Stamford, Connecticut-based Olympus Partners has acquired Innovative XCessories & Services, LLC ("IXS"), a leading provider of upfit services and accessories to the automotive aftermarket and original equipment manufacturers. Its aftermarket division, operating under the brand Line-X, is the global leader in protective coatings for pick-up truck beds, with 465 franchise locations in the U.S. and Canada and licensees in over 50 countries. Its OEM division, operating as Ground Effects, provides protective coatings for pick-up truck beds as well as a wide range of other upfit services and exterior accessories to automotive manufacturers through a network of 15 co-located facilities across North America. Debt financing was led by GE Capital and The Bank of Ireland.
"IXS combines a strong consumer brand with an unmatched service model built over 30 years of partnership with the auto manufacturers. It is ideally positioned to benefit from the market's increasing demand for premium options and customization, as well as the exciting growth in pick-up trucks. We see considerable opportunity to expand the product and service offering and continue to build this platform globally" said Jason Miller, Principal at Olympus. "We look forward to working with CEO Kevin Heronimus, President Jim Scott and the rest of the IXS management team."
Founded in 1988, Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle-market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion. Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries, including restaurants, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services and business services.
Olympus manages in excess of $5.5 billion on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs. The IXS acquisition is Olympus' second investment out of its sixth fund.
The Olympus team included Jim Conroy, Jason Miller, Robby Polakoff, and Taylor Rhyne. Olympus was represented by Jim Faley from Winston & Strawn LLP.