TorQuest reaps 5x return on sale of Array Marketing to Carlyle

TorQuest Partners scored a 5x return on total invested capital in the sale of its interest in Array Marketing to Carlyle Group, representing a 61 percent internal rate of return, TorQuest said.

Carlyle earlier this month took a majority stake for an undisclosed amount in Array, a Canadian provider of in-store merchandising systems to high-end cosmetic brands. Carlyle invested from its second mid-market fund, Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund II.

In a statement, Carlyle said it bought Array because of its “strong track record.” The firm said it would use its own sector expertise, as well as “synergies with other Carlyle portfolio companies,” to open up new avenues for Array’s growth and innovation. Array was established in 1981 and is led by CEO Tom Hendren.

TorQuest held Array for more than three years. TorQuest Partners Fund II and a group of co-investors, including Westerkirk Capital and Northleaf Capital Partners, bought the company from Brentwood Associates for an undisclosed amount in June 2012.

The Canadian mid-market private equity firm focused on improving operations, client services and expanding international capabilities, TorQuest said in a statement. Specific initiatives included added capacity for the company’s manufacturing space in Bradford, Ontario.

Array is TorQuest’s third liquidity event this year. In May, the firm sold Kissner Milling, a producer of bulk rock salt and de-icing products. That too was a sponsor-to-sponsor deal, as the buyer was a consortium led by Metalmark Capital.

Additionally, TorQuest agreed to sell specialty chemicals manufacturer Pinova in September. The strategic acquirer, Germany’s Symrise, agreed to pay $417 million for the business. The sale is expected to wrap up early next year.

TorQuest is currently investing from TorQuest Partners Fund III, which closed at $535 million in 2013. The firm’s recent deals include its buy of Spinrite, a manufacturer of consumer craft yarn, from Sentinel Capital Partners in October. It also led a majority investment in Envirosystems, an industrial and environmental services provider, in February.

Array is Carlyle’s second Canadian deal this year. In March, it partnered with Warburg Pincus in acquiring Toronto-based credit rating agency DBRS. A Reuters report pegged the deal’s value at over $500 million.

Action Item: Reach Darin Brock, TorQuest’s head of business development, at brock@torquest.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock