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Accent-Fairchild Group
Case Study

Initial Business Overview
Distributor and manufacturer of houseware, hardware and kitchenware products
      Footprint     Montreal, Quebec, Canada
      End&​#8209;markets     Primarily Canadian retailers
      Products     Exclusive distributor in the Canadian market for selected major houseware & hardware manufacturers; manufacturer of plastic / metal storage products

Investment Thesis
  • Product, and product category, expansion for both indoor and outdoor home products
  • Become one-stop-shop for retailers by offering branded, unbranded and private label products through multiple divisions
  • Modernize manufacturing facility to improve efficiency and margins
  • Provide value-added services for both OEMs and retailers
  • Leverage stability of cash flow

Why Granite Bridge Partners?
  • The owner-managers were looking for a partner with experience in the Canadian market that could help them grow the business both organically and, possibly, through acquisition

Compelling Situation
  • #1 or #2 market share for majority of houseware products distributed in Canada
  • Product exclusivity granted in Canada from international OEMs; over 4,300 products from 134 suppliers
  • 40-year relationships with Canadian retailers across multiple channels
  • Proven global sourcing history
  • Profitable, and sustainable, business model in stable and countercyclical industry
  • Deep and experienced management team

Value Creation
Throughout the investment period, the investment team worked with management to drive organic growth. During this time, Accent-Fairchild Group:
  • Expanded its product offering and supplier base
  • Enhanced customer relationships by acting as a value-added partner providing inventory management services and multiple pricing models
  • Made capital investments to modernize 400,000 sq. ft warehouse and manufacturing facility resulting in improved operations
  • Entered US and European markets on selective basis
  • Improved financial management discipline resulting in improved cash flow and debt reduction

Result
The interest in Accent-Fairchild Group that was managed by the investment team was sold to the management-owners of Accent-Fairchild Group in August 2013

AFG - Examples of Product Offerings

Company & Transaction Highlights
Sector
Houseware, Hardware & Kitchenware

Headquarters
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Add-on Companies
None
Transaction Type
Control & Recapitalization

Acquisition Date
May 2007

Exit Date
April 2013
 
 
 
Disclaimer: The track record information relates to portfolios managed by the principals of Granite Bridge Partners LLC (“Granite Bridge”), who were primarily responsible for account performance results, while they were employed by Wafra, Inc. (“Wafra”). Granite Bridge intends to pursue substantially the same or similar strategy that was pursued while the principals were employed by Wafra. As an internal group at Wafra, the track record is related to proprietary portfolios, which maintained an expense structure materially different than the expenses to be charged by Granite Bridge. Any portfolio investments contained herein were selected based on objective non-performance-based criteria and are not meant to be indicative or reflective of the portfolio of any fund or account managed by Granite Bridge. Rather, such case studies are meant to exemplify Granite Bridge’s analysis and execution of its investment strategy. Obviously, not all investments are successful and profitable. As such, the examples contained herein should not be viewed as representative of all investments made by Granite Bridge, but simply as examples of the types of successful investing Granite Bridge strives for. There is no guarantee that any fund managed by Granite Bridge will find similar opportunities or that any similar investments will be included in any such fund’s portfolio.