NXT Capital announced that it has financed Graham Partners’ investment in BrightPet Nutrition Group, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.  NXT Capital acted as the sole lead arranger, administrative agent and sole bookrunner for this transaction. 

“We are excited to work with the NXT Capital team again,” said Joe Heinmiller, a Principal at Graham Partners. “NXT provided a flexible financing solution and was instrumental in moving this transaction to a successful close.”

Graham Partners created the BrightPet platform through the acquisition of two contract manufacturing businesses, Ohio Pet Foods, Inc. and Southern Tier Pet Nutrition LLC, and the brands of Blackwood Pet Food, LLC, which include Blackwood, Adirondack, and Makin’ Trax dog and cat foods. Headquartered in Lisbon, Ohio, BrightPet serves an attractive segment of the pet food market, focusing on premium and super-premium brands sold through specialty, independent retailers. Additionally, the company holds numerous certifications allowing it to export to international markets, and is one of only a few USDA Certified Organic pet food producers in the U.S.

Graham Partners is a private investment firm dedicated to investing in businesses with advanced manufacturing technologies, innovative product development capabilities, and strong growth potential. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the firm has access to extensive operating resources and industrial expertise as a member of The Graham Group, an alliance of independently owned and operated industrial and investment management businesses that share in the common legacy of entrepreneur Donald C. Graham.

NXT Capital provides structured financing solutions through its Corporate Finance, Equipment Finance and Real Estate Finance groups and is based in Chicago with offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Stamford.