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The Pipe Yard Ltd. (“TPY”) specializes in purchasing & distributing steel pipe in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Steel pipe is used heavily in the transportation, infrastructure, oil and gas, construction, and marine industries, for the construction of structural foundations. TPY supports a high number of customers in these sectors. The business’s President & Founder has over 30 years’ experience in the piling industry, and under his guidance TPY has successfully completed projects with some of Canada’s biggest contractors.

Ardenton’s partnership with TPY began in November 2012 and was one of its earliest investments. Operating with just a small team, TPY had built a reputable business with an impressive customer base. Ardenton identified numerous opportunities to unlock further growth at TPY through the application of the Ardenton Operating System, making it an excellent partner to build out the building products platform.

Post-investment, Ardenton has worked collaboratively with TPY’s management team to continue to build the business. Key initiatives have included the acquisition of eight acres of land in Alberta, where new office and shop premises have been constructed.

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Stevenson Industrial Refrigeration Ltd. (“Stevenson”) specializes in the design, fabrication, installation, parts supply & ongoing service of ammonia-based refrigeration systems. The business employs a staff of skilled refrigeration technicians, pressure welders, millwrights and electricians. This high caliber team enables Stevenson to support its recreation, industrial and mining customers located across the three Canadian provinces in which it operates; Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.

Ardenton partnered with Stevenson in July 2016. The business has over 35 years of experience in the refrigeration industry and is one of only a handful of businesses in the Canadian market that works on ammonia-based systems. This differentiator, combined with the business’s strong track record and deep industry relationships, made it a standout opportunity for Ardenton.

Post-investment, Ardenton and Stevenson have been working together to revise the company’s industry focus, and target more opportunities in the industrial food and recreational sectors.

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Netagen Communication Technologies Inc. ("Netagen", and formerly Combat Networks Inc.) was founded in July 2001. Netagen is a Canadian-owned and operated network solutions integrator for corporate, government and defense infrastructures where security, performance, and reliability are key for mission critical communication networks and operations.

Netagen provides network communications products and services, including network design, management and installation, as well as product sales, support, consulting, maintenance, and monitoring services. It provides these services on a national level to multiple federal and provincial governmental departments, municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals, and Fortune 1000 companies in Canada.

Ardenton’s investment in Netagen was completed in November 2016, and was the first investment it made in the Technology & Communications sector. Post-investment, Ardenton’s AOS team has worked closely with Netagen to remove a number of constraints within the business, and build-out key functional areas, such as accounting, marketing and human resources.

Introducing Netagen: Watch Video

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Founded in 1980 and headquartered in London, Ontario, OES Inc. (“OES”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary control systems, electronic products, scoreboards and quality assurance devices using core engineering capabilities in electrical, electronic, mechanical design, and software development. The company is organized into three business units: OES Scoreboards, OES Technologies, and OES Electronic Manufacturing & Design Services.

OES has a 35+ year track record of engineering exceptional products. Despite its manufacturing superiority, at the time of Ardenton’s investment in the business in November 2016, the company was still a small player in a big market. Ardenton identified a number of viable growth opportunities for the business, which made it a compelling prospect.

Post-investment, Ardenton and OES have been working closely to implement the growth initiatives identified at the investment stage. Key milestones have included the opening of a sales and support office in Switzerland, and the expansion of the scoreboards business in the United States.

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Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Leone Fence Co. Ltd. (“Leone”) is a leading manufacturer, distributor & installer of ornamental iron, chain link and wooden fencing. The company’s products are distributed through a broad network of authorized distributors, as well as directly to fence installers, contractors, and others.

Leone is widely recognized for the high level of craftsmanship and quality it offers. Specializing in commercial and industrial work, the company has demonstrated its capability across a diverse range of projects, including prisons, retail developments, schools and hospitals. The caliber of Leone’s products, as well as its standing in the market, were two key factors in Ardenton’s decision to invest in the company.

Ardenton partnered with Leone in February 2017 and, since then, has worked closely with Leone’s management team on a number of initiatives to grow the business. Post-investment highlights include upgrading the company’s IT infrastructure and adding additional capacity to the business development function.

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W. Corbett & Co. (“Corbetts”) was established in 1860 and is the largest independent hot dip galvanizer in the United Kingdom. Headquartered in Telford in the Midlands, Corbetts galvanizes for UK manufacturing businesses across a broad range of sectors, including structural steel, cable management and transportation.

The business has stood the test of time, having been in operation for over 150 years. Corbetts’ long-lasting success can be attributed to its reputation for providing customers with high-grade products, as well as its excellent service levels, built on fast turnaround times and flexible delivery options.

Ardenton’s partnership with Corbetts began in April 2017, and represented its first investment in the UK. Since then, Ardenton has worked closely with the management team to identify and implement new growth initiatives. Post-investment highlights include the deepening of one of the galvanizing kettles, which has increased production capacity, and a significant expansion of the sales team.   

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Founded in 1977, Comtrad is an overseas sourcing and manufacturing specialist, focused on providing North American manufacturers and distributors with cost-effective and high quality products from Asia. The company services a wide range of industries, with particular expertise in the furniture sector.

Comtrad offers a holistic service to clients, covering development, sourcing, transportation and distribution. The company has particular expertise in the woodworking industry and is recognized for its ability to deliver a wide range of both standard and custom- designed products. The business has a proven track- record in the industry, which, combined with its geographical coverage and opportunities for expansion, made it an ideal partner for Ardenton.

Ardenton’s partnership with Comtrad began in October 2017. Since then, Ardenton has worked closely with Comtrad’s management team to improve operational efficiencies at the company, as well as on the expansion of the business development function to help drive increased sales.

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Achieve One is an IT architecture and services organization headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with another office in North Carolina. Achieve One works with its clients to deliver innovative technology solutions that help accelerate growth, while maintaining business continuity, compliance and security. All solutions are installed, configured and supported by a dedicated team of highly certified experts.

Ardenton made its investment in Achieve One in March 2018; its first investment in the United States. The company was identified as an attractive prospect thanks to its position as a market leader in the provision of integration services, as well as its diversified base of Fortune 1000 customers, and strong industry relationships.

Post-investment, Ardenton’s Director of Strategic Development, Patrick Barry, has been working closely with Achieve One’s management team to refine its long-term strategy and implement new operating systems to help position the company for continued growth.

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Established in 1967, PP Control & Automation Limited (“PP Control”) is acknowledged as a leader in the provision of strategic outsourcing solutions to many of the largest and most respected original equipment manufacturers and machine builders around the globe. The company supplies a diverse range of sectors, including packaging, medical and environmental.

Ardenton’s partnership with PP Control began in June 2018 and marked its second investment in the UK. The business was an attractive prospect, as although it was recognized as a leader in terms of its technical expertise, it was still a relatively small player in a big market, with lots of opportunity for growth. Ardenton was also impressed by the strong management team and its enthusiasm to drive the business through its next phase of growth.

Post-investment, Ardenton has been supporting PP Control on the implementation of key growth initiatives, including adding additional capacity to the finance function, sales function, upgrading fundamental business software and working on the proposed international expansion.

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Shaftec Automotive Components Ltd (“Shaftec”) has been supplying remanufactured and new parts to the automotive industry for more than 20 years, establishing itself as one of the leading transmission, steering and brake suppliers to the UK aftermarket. The business employs 130 people, operating from its 42,000 sq. ft. facility in Birmingham, UK, where it manufactures and distributes products across the UK and Europe.

Shaftec differentiates itself from competitors by offering customers the largest range of premium products, backed by the highest levels of availability and exceptional customer service. The company’s position as a market leader, its high quality customer base - comprising a number of blue-chip clients – as well as its experienced and talented team, were some of the key factors that made the company an exciting investment prospect for Ardenton.

Ardenton’s investment in Shaftec was completed in November 2018. Since then, Ardenton Director of Strategic Development, Allan Dunn, has been working closely with the company on various growth initiatives. This has included execution of a planned expansion across Europe.

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Founded in 1984, BGC Wholesale (“BGC”) designs and sells greetings cards and gift wrap, as well as other stationery and celebratory products, such as costumes, gift bags and balloons, to SME businesses. The company is headquartered in Manchester, UK, and operates eight cash and carry warehouses throughout the UK and Ireland, employing more than 180 staff.

Ardenton’s partnership with BGC began in March 2019 and marked Ardenton’s fourth investment in the UK. At the time of the investment, the company had been operating successfully for over thirty years. This strong track record, along with its solid reputation in the market, made BGC stand out to Ardenton as a strong candidate to start the build-out of its Consumer Products platform.

Post-investment Ardenton has been working closely with the team at BGC to explore multiple opportunities for continued growth and innovation.

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Pebbles Care is an operator of care homes and specialist school academies across the United Kingdom. The business provides residential care for vulnerable young people (aged 8-18), who are in need of a supportive, safe, and nurturing environment.

The business was established in 2003, with the opening of Pebbles House in Leeds. It has since grown to include 41 residential care homes and four schools, and provides critical services to more than 100 young people across the North of England and Scotland. The care homes typically range from single occupancy to 5-bed family style homes.

Ardenton partnered with Pebbles in November 2019. Post-investment Ardenton is working closely with the management team, to roll out best-in-class care for all service users. The business is expected to grow organically over the next few years, with the opening of new care homes, which will enable it to offer support services to even more young people in need.

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