Exit Strategies Group Advises Teknikor on Strategic Investment by Rhino Tool House / Blue Sea Capital

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies Group is pleased to announce the successful sale of Teknikor to Rhino Tool House, a portfolio company of Blue Sea Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts, Teknikor is a national provider of automated industrial equipment installation and modernization services. The company delivers a broad range of solutions including plant relocation, machinery installation, automation controls integration, custom machine design, refurbishing, precision alignment, maintenance services, and 24/7 emergency support. 

Teknikor is one of the few providers in the United States capable of delivering turnkey equipment relocation, installation and start-up services from a single source and holds a leading position serving the wire and cable manufacturing industry. Over nearly six decades, the company has built a strong reputation for executing complex industrial projects safely, efficiently, and with deep technical expertise. 

The transaction represents a strategic partnership designed to support Teknikor’s next phase of growth. Rhino provides value-added distribution, automation services, and customized material handling solutions to OEM customers nationwide. By combining Rhino’s national sales platform and customer relationships with Teknikor’s installation and automation controls capabilities, the platform can now support customers across a wider range of industrial production lines. 

Teknikor’s owners  will remain in their leadership roles and retain an ownership stake, partnering with Blue Sea Capital and Rhino Tool House to continue building the company. 

Exit Strategies Group advised Teknikor throughout the transaction — preparing the business for market, positioning its unique capabilities, and managing a competitive process that attracted strong interest from strategic and financial investors. Blue Sea Capital and Rhino Tool House ultimately emerged as the right partner, offering both an attractive valuation and a shared strategic vision for the company. 

“Exit Strategies Group did a tremendous job introducing buyers and guiding us through this process,” said Phil Pelletier, CEO of Teknikor. “Their M&A knowledge, industry experience, professionalism, and steady guidance helped us achieve a great outcome and find the right partner for the future of our company.” 

This transaction reflects Exit Strategies Group’s mission of helping private business owners maximize value and achieve successful ownership succession outcomes. Since 2002, the firm has advised on more than 100 private company mergers and acquisitions across industrial services, trade contractors, automation distributors and system integrators, and specialty manufacturing support businesses. 

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

A Quick Update — and Thank You

/in /by Al Statz

First, a sincere thank you to the attorneys, CPAs, wealth advisors, and consultants who continue to introduce business owners to our firm. Your trust means a great deal to our team.

We’re pleased to share that Exit Strategies Group closed $134 million in transaction value in 2025 and was recognized as a Cornerstone International Alliance (CIA) Diamond Club member for the third consecutive year. The Diamond Club distinction is awarded to partner firms that complete more than $100 million in annual transaction value. These results reflect successful outcomes for the business owners we represent—and the continued support of our referral partners.

A Record Year for the AllianceCornerstone International Alliance

Cornerstone International Alliance—a global network of M&A advisory firms of which Exit Strategies Group is a founding member—reported its strongest year ever.

Across the alliance in 2025:

  • 382 transactions closed
  • More than $2.5 billion in enterprise value
  • The best year in CIA’s history

Since 2021, CIA partner firms have collectively closed over $8 billion in transaction value, reflecting strong momentum in the lower middle market. The alliance now includes 34 partner firms across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Australia, enabling collaboration across industries and geographies.

For privately held business owners considering a sale, our alliance with CIA matters. Through CIA, Exit Strategies Group taps into a global network of advisors, helping our clients:

  • Reach more strategic and private equity buyers
  • Explore cross-border opportunities
  • Benefit from shared industry expertise
  • Run more competitive, better-managed sale processes

Owners still work directly with our local team of seasoned M&A advisors.

If You’re Seeing This with Your Clients…

Most business owners begin thinking about an exit two to five years before a transaction actually happens. That early planning window is often when M&A advisors like us can add tremendous value.

If you have a client who is:

  • Exploring ownership succession options
  • Thinking about selling in the next few years
  • Need a formal business valuation or are curious what their company could be worth today

we’re always happy to have a confidential, no-pressure conversation.

When considering a sale, start the conversation early. You can reach Exit Strategies Group founder and President Al Statz at alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com

Exit Strategies Group Advises Gasket Specialties Inc. in Sale

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies Group recently served as the M&A advisor to the owner of Gasket Specialties Inc, a leading West Coast manufacturer of gaskets and seals, on their sale to Tipco Technologies, a national provider of fluid conveyance and sealing solutions focused on hose assemblies and custom gaskets. Tipco is a portfolio company of Platte River Equity. Effective November 03, 2025, the acquisition enhances TIPCO’s existing capabilities and expands its reach throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.  With the addition of GSI, TIPCO’s footprint now spans 46 locations across 17 states. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

 

 

Gasket Specialties is a family-owned manufacturer, distributor and servicer of gaskets, seals and related industrial products serving a diverse customer base. Founded in 1925, the company has three west coast locations in Richmond, CA, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and Portland OR. The company has deep historical knowledge in producing a wide array of gaskets, seals, and related products, with a breadth of manufacturing capabilities that made the company an attractive strategic acquisition candidate. 

Exit Strategies Group initiated this transaction and acted as exclusive financial advisor to Gasket Specialties.  Al Statz and Mark Harter led the sales process for Exit Strategies Group.

“Mark and Al did a fantastic job working us on the sale of our company,” said Anita Gutierrez, owner of GSI.  “They walked us through every step of an unfamiliar process, exposed our company to a national audience of credible buyers, and procured an exceptional acquisition price for our business – twice the amount of the appraised value.  I would recommend Exit Strategies without hesitation to any owner interested in selling a business.” 

This deal demonstrates Exit Strategies Group’s strong commitment to providing sell-side M&A advisory services to lower middle market manufacturing companies. Since our founding in 2002, we have advised on well over 100 M&A transactions. 

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Technical Equipment Sales and Airflotek acquired by Cleanova

/in , /by Roy Martinez

Exit Strategies Group recently served as M&A advisor to the owners of Airflotek and TES Clean Air Systems on their strategic sale to Cleanova, a PX3 portfolio company. Together Airflotek & TES manufacture and distribute custom fan filter units (“FFUs”) and other technologies for state-of-the-art cleanroom environments worldwide, serving industries with exceptionally stringent air-quality requirements, including semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology manufacturing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

Founded in 1993, Airflotek designs and manufactures custom FFUs and stocks a range of high-purity replacement filter media at its state-of-the-art assembly and warehouse facility in Georgia. Founded in 1986, TES-Clean Air Systems is the California-based exclusive distributor of Airflotek FFU products for the semiconductor equipment industry. TES brings decades of cleanroom and semiconductor application expertise, supporting a global customer base.

Alan Schlesinger, president and owner of Airflotek said, “TES and Airflotek were two separate, closely-held companies that belonged together. Exit Strategies helped us navigate the challenges of consolidating, presenting and selling TES and Airflotek together as one business. Airflotek’s Georgia team is excited about their future with Cleanova.”

Jim Harris, owner of California-based TES said, “Exit Strategies’ transaction process attracted several strong strategic and financial investors and ultimately helped us select a great value-added industrial filtration partner in Cleanova. Joining Cleanova is a good outcome for our team, our customers, our suppliers, and all of our stakeholders.”

Exit Strategies Group initiated this transaction and acted as exclusive M&A advisor to Airflotek and TES. This transaction demonstrates Exit Strategies Group’s strong commitment to providing sell-side M&A advisory and business valuation services to North American industrial technology, manufacturing and distribution companies.  Since its founding in 2002, Exit Strategies has advised on over 200 M&A transactions.

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Roy Martinez at 707-781-8583 or jroymartinez@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Exit Strategies Group Advises Gasket Specialties Inc. in Sale

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies Group recently served as the M&A advisor to the owner of Gasket Specialties Inc, a leading West Coast manufacturer of gaskets and seals, on their sale to Tipco Technologies, a national provider of fluid conveyance and sealing solutions focused on hose assemblies and custom gaskets. Tipco is a portfolio company of Platte River Equity. Effective November 03, 2025, the acquisition enhances TIPCO’s existing capabilities and expands its reach throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.  With the addition of GSI, TIPCO’s footprint now spans 46 locations across 17 states. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

 

 

Gasket Specialties is a family-owned manufacturer, distributor and servicer of gaskets, seals and related industrial products serving a diverse customer base. Founded in 1925, the company has three west coast locations in Richmond, CA, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and Portland OR. The company has deep historical knowledge in producing a wide array of gaskets, seals, and related products, with a breadth of manufacturing capabilities that made the company an attractive strategic acquisition candidate. 

Exit Strategies Group initiated this transaction and acted as exclusive financial advisor to Gasket Specialties.  Al Statz and Mark Harter led the sales process for Exit Strategies Group.

“Mark and Al did a fantastic job working us on the sale of our company,” said Anita Gutierrez, owner of GSI.  “They walked us through every step of an unfamiliar process, exposed our company to a national audience of credible buyers, and procured an exceptional acquisition price for our business – twice the amount of the appraised value.  I would recommend Exit Strategies without hesitation to any owner interested in selling a business.” 

This deal demonstrates Exit Strategies Group’s strong commitment to providing sell-side M&A advisory services to lower middle market manufacturing companies. Since our founding in 2002, we have advised on well over 100 M&A transactions. 

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Exit Strategies Group Delivers Successful Sale of In-Position Technologies

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies Group is proud to announce the successful sale of In-Position Technologies (IP Tech), a premier automation distributor and integrator, to Flow Control Group (FCG), a portfolio company of KKR. The transaction closed on August 22, 2025. Terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1998 by Neil Jacques and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, IP Tech has built a strong reputation for delivering advanced discrete automation solutions across a wide range of industrial applications. Their capabilities include turnkey Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) systems and modular automation platforms for OEM applications.

Exit Strategies Group advised IP Tech every step of the way — from preparing the business for market, to positioning its unique capabilities, to running a competitive process that attracted multiple strategic buyers. Ultimately, Flow Control Group emerged as the right partner, bringing not only a strong valuation, but also resources, scale, and a commitment to advancing IP Tech’s agenda. For Flow Control Group, this deal strengthens their industrial automation group with deep technical expertise and proven integration capabilities.

“The Exit Strategies team was invaluable throughout this process. They understood our goals and our business, guided us through complex decisions, and ultimately delivered a great outcome for our company, our people, and our customers.”
— Neil Jacques, Founder, In-Position Technologies

This transaction reflects our core mission: helping private business owners maximize value and achieve successful outcomes when it’s time to transition. Since 2002, we’ve advised on well over 100 M&A transactions. Our automation focus encompasses value-added distribution, control systems integration, manufacturers and custom machine builders.

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Exit Strategies Group Advises Tek-Matic in Strategic Sale

/in , /by Al Statz

We are pleased to announce that Exit Strategies Group recently advised the owners and management of Tek-Matic, Inc., a leading lab automation solutions provider, in a structured sale process that resulted in a sale to Flow Control Group, a KKR portfolio company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tek-Matic, founded in 1983 and based in Rockford, Illinois, is a national lab automation and engineered systems provider serving the biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and advanced manufacturing sectors. The company supplies thermal cyclers, precision dispensing platforms, software, robotics and precision motion components, along with enclosures, conveyors, and liquid handling systems. Tek-Matic supplies a broad lineup of lab automation technologies from leading manufacturers, and supports customers with systems integration, installation and startup assistance, training, and technical support.

The company supports both off-the-shelf and custom-configured solutions for applications such as PCR preparation, diagnostics, and high-throughput screening. Its engineering team brings deep experience in configuring modular systems that combine robotics and control, tailored to meet the specific requirements of laboratory and R&D environments.

Exit Strategies Group initiated this transaction and acted as exclusive financial advisor to Tek-Matic. Tek-Matic owner/CEO Chris Muldowney shared, “Several years ago, Al and his team conducted a thorough valuation of our business and gave us clear strategies to increase value prior to a sale. Two years after following their road map, we engaged them to run a sale process that produced outstanding results. We can’t say enough about the value Exit Strategies Group provides, and we wholly recommend them as an M&A partner to sell a company.”

This deal demonstrates Exit Strategies Group’s ongoing commitment to providing quality M&A advice and execution and valuation services to automation technology companies.  We work with product manufacturers, value-added distributors, systems integrators and machine builders. Since our founding in 2002, we have advised on well over 100 M&A transactions.

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Exit Strategies Group Advises Starr Property Management in Sale

/in , /by Mark Harter

Exit Strategies Group recently served as the M&A advisor to the owners of Starr Property Management, a leading Central California property management company, on their sale to Galaxy Holdings, Inc., a recently formed private equity fund. Mark Harter led the sale process for Exit Strategies Group. The transaction represents Galaxy’s entrance into the national property management industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Starr, founded in 1998 and based in Sacramento, CA, is a residential property management company, with clients in Sacramento, Stockton and the California Central Valley.  Starr manages residential properties, including single family homes, condominiums, duplex / fourplex and apartment buildings.  Starr’s clients range from owners of one property to real estate investors with ten or more properties.

Its property management team brings deep experience in providing lean, low-cost management services based on years of streamlining operations and using technology enabled solutions to manage its property portfolio.

Exit Strategies Group initiated this transaction and served as exclusive M&A advisor to Starr Property Management. This deal demonstrates Exit Strategies Group’s continued commitment to providing sell-side M&A advisory and business valuation services to Western US real estate services companies.  Our real estate business expertise includes property management, valuation, brokerage, inspection, environmental consulting, building and landscape maintenance, construction services, reserve study preparation, and more. Since our founding in 2002, we have advised on well over 100 M&A transactions.

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For information about Exit Strategies Group’s M&A advisory or business valuation services, please contact us.

Exit Strategies Group Advises Burns Controls Company in Sale

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies Group has advised the owners of industrial automation solutions provider Burns Controls Company on their sale to Valin Corporation, a subsidiary of Graybar. Effective July 1, 2025, this acquisition adds market coverage and technical services to Valin’s growing industrial automation group. Transaction terms will not be disclosed.

Founded in 1971, Burns Controls is an industrial automation distributor based in Dallas, Texas. The company supplies electrical controls, fluid power, motion controls, sensors and modular aluminum framing systems to manufacturers across various industries, and offers technical support, light systems integration and contract manufacturing services.

“This acquisition is transformative for our team,” said Burns Controls President Pat Burns Jr. “With Valin’s enhanced resources and support, we can boost our ability to provide innovative solutions to our customers and enhance our legacy of providing unmatched service.”

This transaction underscores Exit Strategies Group’s long-standing commitment to providing M&A advice and execution to closely held North American industrial technology companies.  Our automation industry experience includes product manufacturers, value-added distributors, control system integrators, custom machine builders, and repair service providers. Since our founding in 2002, we have advised on well over 100 M&A transactions.

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For questions or information about Exit Strategies Group’s sell-side M&A, business valuation or strategic exit planning services, contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.

Exit Strategies Group Advises on Ruland Manufacturing’s Acquisition of RoCom Couplings Corp.

/in , /by Al Statz

We are pleased to announce that our client Ruland Manufacturing recently acquired Santa Maria, California-based RoCom Couplings Corp., a company with deep expertise in the design and manufacturing of flexible shaft couplings used in aerospace, medical devices, robotic systems, automated conveyors and all types of industrial machinery.  


By integrating RoCom’s expertise with Ruland’s manufacturing processes and resources, both Ruland and RoCom customers will be able to select from a broader range of beam couplings and custom spring solutions for prototype and large-scale production. 

 

Established in 1937, Ruland Manufacturing is a quality designer and manufacturer of high performing shaft collars and couplings. All products are carefully manufactured in its Marlborough, Massachusetts factory under strict controls using proprietary processes. 

 

Exit Strategies Group served as M&A advisor to Ruland. “Ruland is a world-class design, manufacturing and sales organization and RoCom adds unique capabilities that will benefit greatly from Ruland’s leadership and support. Forging win-win strategic acquisitions like this is one of the best parts of an investment banker’s job,” said Al Statz, President and founder of Exit Strategies Group. 

 

For further information or to discuss a potential business sale, merger or acquisition need, contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com. Deal terms will not be disclosed.