M&A Deal Summary

Blackthorne Partners Acquires Design Specialties

On April 1, 2015, private equity firm Blackthorne Partners acquired furniture company Design Specialties

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Blackthorne Partners’ 1st transaction in the Furniture sector.
  • This is Blackthorne Partners’ 6th transaction in the United States.
  • This is Blackthorne Partners’ 6th transaction in Wisconsin.
Investment Fate
  • Design Specialties was sold to a strategic buyer in 2021.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2015-04-01
Target Design Specialties
Sector Furniture
Buyer(s) Blackthorne Partners
Deal Type Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)

Target

Design Specialties

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Design Specialties is a manufacturer of fireplace doors, screens and other hearth accessories sold at specialty hearth retailers. Design Specialties was founded in 1983 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Blackthorne Partners

Delafield, Wisconsin, United States

Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2007
Size Small
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Blackthorne Partners is a private investment firm focused on direct investments in small, niche private companies. Blackthorne generally targets commercial service businesses with at least $1 million in EBITDA. Blackthorne Partners was founded in 2007 and is based in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 6 of 7
Sector (Furniture) 1 of 1
Type (Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)) 2 of 3
State (Wisconsin) 6 of 7
Country (United States) 6 of 7
Year (2015) 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2014-03-11 Hughes Equipment

Columbus, Wisconsin, United States

Hughes Equipment is a manufacturer of high-quality equipment for the food industry. The company's experience enables them to provide the best food processing machinery in the market. Hughes Equipment was founded in 1961 and is based in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2015-06-02 Schaefer Brush

Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

Schaefer Brush is a designer, developer and manufacturer of industrial brushes and brush systems for various industries. Schaefer Brush was founded in 1905 and is based in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Buy -
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