The transaction enables Speyside to further invest in Reed Minerals’ next growth phase.
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Acquisition expands Opta’s performance materials and specialty chemicals platform.
Angle Advisors is pleased to announce that Dalton Corporation, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity with operations in Warsaw, Indiana and Stryker, Ohio, has been sold to an undisclosed strategic buyer.
Addition expands Opta’s premium product offerings and clean steel initiatives.
Opta Group LLC, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity Advisers (“Speyside”), is excited to announce the acquisitions of NuFlux LLC (“NuFlux”) and Nupro Corporation (“Nupro”) on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
NuFlux, headquartered in Cortland, Ohio, provides engineered materials and products used primarily in steelmaking and foundry operations. Nupro is a world leader in designing innovative technology to solve problems unique to the metallurgical industry. The company has an office in Lewiston, New York.
“We like these two businesses because they share our focus on customer service and value-added molten solutions,” says John Dietrich, CEO of Opta Group. “They add product and technology innovations that strengthen our ties to Opta customers and further our goal to be a premier service provider.”
About Opta Group
Opta Group is the leading supplier of performance materials and solutions in the molten metal, infrastructure, and specialty chemical industries. The Company serves the worldwide steelmaking, metal refining, concrete and cement, and pulp and paper industries. For more information, please visit optagroupllc.com.
About Speyside Equity Advisers
Speyside is a Detroit-based private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market buyout transactions in the manufacturing and value-added distribution sectors. Targeted portfolio companies often possess balance sheet, legal, environmental, labor, or transactional complexity. Speyside Equity focuses on creative transaction structures and is comfortable investing in carve-outs of large multinational companies, industry consolidations, family-owned businesses, bankruptcies and work-outs, and other special situations. Speyside takes an operational approach to creating value in those circumstances. Speyside has completed 30 investments. For more information, please visit speysideequity.com.
”We like these two businesses because they share our focus on customer service and value-added molten solutions.
John DietrichCEO of Opta
Transaction continues partnership while fueling Opta’s next growth phase.
Speyside Equity Advisers announced Friday, August 25th that it has completed a continuation vehicle transaction to support future growth initiatives of portfolio company, Opta Group LLC. The transaction provides Speyside with an ability to continue its partnership with Opta while fueling the Company’s next phase of growth. The transaction was led by Elliott Investment Management L.P.
Opta is a leading supplier of performance materials and solutions in the molten metal, infrastructure, and specialty chemical industries. Speyside acquired Toronto-based Opta Minerals in 2016 and took the company private. Speyside acquired the debt of Munich-based SKW Metallurgie in 2017, and subsequently converted its position to equity and took the company private. In 2019, Speyside amalgamated SKW Metallurgie with Opta Minerals to form Opta Group LLC. Since the completion of the amalgamation, Speyside has guided the company through integration and restructuring to set up the business as a strong platform for future growth. The continuation vehicle will provide Opta with the resources to accelerate organic growth initiatives and pursue additional acquisition opportunities.
“Our operational approach at Speyside is well evidenced in this transaction,” said Eric Wiklendt, Managing Director at Speyside and Board Chair of Opta.
“Speyside looks to invest in businesses where there are opportunities for improvement and a resulting increase in value,” said Wiklendt. “With the continuation vehicle, Opta will be able to write the second chapter of value creation by executing on key product launches and acquisitions. We thank Elliott for their partnership and shared vision.”
Opta CEO, John Dietrich commented, “Speyside has been a trusted partner from the beginning. They have guided and supported our reorganization and improvement efforts at Opta. The last four years have been about building a strong operational platform from which to execute explosive growth over the next several years and achieve Opta Vision 2025. This new capitalization structure that Speyside is partnering with Elliott to bring is exactly what we need to achieve our vision.”
”“Speyside has been a trusted partner from the beginning. They have guided and supported our reorganization and improvement efforts at Opta.
John DietrichOpta CEO
Jefferies served as exclusive financial advisor through the partnership of its Private Capital Advisory and Metals & Mining teams, with McDermott Will & Emery serving as Speyside’s legal counsel. Debevoise & Plimpton acted as legal counsel for Elliott.
Acquisition adds specialty manufacturing capacity and increases business opportunities.
Opta Group LLC, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity, announced today that it acquired Metcan Industrial Corporation and its group of manufacturing operations on November 1, 2021.
Since its incorporation nearly 30 years ago, Metcan Industrial Corp. has established itself as a recognized leader by using state-of-the-art technologies to produce and distribute high- quality, custom-blended synthetic slag for use by steelmakers.
“We like this business because Metcan has a culture very similar to ours,” says John Dietrich, CEO of Opta Group. “And, like Opta, Metcan focuses on producing highly engineered synthetic formulations. The added manufacturing capacity gives us room to pursue more business opportunities.”
”We like this business because Metcan has a culture very similar to ours. The added manufacturing capacity gives us room to pursue more business opportunities.
John DietrichCEO of Opta Group
Dean and Nancy McCann founded Metcan in 1990 to supply synthetic slag to steel manufactures. The company operates facilities in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Selkirk, Manitoba, and Adrian, Michigan.
“This opportunity aligns with Opta’s growth strategy by enhancing our capabilities and potential to reach new customers and markets,” says Nicholas Lardo of Speyside Equity.
Affival Inc., part of Opta Group LLC, has found a new home. And by moving its manufacturing jobs from Plum, Pennsylvania, to nearby New Kensington, the company retained all 50 of its employees.
Affival produces cored-wire products used to alter the properties of steel. In need of new space, the company received interest from several other regions, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Mexico. Working with Pennsylvania officials, Affival completed a $6 million project to relocate its operations to a 145,000-square-foot building in the Advanced Manufacturing Park.
”This is a good investment for us. It’s an opportunity to continue to grow in the area.
Eric WiklendtSpeyside Equity Managing Director & Opta Group Board Chair
Learn how this deal came about and what it means to the economic health of Alle-Kiski Valley.
AccessSMT, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity, announces the sale of AccessSMT Wholesale Division. The transaction was completed on January 31, 2020.
AccessSMT, founded in 1964, has evolved into a leading manufacturer and value-added distributor of doors, frames, finishing hardware, construction specialty products, and access control devices in Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. The company primarily serves the mixed-use, multi-family residential market along with the industrial, commercial, and institutional (“ICI”) market segment.
”The Wholesale Division was non-core to the primary AccessSMT platform and selling it was a strategic move to streamline the company and focus solely on the project management side of the business.
Kevin DaughertyManaging Director
The Wholesale Division sold security solutions and door hardware including mechanical security devices, access control, exit hardware, safes, and other wholesale products operating across Canada to locksmiths and other industrial and commercial end markets.
Avon Machining has announced the acquisition of Plasma-Tec on October 21, 2019. This opportunity is aligned with Avon Machining’s growth strategy by enhancing our capabilities and expanding into new industries.
Avon Machining is a leading manufacturer of large, complex, precision parts for the Aerospace, Defense, Construction, Mining, Energy, and Agriculture industries in North America and beyond. As a Tier 1 supplier to OEMs, Avon Machining will collaboratively engineer and provide the part solution that maximizes long-term reliability, durability, and overall cost effectiveness for its customers.
”As a reliable, cost-effective domestic source for high-quality precision parts, we look forward to expanding the strong relationships Plasma-Tec has built over the past 38 years with several leading OEMs.
Chad FietsamCEO for Avon Machining
Avon Machining, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity, acquired the assets of Avon Gear in May 2017. Avon Gear was founded in 1974 in a 10,000 square foot building in Rochester, MI. Throughout the years, Avon Machining has expanded its manufacturing footprint, increasing to the current 110,000 square foot facility located in Shelby Township, Michigan. Avon Machining was named by the Detroit Free Press as a Top Workplace in 2018.
