Riverside Co. Buys EMP Canada

Health and Safety Institute, an acquisition platform sponsored by The Riverside Company, has acquired EMP Canada Services Inc., a provider of CPR, EMT and occupational safety training materials and training programs. No financial terms were disclosed.

PRESS RELEASE

Fund Family: Riverside Micro-Cap Fund
Sellers: EMP Canada Management
EMP Canada Services Ltd. (“EMP”)
Based in Sidney, British Columbia

• Publishes and delivers CPR, EMT and occupational safety training materials and training programs.
• Has established training centers throughout Canada, focusing on community colleges from coast to coast.
• In addition, works directly with trade associations and government agencies.
• Can deliver its content in person, online, or in a blended format.

Of Note:
In addition to developing its own courses and content, EMP already has a successful relationship with platform company Health and Safety Institute (“HSI”), having served as the licensee and distributor for HSI’s Medic First Aid product line in Canada. EMP modifies the material of HSI to ensure that it conforms to Canadian federal, provincial and municipal requirements and regulations.

Quotes:

Loren Schlachet, Riverside Managing Partner:
“We’re excited about the growth opportunities for HSI in Canada, and this deal should provide a smooth entry into the Canadian market. We have a very clear plan for building HSI’s Canadian operations through EMP. This plan includes growing the customer base and expanding services such as online training as well as expanding the presence of HSI’s family of brands in Canada.”

 
Bill Clendenen, HSI President and CEO:
“This acquisition allows HSI to enhance its footprint in Canada and work toward our goal of becoming the leader in health and safety training in North America. We are excited about EMP’s understanding of the Canadian market and its regulations, and we welcome the opportunity to introduce HSI’s other products to Canadian customers.” 

Riverside Team:
Loren Schlachet, Managing Partner; Joe Lee, Principal; Jeff Tobin, Operating Partner; Brad Resnick, Analyst.

Partners:
U.S. Bank provided financing for the transaction.

The Riverside Company (www.riversidecompany.com or www.riversideeurope.com)
The Riverside Company is a global private equity firm focused on acquiring leading small and medium-sized enterprises (with a value of up to $150 million) and partnering with strong management teams to enhance the success of its companies through acquisitions and organic growth. Since its founding in 1988, the firm has invested in 222 transactions with a total enterprise value of $5.0 billion. The investment portfolio in North America, Europe and Asia includes 70 companies with annual sales totaling $3.3 billion, EBITDA of $506 million and more than 13,000 employees (June 2009). Riverside offers the resources to complete acquisitions smoothly – thanks to its more than $3.0 billion in assets under management, more than 180 professionals in 18 offices (Atlanta, Brussels, Budapest, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich, New York, Prague, San Francisco, Seoul, Stockholm, Tokyo and Warsaw) and its longstanding relationships with partner lenders. According to Thomson Venture Economics, eight of Riverside’s nine mature funds rank in the top 25% of all funds (as of June 30, 2009). The firm’s investors include the world’s leading pension funds, endowments, funds of funds, insurance companies and banks.