Ropes & Gray Advises Kohlberg on GPRS Stake Sale to Roark Capital
Deal News | Jan 14, 2025 | Ropes & Gray
Ropes & Gray, a respected advisory firm, has successfully guided Kohlberg & Company through the sale of the majority stake in GPRS Holdings to Roark Capital. This transaction, announced via a January 13 press release, marks a significant strategic move for Kohlberg, a leading middle market private equity firm based in Mount Kisco, New York. Kohlberg, which boasts a robust portfolio managing $15 billion globally, specializes in companies with strong brand presence and recurring revenue streams. GPRS Holdings, a prominent provider of subsurface damage prevention and facility management solutions, operates across major U.S. markets from its headquarters in Maumee, Ohio. The Ropes & Gray team involved in this transaction brought together expertise across private equity, finance, tax, and employee benefits law.
Sectors
- Private Equity
- Utility Infrastructure Services
Geography
- United States – Kohlberg & Company is based in New York, while GPRS is headquartered in Ohio, serving markets across the entire United States.
Industry
- Private Equity – Kohlberg & Company is a prominent firm in the U.S. middle market private equity sector, managing portfolios and investing in companies with strong market positions.
- Utility Infrastructure Services – GPRS operates in providing subsurface damage prevention and facility management solutions, serving utilities and engineers across major U.S. markets.
Financials
- $15 billion – Kohlberg & Company's global asset management as of September 30.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kohlberg & Company | Seller | Company | A U.S.-based private equity firm specializing in middle market investments. |
| GPRS Holdings | Target Company | Company | A provider of subsurface damage prevention and facility management solutions headquartered in Maumee, Ohio. |
| Roark Capital | Buyer | Company | An investment firm acquiring a majority stake in GPRS from Kohlberg. |
| Ropes & Gray | Legal Advisor | Company | Provided advisory services to Kohlberg in the transaction. |
| Doug Giannantonio | Private Equity Partner | Person | A key advisor in the transaction from Ropes & Gray. |
| Andrew Silver | Private Equity Partner | Person | A key advisor involved in the transaction. |
| Brooke Szalapski | Private Equity Associate | Person | An associate who contributed to the advisory team. |
| Jenny Rikoski Whitney | Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits Partner | Person | Focused on executive compensation and employee benefits in the transaction. |
| Brandon Dunn | Tax Partner | Person | Provided tax-related advisory services. |
| Aaron Harsh | Tax Partner | Person | Involved in tax advisory aspects of the transaction. |
| Andrea Hwang | Finance Partner | Person | Contributed finance expertise to the transaction. |
| Jordan Altman | IP Transactions Partner | Person | Provided intellectual property guidance in the transaction. |
| Doug Brayley | Employment Partner | Person | Involved in employment-related advisory. |
| Jonathan Klarfeld | Litigation & Enforcement Partner | Person | Involved in litigation and enforcement aspects of the transaction. |