Windjammer-backed JWC buys IPEC

JWC Environmental, which is backed by Windjammer Capital Investors, has acquired IPEC Consultants, a maker of solids/liquid separation products for wastewater and specialty industrial process liquids. No financial terms were disclosed. The seller was JWC’s founder and owner Bert Irwin.

PRESS RELEASE

Windjammer Capital Investors (“Windjammer”) is pleased to announce that its portfolio company JWC Environmental (“JWC”) has acquired IPEC Consultants (“IPEC” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of solids/liquid separation products for wastewater and specialty industrial process liquids. The acquisition is a strategic tuck-in transaction for JWC and advances its commitment to offer the most extensive lineup of grinding, particle size reduction and screening solutions to its municipal and industrial customer base. JWC acquired the Company from its founder and owner, Bert Irwin. Full terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“The missions of JWC and IPEC are highly aligned. Both companies strive to provide the most advanced and reliable waste separation and reduction systems on the market,” said Ken Biele, CEO of JWC Environmental. “JWC saw this opportunity as a natural progression of our efforts to expand our successful Monster Separation Systems® coarse and fine screen products to a larger audience.” Since 1979, IPEC has developed cost-effective drum screens, sludge thickeners, grit separators and solids conveyance and dewatering equipment for a diverse range of markets in 47 countries. With these products folded into the JWC brand umbrella, both IPEC and JWC customers now benefit from a larger, more diverse line of waste screening and separation products. “When JWC introduced the first dual-shafted grinder in 1973 – our patented Muffin Monster® design – it established new standards in waste shredding performance and innovation,” said Biele. “Today’s debris is tougher and more durable than ever before, and it’s critical that customers utilize both dual-shafted grinders and screens together for complete solids preconditioning. With this acquisition, JWC can now confidently offer the most robust screening solutions for any solids/liquid separation application.”

As part of the acquisition, Bert Irwin, founder and owner of IPEC, will join the JWC executive team to support the ongoing business. “We are pleased to become part of such a respected and trusted leader in the wastewater industry,” said Irwin. “Their strong global presence, extensive field service network and significant financial resources will allow the IPEC product lineup to better serve a far wider customer base.”

JWC Environmental is a platform investment in Windjammer’s $575 million third fund. Jeff Miehe, Managing Director of Windjammer said, “We are excited to support JWC in its organic and acquisition-oriented growth plans, and we are encouraged by the addition of IPEC products to JWC’s overall set of customer solutions.” The Company meets the investment criteria developed by both JWC and Windjammer, expands JWC’s addressable markets and provides key components to JWC’s growing customer value proposition.

Please contact Jeff Miehe (jmiehe@windjammercapital.com) at Windjammer for more information about the transaction.

ABOUT JWC ENVIRONMENTAL
Since its founding in 1973, JWC Environmental has become a world leader in solids reduction and removal for the wastewater industry with its Muffin Monster® grinders and Monster screening, compaction and washing systems. JWC also solves challenging size reduction and processing problems in commercial and industrial applications through its Monster Industrial division. JWC Environmental is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California and has a global network of representatives, distributors and regional service centers to provide customer support. For more information, visit JWC Environmental at www.jwce.com.

ABOUT WINDJAMMER CAPITAL INVESTORS
Windjammer Capital Investors, with offices in Newport Beach, California and Waltham, Massachusetts, is a private investment firm that makes control and non-control investments in leading middle market businesses in partnership with management. Founded in 1990, Windjammer’s institutional funds total roughly $2.0 billion of committed capital. Since its formation, Windjammer has invested nearly $1.4 billion in over 50 companies across a broad range of industries. Windjammer is currently investing out of its $726 million Windjammer Senior Equity Fund IV which closed in 2013. More information on Windjammer can be found at www.windjammercapital.com.