Ares Capital closed approximately $1.2 billion in new financings during Q4/16.
“In the fourth quarter, we leveraged the breadth of our platform to originate $1.2 billion of commitments across 24 transactions in a variety of industries,” said Kipp deVeer, CEO of Ares Capital. “Having over 80% of our investment activity in the quarter in support of our existing borrowers is a testament to the significant advantages we provide to our borrowers.”
Below are descriptions of eight transactions that closed during the fourth quarter:
Acrisure / ABRY Partners
Ares Capital served as administrative agent for a $305 million second lien credit facility to support the management-led buyout of Acrisure. Ares Capital also made a co-investment in an ABRY Partners-led preferred stock investment in connection with the transaction. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Acrisure is a retail insurance brokerage offering risk management and consulting solutions.
Riverview Power/Castleton Commodities International
Ares Capital served as administrative agent for a $250 million senior secured credit facility to support a dividend recapitalization of Riverview Power, a 1,559-MW natural gas-fired and landfill gas power portfolio located throughout NYISO, PJM and ERCOT.
National Seating & Mobility / Court Square Capital Partners
Ares Capital served as administrative agent, lead arranger and bookrunner for a $176.2 million senior secured credit facility to support the acquisition of National Seating & Mobility by Court Square Capital Partners. Headquartered in Franklin, TN, designs and assembles customized wheelchairs and adaptive seating systems.
Varsity Brands / Charlesbank Capital Partners
Ares Capital served as second lien administrative agent and collateral agent for a $75 million incremental second lien term loan to support a dividend recapitalization of Varsity Brands, a Charlesbank Capital Partners portfolio company. Varsity Brands elevates the student experience, promotes participation and celebrates achievement through three unique businesses: Herff Jones, BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit.
Crown Laundry / Quilvest Private Equity
Ares Capital served as administrative agent and collateral agent for a $17.8 million upsize to Crown Laundry’s senior secured credit facility to support the buildout of a new plant in Bishopville, South Carolina. Crown Laundry is an independent full-service healthcare laundry processor and linen rental in the Southeastern U.S.
Broad River Energy / Arroyo Energy Investment Partners
Ares Capital served as administrative agent for a holdco bridge loan in connection with the acquisition of the Broad River Energy Center by affiliates of Arroyo Energy Investors. Broad River is a 850-MW dual-fuel, simple-cycle generating facility located in Cherokee County, SC.
Young Innovations / Linden Capital Partners
Ares Capital served as administrative agent for an incremental second lien term loan to support the recapitalization of Young Innovations, a Linden Capital Partners portfolio company. Young Innovations develops, manufactures and markets supplies and equipment used by dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and consumers.
Zywave / Aurora Capital Group
Ares Capital served as the administrative agent, collateral agent, sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner for a senior secured credit facility to support a financing of Zywave, an Aurora Capital Group portfolio company. Zywave provides technology-enabled content and analytical solutions on a software as a service (SaaS) basis that drive improved performance in sales, marketing and customer retention for P&C and benefits insurance brokerages.
Ares Capital is a specialty finance company that provides one-stop debt and equity financing solutions to U.S. middle market companies, venture capital backed businesses and power generation projects.