MAY 25, 2021 – FAIRFIELD, N.J. – WRITTEN BY: DONNA O’MALLEY
Keypoint Intelligence®, the world’s most trusted source for testing services, market intelligence, and tools to the document imaging industry, is proudly celebrating its 60th anniversary.
“We’ve come a long way since Arthur saw a need and took action in 1961, and we look forward to powering our client’s growth and success for the next six decades with the tools and advice the industry needs to thrive.”
Keypoint Intelligence®, the world’s most trusted source for testing services, market intelligence, and tools to the document imaging industry, is proudly celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since its founding in 1961, the company has kept pace with the rapid evolution of the technologies, business models, and strategies that have taken place across the industry—changes that could hardly be imagined six decades ago.
Arthur Kallet, legendary founder of Consumer Reports, saw the need for businesses to have access to third-party, testing-based analysis on major product purchases and he subsequently started Buyers Lab™ in Hackensack, NJ. What began as a consumer-based publication about office equipment quickly became an all-encompassing business-to-business (B2B) resource for unbiased test data and competitive selling tools for the document imaging space. In 2015, Buyers Lab and InfoTrends™, a leading global market research consulting firm, came together to form Keypoint Intelligence.
Keypoint Intelligence’s core product, bliQ™, started as a book that was published and sent monthly to customers and has grown into an online database platform to deliver sophisticated and proprietary analytical testing capabilities, lab and field test reports, product evaluations, and outsourced testing services. Most recently, the company introduced UVERCE™, a cloud-based B2B e-commerce and sales enablement system that gives dealers and resellers in the print industry the ability to connect with clients in an ever-growing digital world. UVERCE™ combines a turnkey and maintenance-free portal with embedded virtual communication capability (chat/video) as well as bliQ testing and product intelligence into one tech-enabled selling tool.
“It gives me great pride to join Keypoint Intelligence’s colleagues and customers in celebrating our 60th anniversary,” said Mack Brothers, CEO and President of Keypoint Intelligence. “The need for objective sources of information and insight has never been more critical as companies deal with operational and strategic challenges driven by the shift to digital business models rooted in new technology and fast-changing customer expectations. We’ve come a long way since Arthur saw a need and took action in 1961, and we look forward to powering our client’s growth and success for the next six decades with the tools and advice the industry needs to thrive.”
Cyrus Nikou, Founder and Managing Partner of Atar Capital, a private investment firm that acquired Keypoint Intelligence in October 2019, commented, “The Atar team congratulates Keypoint Intelligence on 60 years of accelerated growth, built on its recognized expertise for offering independent and reliable business and product intelligence that fuels customer success. We look forward to supporting Keypoint Intelligence’s talent and innovations as the company forges new market opportunities.”
Keypoint Intelligence is headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, with offices in Weymouth, Massachusetts; Wokingham, United Kingdom; Tokyo, Japan; and Hong Kong, China.
Written by A.J. Dilenno —April 14, 2021 —Sr. Director of Procurement, RWS Facility Services
The economic disruptions of COVID-19 have caused many restaurants and retail businesses to look for ways to cut costs and find new revenue streams. But many businesses don’t realize that up to 40% of their trash—from post-consumer plastics, such as hangers and water bottles, to metals to fibers, such as corrugated containers, office paper, newspaper, and even food grease—can be diverted from landfill to generate income. In my recent article in SupplyChainBrain, I outlined four ways to transform recycled waste into commodities gold.
You can start by giving your trash a closer look with regular waste audits. In a waste audit, a qualified team goes through everything in the compactor, separating your waste into different categories: corrugated cardboard, post-industrial and post-consumer plastics, glass, and so forth. From there, how much is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and how much is recyclable commodities is calculated. The team then identifies potential places to sell the commodities and puts together a waste management plan.
Next, we suggest you reverse-engineer your waste stream to maximize volume and value. Recyclable commodities are usually generated and identified in two places, at the store level and at distribution centers. Retracing waste from distribution centers’ back to individual stores is one way to drive additional revenue. At RWS, we provide the tools to audit waste at each individual store and identify what is going in the compactor. We then help determine if consolidating waste from each store will increase the overall volume of commodities sold to buyers, seeing that buyers pay more for commodities sold in bulk.
Finally, it is vital to make sure the price is right for your scrap commodities. Businesses that have long standing relationships with waste management vendors aren’t always maximizing the profits of their recyclable commodities. Even the most well-meaning companies can be complacent in informing their customers of pricing changes. To generate the most income from your scrap commodities, we recommend researching pricing when contracts with your waste services vendors come up for renewal.
Commodity recycling can be confusing because there are so many moving parts, but it doesn’t have to be. When you partner with a professional like RWS, we make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. We help you conduct a waste audit and identify valuable commodities, prepare a waste management plan, get the best price for your commodities and even train your staff in proper waste recycling.
Contact us today so we can assist you in generating new streams of revenue by transforming your recycled waste into commodities gold.
Written by Jill Winters —Pathways. Originally published on Recruiter.com – March 19th, 2021. Employee behavioral health and well-being dramatically affect a company’s culture, productivity, and overall success. Robust behavioral health and well-being programs are considered reliable indicators of a positive culture, and many candidates specifically prioritize employers with such programs in their job searches. That’s why recruiters would be wise to highlight their company’s commitment to behavioral health and well-being in their efforts to attract top candidates.
Healthy Employees Create a Healthy Culture
Many of us are struggling with behavioral and mental health issues like anxiety, stress, and burnout in the wake of COVID-19, according to the CDC. Four in ten adults report experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, a fourfold increase from 2019. Even those who are not currently struggling realize they could face behavioral and mental health challenges in the future.
Applicants understand that companies that value employee mental health and well-being are more likely to foster positive cultures. They also know these companies will support them with understanding managers, flexible work practices, and robust benefits programs that provide affordable access to necessary services.
Most workers want their future employers to provide a safe and welcoming environment. That means many applicants expect to hear about how your company supports employee mental health during the hiring process. By shining a spotlight on what their company does to help employees find balance, fight burnout, and stay healthy, recruiters can attract more applicants and hire better employees.
The business case for providing behavioral and mental health programs includes their value as a recruiting and retention tool. Appropriate investment in these programs sends a powerful and positive message to all employees and candidates: “You’re not alone. You’re facing something we’re all facing, and it doesn’t reflect poorly on you. The company hears you, and we care about you.” When employees experience such a supportive culture, they won’t hesitate to speak highly of your company to colleagues, customers, prospective candidates, and employer review sites like Glassdoor.
Healthy Employees Stick Around
Retention matters. There’s little value in hiring the best candidates if the company can’t keep them. Plus, prospective employees will want to know about retention rates because low retention rates are red flags suggesting a negative culture.
When employees struggle with their mental health, they may be forced to exit the workforce if the company offers inadequate support. That has an effect on your retention rates — and, in turn, it affects how prospective hires view your company. Programs that support employee mental health and well-being can keep more employees at your company for longer. These programs also make employees feel more valued — another key to keeping retention rates high. And as we know, retention of quality workers helps to attract quality recruits.
Even In-Office Employees Want to Know: How Do You Support Remote Workers?
Many of us spent 2020 working partially or fully remotely. Although most companies learned that remote work can be a successful and productive arrangement, they also learned about the potential pitfalls of working from home: isolation, a poor work/life balance, burnout, and other mental health challenges that hurt employee morale and productivity.
After facing these challenges head-on over the course of the past year, remote workers are looking for employers who will lend a hand when trouble inevitably arises. A company’s willingness to allow remote work and support remote workers with programs that address isolation, work/life balance, and burnout is a major selling point in this talent market. Candidates will see these things as indicators of a culture that genuinely values individual workers and accommodates their needs.
Progressive thinking concerning remote work and employee well-being leaves a positive impression on candidates, who will see the company as an innovative and forward-thinking business. That’s why wise recruiters will emphasize how the company supports remote workers’ behavioral health and well-being — even when recruiting candidates who may not be working remotely. After all, candidates understand that today’s in-house employee could be tomorrow’s at-home employee.
Better Wellness Programs, Better Hires
After the tumultuous year we’ve all had, it should come as no surprise that employees care deeply about the mental and physical health benefits your organization has to offer them. If your company makes robust behavioral health and wellness resources available and a competitor company doesn’t, you have an important feature that differentiates your organization from the rest.
Supporting employee mental health and well-being is essential for effective recruiting and overall business success. Recruiters should tout your company’s high-quality health and wellness programs. If they do, they’ll attract better applicants — and attracting better applicants will help justify your company’s continued investment in these programs. It’s a virtuous cycle, which is why robust mental health and well-being programs are powerful recruiting tools.
LOS ANGELES, CA—October 5, 2020—Atar Capital, a global private investment firm, announced today that its portfolio company, Pathways Health and Community Support, LLC (Pathways), one of the largest providers of behavioral and mental health services in the United States, has acquired three Community Intervention Services, Inc. (CIS) subsidiaries: Access Family Services (AFS), Family Behavioral Resources (FBR) and Autism Education and Research Institute (AERI), which will operate as a combined entity, FBR-AERI. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Atar Capital acquired Pathways in 2018 as part of a strategy to put the firm’s cross-functional expertise to work in a critical and fast-growing segment in the healthcare space. Cyrus Nikou, founder and managing partner of Atar Capital, said, “With this acquisition, Pathways further strengthens its capabilities and ability to meet the increasingly critical need for mental and behavioral healthcare services in the U.S. It is an exciting achievement for Pathways and for Atar as we continue to expand upon our common goal of providing excellent behavioral healthcare services for all the individuals Pathways has the privilege to serve.”
Pathways provides a range of services for adults, children and families that include counseling, telehealth, autism services, case management, therapeutic foster care, parent education, supportive employment and substance use services and provides employer-based services through Pathways at Work. AFS and FBR-AERI’s service offerings align with Pathways’ mission to improve the lives of people by inspiring personal growth, health and wellness. AFS offers community-based, school-based and outpatient behavioral health and autism services in North Carolina and South Carolina. FBR-AERI, serving 30 locations throughout Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of outpatient and community-based behavioral health services. s
“I’m honored to lead this growing team of committed and talented behavioral health professionals,” said Jill Winters, CEO of Pathways. “By joining forces, we can reach and assist more children, families, adults and employees with services tailored to help them reach their goals. This acquisition fulfills our commitment to deliver behavioral health services to more individuals and more communities in inclusive, open, ethical and positive environments.”
Nikou led the Atar investment team that also included Senior Managing Director Robert Lezec, Managing Directors Stanley Huang and Vijay Mony and Senior Associate Roman Zelinsky. Duff & Phelps Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to CIS in the transaction.
About Pathways
Pathways Health and Community Support, LLC is one of the largest providers of behavioral and mental health services in the United States. Originally founded in 1997 as Providence Service Corporation, Pathways’ mission is to improve the lives of people by inspiring personal growth, health and wellness. The organization offers a full spectrum of social services and behavioral health solutions, including mental health support, youth and family services, adult services, and prevention services, to clients in their homes or through telehealth and community-based resources. The company also offers employer-based programs to help employees manage stress, anxiety and other behavioral health challenges through Pathways at Work. For more information visit www.pathways.com.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital is a global private investment firm that acquires a wide range of lower middle market businesses exhibiting opportunities for growth, revitalization and significant value creation. Atar Capital’s principals have completed more than 80 private equity transactions across North America, Europe and South America.
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge and investment experience provide a unique edge in creating value and working as a true partner with its portfolio companies. The firm assists in activities ranging from growing the business to improving operations and financial performance, leveraging all available resources and talent within Atar’s leadership team, as well as its bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise. For more information, please visit www.atarcapital.com.
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — WinCup®, a leading manufacturer of disposable foodservice to-go ware, has commercialized and is now shipping phade®, a new line of marine biodegradable straws and stirrers. Phade® products are made with Danimer Scientific’s Nodax™ PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a naturally occurring material derived from canola oil. These products are also soil biodegradable, as well as home and industrial compostable. Unlike other eco-friendly straw options, phade® does not sacrifice performance and has the look and feel of traditional polypropylene straws.
“Phade® represents WinCup’s commitment to the environment and our customers. We are the first manufacturer in the U.S. to successfully develop commercially sellable straws from this unique material and straws are just the first step,” said Brad Laporte, WinCup’s Chief Executive Officer. “We will soon be announcing many other foodservice and consumer products using this groundbreaking new material that will expand and complement our existing product line.”
On August 21, 2020, the Bioplastics Division of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) announced WinCup and Danimer Scientific as the joint winners of the 2020 Innovation in Bioplastics Award for their development of phade®.
WinCup is actively shipping customer orders for phade® straws and stirrers throughout the United States. “Consumers’ reactions to this innovative new product have been extremely positive. Phade® has rescued them from the soggy straw experience,” said Michael Winters, WinCup’s President and Chief Revenue Officer. “If you are ready for a relevant sustainable straw option that does not sacrifice performance, then ask for the phade® blue straw.”
Danimer Scientific’s Nodax™ PHA has been certified by TUV AUSTRIA as marine biodegradable and soil biodegradable, home and industrial compostable, and is 100% bio-based.
About WinCup, Inc.WinCup, which is headquartered in Stone Mountain, Georgia, has recently been acquired by Atar Capital, a Los Angeles based global private equity investment firm. WinCup is a leading manufacturer of traditional and sustainable disposable cups, bowls, containers, lids, and straws. The company’s eight manufacturing locations are committed to high-quality products and superior customer service. To learn more, please visit www.wincup.com and www.phadeproducts.com.
Acquisition Marks Atar’s Foray into the Growing Category of Foodservice and Sustainable Packaging Solutions
LOS ANGELES—September 9, 2020—Atar Capital, a Los Angeles-based global private investment firm, announced today it has completed the acquisition of WinCup from funds managed by BlackRock, Inc., a global investment management firm. Headquartered in Georgia, WinCup employs nearly 1,000 people across eight manufacturing facilities that provide nationwide production and distribution of a comprehensive portfolio of traditional and biodegradable foodservice packaging products. The company is first to market with two flagship products, Phade®, an award-winning marine biodegradable, home and industrial compostable straw; and Vio®, the only biodegradable foam-based cups, lids and straws in the US and Canada. WinCup serves an impressive blue-chip client base of distributors, restaurant chains and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) retailers that include Fortune 100 businesses with globally recognized brands. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
This is Atar Capital’s seventh platform acquisition since 2017. Commenting on this latest acquisition, Cyrus Nikou, founder and managing partner of Atar Capital, said, “While the COVID-19 pandemic created significant barriers to the timely completion of many M&A transactions around the world, the Atar team successfully circumnavigated these challenges to complete the acquisition of a company of such an exceptional caliber as WinCup. We are particularly excited about the opportunity this presents to drive major evolutions in foodservice packaging given the profound changes affecting the FMCG industry. WinCup has a clear head start in responding to these ongoing changes. We look forward to supporting the company as it continues to expand into new brands and categories.”
Robert Lezec, senior managing director at Atar, added, “Today there is an accelerating expectation for eco-friendly packaging solutions, whether in foodservice or in other segments. WinCup has been working diligently to remain at the forefront with a growing portfolio of unique and innovative products and a scalable production footprint that provides proximity to many of the nation’s leading foodservice customers. In this context, we anticipate the next few years to be transformative for WinCup and the customers it serves.”
Through this acquisition, Atar confirms the appointment of a new leadership team for WinCup with Brad Laporte serving as chief executive officer and Michael Winters as president and chief revenue officer. “With the support and direction to be gained from working with Atar Capital, we look forward to leading this evolving market with an even broader range of safe, sustainable packaging solutions,” said Laporte.
Nikou led the Atar investment team that also included Senior Managing Director Robert Lezec, Managing Directors Stanley Huang and Vijay Mony and Senior Associate Roman Zelinsky. Dykema provided legal counsel to Atar Capital and Ares Capital Corporation provided financing. Lincoln International was the sell-side investment bank.
About WinCup
Based outside of Atlanta, Georgia, WinCup is a leading manufacturer of disposable foodservice dine-in and takeout to-go products, such as cups, bowls, containers, lids, straws and stirrers. WinCup is the only US manufacturer of biodegradable foam cups through its Vio® brand; and has recently launched Phade®, the world’s first marine biodegradable, soil biodegradable, home and industrial compostable straw that looks and feels like a traditional straw. Phade® recently won the Plastics Industry Association 2020 Innovation in Bioplastics Award. The company has broad market access across all foodservice channels of distribution and is a trusted producer for many strategic national brands. WinCup proudly operates eight manufacturing facilities across the US committed to delivering high-quality products and superior customer service. To learn more, please visit www.wincup.com.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital is a global private investment firm that acquires a wide range of lower middle market businesses exhibiting opportunities for growth, revitalization and significant value creation. Atar Capital’s principals have completed more than 75 private equity transactions across North America, Europe and South America.
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge and investment experience provide a unique edge in creating value and working as a true partner with its portfolio companies. The firm assists in activities ranging from growing the business to improving operations and financial performance, leveraging all available resources and talent within Atar’s leadership team, as well as its bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise. For more information, please visit www.atarcapital.com.
LOS ANGELES—October 10, 2019—Atar Capital, a Los Angeles-based global private investment firm, announced today it has completed the acquisition of Keypoint Intelligence, a leading independent source for data analytics, laboratory testing and advisory services for the global digital imaging industry. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Fairfield, NJ, with offices in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan, Keypoint Intelligence is built upon two brands: Buyers Lab and InfoTrends. Along with providing clients access to unique SaaS tools and platforms, the company offers the most comprehensive independent product and market data to OEMs, retailers, software developers, suppliers, and dealers worldwide.
Its core platform, bliQ, built around sophisticated proprietary analytical testing capabilities provides a range of detailed specifications, overviews and in-depth reports for tens of thousands of products that help resellers across a number of industry verticals to sell more. The Buyers Lab awards, reserved for products and imaging OEMs that have undergone a rigorous independent testing process by the Company’s independent, experienced analysts and technicians, will continue.
Atar Capital specializes in corporate divestitures and complex carve-outs across a wide range of industries and geographic markets. Commenting on this latest acquisition, Cyrus Nikou, founder and managing partner of Atar Capital, said, “Keypoint Intelligence is a new platform for Atar Capital. The company is known for delivering high-touch, data-driven services that offer powerful value propositions to customers. Atar is well-suited to help accelerate Keypoint’s growth, building on its impressive reputation for offering unbiased and reliable business and product intelligence that moves companies forward.”
Robert Lezec, senior managing director at Atar, added, “Keypoint Intelligence delivers true end-to-end solutions and services, from in-depth laboratory test-generated product information to market intelligence that drive sales enablement and critical decision making for OEMs and resellers/dealers worldwide. We are looking forward to being a part of the company’s exciting future.”
Nikou led the Atar investment team that also included senior managing director Robert Lezec and managing directors Stanley Huang and Vijay Mony. Raymond James served as financial advisor for the acquisition.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital is a global private investment firm that benefits from over 60 years of combined operationally-focused investment experience from its principals having completed over 60 private equity transactions across North America, Europe and South America. Atar Capital invests in both performing and underperforming lower middle market businesses that exhibit opportunities for growth, revitalization and value creation.
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge and investment experience provide a unique edge in creating value and working as a true partner with its portfolio companies. The firm assists with initiatives ranging from growing the business to improving operations and financial performance, leveraging all available resources and talent within Atar’s leadership team as well as its bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise. For more information, please visit: www.atarcapital.com.
About Keypoint Intelligence
Keypoint Intelligence is the global data and market intelligence leader for the digital imaging industry. The company is the authoritative provider of test based analytical information, competitive intelligence and sales enablement to the digital imaging industry. Its portfolio of products and services covers hardware, software, consumables and document management. Along with providing clients access to a range of SaaS tools and platforms, the company offers the most comprehensive independent research and data in the industry.
Keypoint Intelligence supports the industry’s leading Original Equipment Manufacturers, Independent Software Vendors and more than 2,000 dealers and leasing companies active in the digital imaging industry. The company’s core platform, bliQ, is based on its sophisticated and proprietary analytical testing capabilities, powering a product offering that includes field and laboratory test reports, product evaluations and outsourced testing services. In addition, Keypoint Intelligence is widely recognized as the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the imaging, document solutions, production print, and digital media industries. For more information, please visit: www.keypointintelligence.com
Media Contact:
Patricia Kilgore Sterling Kilgore, Inc. 630-964-8500 ext. 223 pkilgore@sterlingkilgore.com
Atar Capital Contact:
T.J. McCaffrey Atar Capital 310-870-0808 tjmccaffrey@atarcapital.com
Acquisition Leverages Strengths of Both Companies to Achieve Long-term Strategy for Growth
LOS ANGELES—April 15, 2019—Atar Capital, a Los Angeles-based global private investment firm, announced today it has acquired Sustainable Solutions Group (SSG) through its portfolio company, Recycling and Waste Solutions (RWS). RWS, headquartered in Chadds Ford, Pa., provides the nation’s largest supply chains with innovative managed solutions for commodity recycling and waste services. SSG, based in Woodstock, Ga., provides and manages recycling, waste and sustainability programs for regional and national companies throughout North America. Consolidating the two companies into a single firm expands their ability to deliver sustainable, economic waste solutions and broadens opportunities for growth. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Founded in 2009, SSG is a leader in commercial waste reduction and recycling solutions nationwide. As one of the fastest-growing companies of its kind, SSG is dedicated to developing comprehensive waste reduction programs for a large portfolio of commercial clients comprised of retail centers, enclosed malls, office buildings, hotels and mixed-use properties, among many others.
This is Atar’s third acquisition in six months. The firm specializes in corporate divestitures, complex carve-outs and turn-around situations across a wide range of industries and geographic markets. Commenting on the acquisition of SSG, Cyrus Nikou, founder and managing partner of Atar Capital, said, “We see tremendous opportunity in the commercial property management and multi-family residential sector. Combining the competitive strengths of RWS and SSG provides the opportunity for both companies to achieve their full potential and expand their verticals into multi-family and comprehensive facility services.”
Robert Lezec, senior managing director at Atar, added, “We strongly believe in the future of asset-light facilities management service businesses due to their inherent scalability and value to large national multi-site customers looking for a single source solution provider focused on delivering a wide range of sustainable services. SSG expands and significantly enhances RWS’ already diverse category management capabilities.”
Nikou led the Atar deal team that also included Lezec and managing directors Stanley Huang and Vijay Mony. Anthony DiIenno, president and CEO of RWS and a member of Atar’s Senior Advisory Board, provided subject matter expertise in support of the transaction.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital is a global private investment firm that benefits from over 60 years of combined operationally-focused investment experience from its principals having completed over 60 private equity transactions across North America, Europe and South America. Atar Capital invests in both performing and underperforming lower middle market businesses that exhibit opportunities for growth, revitalization, and value creation.
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge and investment experience provide a unique edge in creating value and working as a true partner with its portfolio companies. The firm assists with initiatives ranging from growing the business to improving operations and financial performance, leveraging all available resources and talent within Atar’s leadership team as well as its bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise. For more information, please visit: www.atarcapital.com.
About Recycling and Waste Solutions
Recycling and Waste Solutions (RWS) provides the nation’s largest supply chains with innovative managed solutions for commodity recycling and waste services in addition to obsolete destruction services, project management and equipment sales and service. Helping thousands of locations across North America achieve savings and greater sustainability, RWS understands the corporate value of environmental and economic waste solutions that reduce costs, drive commodity revenue and improve overall services through flawless execution. For more information, please visit: https://recyclingwaste.com.
About Sustainable Solutions Group
Founded in 2009, Sustainable Solutions Group (SSG) is leading the industry in commercial waste reduction and recycling solutions nationwide. As one of the fastest growing companies of its kind, SSG is dedicated to developing comprehensive waste reduction programs for its clients by increasing efficiency and reducing costs. SSG continues to build successful relationships with a large portfolio of commercial clients comprised of retail centers, enclosed malls, office buildings, hotels, and mixed-use properties among many others. For more information, please visit http://www.ssgwaste.com.
Media Contact:
Patricia Kilgore Sterling Kilgore, Inc. 630-964-8500 ext. 223 pkilgore@sterlingkilgore.com
Atar Capital Contact:
T.J. McCaffrey Atar Capital, Director + 1 (310) 870 0808 tjmccaffrey@atarcapital.com
Investment Marks Atar’s Second Acquisition Within the Past Month First Platform Investment in Canada
Los Angeles – November 26, 2018 – Atar Capital, a global private investment firm, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Microcel Corporation, a leading distributor of technology products in Canada, partnering with Rick Henry, Founder of Microcel. Henry will remain a shareholder and will continue as Microcel’s President and CEO. The transaction was officially closed on Monday, November 19, 2018.
“We are excited to partner with Rick and the Microcel team on this transaction. We see tremendous opportunity in Canada’s growing retail and e-commerce markets,” said Cyrus Nikou, Founder and Managing Partner at Atar Capital. “Microcel’s best-in-class portfolio of brands within the Canadian consumer electronics space, complimented by Atar’s direct-to-consumer, e-commerce and digital marketplace platforms, will serve as a catalyst for growth,” added Nikou.
“Microcel has developed a leading position distributing global technology brands into the Canadian retail market. After speaking with several potential partners, I found Atar’s retail and operational expertise, and their flexibility, speed and growth-oriented investment philosophy, to be a true differentiator that will help catapult Microcel’s market position, going forward. I am looking forward to accelerating the growth of Microcel with our new partners,” said Henry.
Originally founded in 1989 in Newmarket, Ontario, the Company offers exclusive distribution arrangements with high value brands, as well as a proven multi-channel network that includes Canada’s most prominent consumer electronics stores, big-box retailers and specialty retailers. Microcel works with leading brands such as GoalZero, Polk, Belkin, fitbit and Logitech.
Robert Lezec, Senior Managing Director at Atar, added “Atar’s e-commerce, retail and distribution bench strength is strong and deep. We believe that combining our sector expertise with Rick’s unparalleled product vision will lead to significant value creation for Microcel.”
Nikou led the Atar deal team that also included Senior Managing Director Robert Lezec and Managing Directors Stanley Huang and Vijay Mony. Ryan Craver, part of Atar’s Senior Advisory Group, provided subject matter expertise for the transaction.
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge and investment experience provides a unique edge in identifying and creating value and working as a true partner to portfolio companies. The firm assists with initiatives to grow the business and improve operations, leveraging all of the resources available through Atar’s global platform, including a bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital (www.atarcapital.com) is a global private investment firm that benefits from over 60 years of combined investing, operational and management expertise. Atar’s principals have completed over 62 private equity transactions across North America and Western Europe. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Atar Capital’s unique deal origination, M&A and operating capabilities enable its portfolio companies to achieve their “Full Potential”.
About Microcel
Since its inception in 1989, Microcel has become one of Canada’s preeminent consumer electronics distributors, providing access to the Canadian retail market to prominent global OEM vendors such as GoalZero, Polk, Belkin, fitbit and Logitech covering a wide variety of product types, from wearables, portable audio, computer and telephony accessories, to smart home and outdoor tech solutions. Based in Newmarket, Ontario, Microcel leverages its superior product marketing and logistics support and distributes to a network of over 5,000 points of purchase for some of Canada’s largest big box retailers, electronic stores, e-commerce, and specialty outdoor stores such as Walmart, the Source, Best Buy, Amazon, and Indigo Books & Music, among many others.
UnitedHealthcare Veteran Jill Winters Appointed CEO to Lead Pathways into Next Phase of Growth
Los Angeles – October 22, 2018 – Atar Capital, a global private investment firm, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Pathways Health and Community Support, LLC, one of the largest providers of accessible, outcome-based behavioral and mental health services in the United States, from Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH).
Atar Capital also announced the appointment of Jill Winters, an experienced healthcare management executive, to lead Pathways as its new CEO. Winters held positions of increased responsibility over almost 20 years at UnitedHealthcare, serving as President of the company’s Medicare & Retirement Central Region, as well as Chief Field Executive Officer of its Medicare Solutions business. She succeeds Interim CEO Craig Bass, who will remain at Molina Healthcare.
“This acquisition represents an enormous opportunity for us to put our collective experience to work in a critical and fast-growing segment of the healthcare industry,” said Cyrus Nikou, Founder and Managing Partner at Atar Capital. “Pathways and its dedicated employees serve a critical role as America grapples with an increasing need for mental and behavioral healthcare services. We look forward to partnering with Jill and the management team to assure that Pathways can provide important care to a larger number of clients.”
Originally founded in 1997 as Providence Human Services, Pathways specializes in providing direct services and case management to children, adolescents and adults with behavioral and medical health needs, as well as those supervised by government subsidized programs. The Company offers a full spectrum of social services and behavioral health solutions to clients in their homes or through community-based resources, including Youth & Family Services, Adult Services, and Prevention Services.
“I’m grateful for the chance to lead such a caring and dedicated team of people in delivering these vital support services to our clients,” said Winters. “With the support of Atar Capital, our number one priority is to provide home and community-based services that meet the needs of this population in the communities that we serve.”
“A key part of our strategy moving forward will be to leverage Pathways’ infrastructure and shared services support to enable its next phase of growth, and to make the Company a formidable behavioral healthcare player in the US,” said Robert Lezec, Senior Managing Director at Atar Capital. “We look forward to supporting the business and lending our deep cross-functional and multi-sectorial expertise to help create significant value for Pathways, and measurable positive outcomes for the Company’s clients.”
Atar Capital’s combination of operational expertise, industry knowledge, and investment experience provides a unique edge in identifying and creating value, and working as a true partner to portfolio companies. The firm assists with initiatives to grow the business and improve operations, leveraging all of the resources available through Atar’s global platform, including a bench of seasoned senior advisors with deep sector and functional expertise.
About Atar Capital
Atar Capital (www.atarcapital.com) is a global private investment firm that benefits from over 60 years of combined investing, operational and management experience. Atar’s principals have completed over 60 private equity transactions across North America and Western Europe. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Atar Capital’s unique deal origination, M&A and operating capabilities enables its portfolio companies to achieve their full potential.