Genstar Capital Announces Completion of Woods Equipment Company Sale to Blount International, Inc. for $185 Million

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Genstar Capital, LLC, a middle market private equity firm that focuses on investments in selected segments of the life sciences, healthcare, financial services, software, and industrial technology industries, today announced that it has completed the sale of its portfolio company Woods Equipment Company to Blount International, Inc. (NYSE: BLT) for approximately $185 million.  

Woods Equipment Company, headquartered in Oregon, IL, is a leading full-line manufacturer of high-quality attachments and implements, as well as a leading distributor of aftermarket parts.  The company serves the agriculture, grounds care, and construction industries, as well as providing aftermarket parts. Woods serves a dealer network of agricultural, landscape, and construction professionals with products marketed under the brand names Woods®, Alitec®, Central Fabricators®, Gannon®, Wain-Roy®, WoodsCare™, and TISCO®. 

The sale of Woods builds upon Genstar's continued efforts in the industrial technology space.  In June of this year, Genstar acquired MW Industries, a leading provider of highly engineered springs and fasteners.  In August 2010, Genstar sold Fort Dearborn, a provider of decorative labels.  Rob Rutledge, the head of Genstar's industrial technology practice commented, "We continue to be very active looking at new platform and add-on opportunities and believe now is a good time to invest in differentiated industrial technology businesses with significant aftermarket or consumable product revenue."

About Genstar Capital, LLC

Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high quality companies for more than 20 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of operating executives and strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar has more than US$3 billion of committed capital under management and targets investments focused on selected sectors within the life science, healthcare services, software and software services, financial services, and industrial technology industries.

Contact: Chris Tofalli
Chris Tofalli Public Relations
914-834-4334

SOURCE Genstar Capital, LLC