Rock Gate Partners Buys Walpar

Rock Gate Partners has acquired Walpar Inc., a Birmingham, Ala.-based maker of highway signage structures. No financial terms were disclosed. Peninsula Capital Partners provided mezzanine financing and an equity co-invest, while Wachovia Bank provided senior debt.

PRESS RELEASE

Rock Gate Partners, LLC (“RGP”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Walpar, Inc. Walpar, based in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading designer and fabricator of highway signage structures and other highly-engineered, large scale fabricated metal structures. Walpar has successfully leveraged its superior reputation into significant growth and an industry leadership position, and is well positioned to continue to benefit from increased focus on infrastructure investment in the United States.

RGP and management seek to expand Walpar organically and through select add-on acquisitions of complementary infrastructure-oriented companies.

“The team at Walpar has built an exceptional business. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to work with such a talented team that is so passionate about the business that they have created. We look forward to collaborating with Walpar to further capitalize on its well-deserved market leadership position,” stated Kenneth L. Ali, RGP Principal & Managing Director.

Senior financing for the transaction was provided by Wachovia Bank. Peninsula Capital Partners, L.L.C. provided mezzanine capital and is an equity partner in the transaction. Laurence R. Bronska of McDermott Will & Emery LLP served as legal counsel to RGP.

For more information on Walpar, please visit www.walpar.com.

Rock Gate Partners, LLC is a Chicago-based private equity firm that acquires lower middle market companies that have created unique market positions, providing the basis for organic growth while offering a platform for acquisitions. RGP partners with management teams in leveraged buyouts, corporate divestitures, recapitalizations, industry consolidations and later stage growth capital investments in companies typically generating $10 to $75 million in revenue.

To learn more about RGP, please visit www.rockgatepartners.com