Mason Wells Newsletter 2019 – Volume 4

• EastPoint Sports Acquires Wild Sports
• AWT Introduces New Earth-Friendly Packaging
• Structural Concepts Corporation Appoints New President & Chief Executive Officer

On August 5, 2019, EastPoint Sports Ltd., LLC, a Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV, LP portfolio company, announced the acquisition of Wild Sales, LLC (dba Wild Sports). The transaction combines North America’s leading supplier of tailgate games with the leading supplier of home recreational sporting goods.

Based in Westfield, Indiana, Wild Sports designs, sources, and distributes licensed and branded tailgate games, lawn games, and tabletop games. The company sells through sporting goods, e-commerce, mass, and specialty retail channels. Owned brands include KanJam and Proline Tailgating. Wild Sports is also a licensee for the NFL, MLB, NHL, and over 350 colleges. The company was founded in 2004 by members of management, who recapitalized the business in 2017 with investments from Centerfield Capital Partners, Cardinal Equity Partners, and Expedition Capital Partners. Certain selling Wild Sports shareholders reinvested proceeds into EastPoint. Wild’s management team will remain involved in helping build the newly combined businesses.

“Wild Sports’ tailgate games, lawn games, and tabletop games are a great fit for the growing home recreational sporting goods market that EastPoint serves,” said Mike Nally, Chief Executive Officer and President of EastPoint. “The addition of their branded and licensed products to our already broad product line offers retailers, E-tailers, and consumers a single source for indoor and outdoor fun.”

“Mason Wells was pleased to support EastPoint in its acquisition of Wild Sports,” said Chris Pummill, Director at Mason Wells. “The acquisition fits perfectly with EastPoint’s strategy of acquiring complementary product lines and expanding its e-commerce presence.”

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.eastpointsports.com.

AWT Labels & Packaging, a label and flexible packaging converter and a Mason Wells Buyout Fund III, LP portfolio company, recently expanded its product portfolio with the introduction of new ‘Terrene’ sustainable label and packaging materials designed to meet the increasing call for ‘earth-friendly’ packaging options by AWT consumers and customers. Terrene, a Latin word for earth, is AWT’s commitment to providing sustainable products and services to the market, as well as aligning with AWT’s core values. The launch comes after extensive research into sustainable material options, which will perform in the marketplace and deliver on sustainability promises.

“We are very excited about this new material portfolio,” said Chip Fuhrmann, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for AWT. “We’re always listening to our customers, and we’ve been hearing their desire to have cost-effective sustainable options for labeling and packaging for some time now. We’re now able to fulfill those with our Terrene line.”

Depending on sustainability goals and the final application for the package or label, AWT can offer material options, which are composed of a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content, that are recycle-ready, compostable, or biodegradable. Additionally, most of the Terrene portfolio materials are lighter and thinner than traditional materials offered in this industry. These traits will help AWT customers realize reductions in transportation costs as well as their own carbon footprints.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.awtlabelpack.com.

Structural Concepts Corporation, a Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV, LP portfolio company, and manufacturer of temperature-controlled food and beverage display cases for foodservice establishments and supermarkets, recently appointed Brad Gates as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Gates comes to Structural Concepts with over 30 years of extensive experience in strategic, financial, and operational leadership.  Prior to joining Structural Concepts, Mr. Gates was the Chief Executive Officer of Pure Safety Group and Nautic Global Group. His experience in strategic business planning, operational improvement, and sales leadership will be valuable to Structural Concepts where he will have the overall responsibility for all financial-related activities in the Company. Mr. Gates holds a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing Management from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mr. Gates’ appointment follows the retirement of Structural Concepts’ President Dave Geerts who announced his desire to devote more time to his family after a nearly 45-year career with Structural Concepts.

For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.structuralconcepts.com.