Brazos Private Equity Buys Southern Tide

Brazos Private Equity Partners has acquired Southern Tide. Financial terms weren’t announced. Greenville, S.C.-based Southern Tide makes the well-known men’s Skipjack polo. It also sells shirts, pants, shorts, outerwear, ties, swimwear, footwear and accessories for men.

PRESS RELEASE

Dallas, Texas, August 5, 2013 — Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC, a leading Dallas-based private investment firm, announced today a new partnership with Southern Tide, LLC (“Southern Tide” or the “Company”), maker of the iconic Skipjack polo and one of the fastest growing lifestyle apparel brands in the United States.  Brazos will provide Southern Tide with the necessary financial and operational resources to support future growth of the business.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Southern Tide’s co-founders, Allen and Dianne Stephenson, and the Southern Tide management team,” said Randall Fojtasek, Co-Founding Partner and Co-CEO of Brazos.  “Southern Tide’s focus on quality and innovative design has created a very loyal consumer following and we look forward to working with the Company to continue to grow the Southern Tide brand.”

“I am very excited about our new relationship with Brazos as we continue to build and expand the Southern Tide brand,” said Mr. Stephenson.  “Our focus will continue to be on providing innovative apparel and accessories of exceptional quality that are built with a purpose. We look forward to leveraging Brazos’ consumer expertise and expansive network as we execute on this initiative.”

Jim Twining, Southern Tide’s CEO added “We are excited to benefit from Brazos’ financial and operational resources as we embark upon the next phase of growth in our business.”

Founded in 2005 and based in Greenville, SC, the Southern Tide brand is available today in over 750 premium specialty retailers in more than 45 states, Washington DC, the Virgin Islands and Bermuda.

About Southern Tide

Southern Tide is one of the nation’s fastest growing lifestyle apparel brands. Inspired by its “Built with a Purpose” ethos, the high-growth apparel company was founded in 2005 and is based in Greenville, South Carolina.  Southern Tide has experienced rapid consumer and specialty retailer acceptance and enthusiasm for the product and the brand.  Over the past eight years, the Company has evolved into an entire apparel collection built on the same high standards as the first benchmark product – the iconic men’s Skipjack Polo.  Southern Tide’s comprehensive product line for men includes shirts, pants, shorts, outerwear, ties, swimwear, footwear and accessories.  The Company’s product lines also include a ladies’ line and a children’s line.

About Brazos Private Equity Partners, LLC

Brazos Private Equity Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm that has managed investment funds with approximately $1.4 billion of equity capital since inception. Brazos focuses on investments in leading middle-market consumer, healthcare, commercial & industrial, and business services companies, and partners with outstanding management teams and/or owners of closely-held businesses to maximize growth and shareholder value.  Brazos has been one of the most active middle-market private equity investment firms, having completed in excess of 80 transactions over the past decade.  For additional information about Brazos, please visit the firm’s website at www.brazospartners.com.