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Trive Capital (“Trive”), the Dallas-based private equity firm, is excited to announce its recent partnership with Premium Guard Inc. (“Premium Guard”) and Premium Guard’s acquisition of IPC Global Solutions (“IPC” and together with Premium Guard, the “Company”).
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in New York, New York with a distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee, Premium Guard is a pioneer and first-to-market leader in branded and private label aftermarket filtration products to automotive aftermarket retailers, wholesale distributors, dealerships, and through e-commerce channels. As part of the transaction, Trive provided a structured capital solution to support the management team in fueling the high pace of growth Premium Guard has experienced over the past several years.
Founded in 1986 and headquartered in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts with a distribution center in Grove City, Ohio, IPC provides a full line of filtration products to the automotive aftermarket through its ECOGARD brand and private label offerings. IPC supplies products to automotive aftermarket retailers, quick lube service centers, wholesale distributors, and e-commerce channels. The acquisition further strengthens Premium Guard’s position as a leading supplier of filtration products to the automotive aftermarket by combining complimentary product and brand portfolios, expanding the Company’s presence in the quick lube channel, and enhancing its distribution facility footprint.
“Premium Guard’s best-in-class service and comprehensive product offering has enabled us to become a growth catalyst partner to our customers and we are excited to combine forces with IPC to provide the aftermarket with industry leading service, complete solutions, best-in-class quality products, and leading application coverage at a greater scale,” said Anan Bishara, CEO of Premium Guard. “Trive’s collaborative approach and deep operational experience will undoubtedly help us accelerate our expansion, continue developing an innovative product set, and better support our customers.”
“We believe management has built a truly differentiated and best-in-class platform – one that is positioned to continue its growth across key channels and product categories. We are excited to invest alongside the existing shareholders and further enable the Company to meet growing customer demand,” said Chris Zugaro, Partner at Trive.
Brad Wiginton, Managing Director at Trive, added, “The addition of IPC strengthens the Company’s position as a leading filtration supplier, expanding Premium Guard’s customer base and portfolio of brands, while adding to the Company’s distribution facility footprint. Trive looks forward to providing capital and operational support to enable the Company to accelerate growth and build scale alongside its management team.”
The transaction represents Trive’s most recent partnership within its Structured Capital Strategy, where the firm can tailor bespoke debt and equity structures for strategically viable, middle market companies.
About Premium Guard Inc.
Premium Guard Inc. specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing products for automotive, diesel, powersport, and specialty filter markets. Premium Guard is also a pioneer in breathable air filtration technology and the creator of PUREFLOW, which offers advance home air and cabin air filters. Headquartered in New York City with a main distribution center in Memphis, TN, Premium Guard is keenly focused on providing customers with industry leading service, complete solutions, best-in-class-quality products, and leading application coverage at compelling prices.
Premium Guard also offers a platform for a turnkey private label solution, including product and packaging design, engineering, quality control, supply chain management, distribution, logistics, marketing, and professional field support.
About IPC Global Solutions
Headquartered in West Bridgewater, MA, IPC Global Solutions is a leader in the automotive aftermarket private label filter and wiper blade segments. Founded in 1986, IPC has a 35-year heritage of supporting the most well-known names in the automotive aftermarket and has built its success on delivering exceptional quality and service to valued customers all over the globe. IPC is an ISO9001:2015 certified company with facilities in Grove City, OH, West Bridgewater, MA, and Shanghai, China.