesses.  National in scope, this senior leveraged lending group focuses on providing private equity sponsor-backed cash flow loans and asset-based loans to companies with less than $100 million in revenue and between $2 million and $10 million in EBITDA. 

Superior Capital Partners, LLC is based in Detroit, MI and manages a private equity fund focused on making control investments in special situations in the lower middle market.  Superior looks to invest into underperforming, underfunded or distressed companies with an identifiable path to growth and profit improvement.