PE Deals

Sentinel buys online sign retailer SmartSign

Sentinel teamed up with SmartSign's management team and existing backer Norwest on the deal.

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  • SmartSign represents Sentinel’s latest investment in the business services sector
  • Sentinel specializes in buying and building lower midmarket businesses in the U.S. and Canada
  • Currently, Norwest is managing more than $12.5 billion in capital

Sentinel Capital Partners has acquired Brooklyn, New York-based SmartSign, a provider of customizable signs, labels, and tags for regulatory, compliance, and safety applications. No financial terms were disclosed.

Sentinel partnered with SmartSign’s management team and incumbent investor Norwest in the transaction.

“SmartSign is strategically positioned to capitalize on favorable secular trends underpinning the online signs, labels, and tags industry,” said Louis Brotherton, a principal at Sentinel, in a statement. “With a talented and committed management team and a highly dedicated team of employees, we believe SmartSign is well-positioned to continue its rapid growth, both organically and through acquisitions. We are extremely excited about the opportunity to partner with the SmartSign team.”

SmartSign represents Sentinel’s latest investment in the business services sector. The firm’s current business services investments include Apex Companies, an environmental services company specializing in water resources and industrial hygiene and Mobile Communications America, a regional provider of communications solutions and services.

Sentinel specializes in buying and building lower midmarket businesses in the United States and Canada in partnership with management. Sentinel targets aerospace and defense, business services, consumer, distribution, food and restaurants, franchising, healthcare, and industrial businesses.

Norwest is a leading venture and growth equity investment firm managing more than $12.5 billion in capital. Since its inception, Norwest has invested in more than 650 companies and currently partners with more than 200 companies in its venture and growth equity portfolio. The firm invests in early to late-stage businesses across a wide range of sectors with a focus on consumer, enterprise, and healthcare.