Article

Nautic Partners Acquires Custom Window Systems, Inc.

Providence, RI

Nautic Partners, LLC (“Nautic” or “Nautic Partners”) today announced that it has partnered with management to acquire Custom Window Systems, Inc. (“Custom” or “Custom Window”). Custom is a leading designer and manufacturer of impact resistant and non-impact windows, doors, and porch enclosures, serving customers in Florida and across the Southeastern U.S.  Custom was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Ocala, FL.

Custom offers a complete line of impact resistant vinyl windows and doors. Impact resistant products are critical in Florida and other coastal regions that maintain strict building codes due to exposure to high winds, tropical storms, and hurricanes. The company also offers a full line of aluminum impact windows and doors and aluminum and vinyl non-impact products. The company’s products are known for their quality, product engineering, energy efficiency, and high performance ratings. Custom’s windows and doors are sold to building product distributors, independent dealers, builders and contractors across Florida and the Southeastern U.S.

“We believe that Custom has developed into one of the largest and most well-respected window and door manufacturers in Florida by developing high quality products and providing a consistently high level of service to its customers. Custom is ideally positioned for further growth given the attractiveness of the Florida market and the company’s leading reputation across multiple product categories,” said Doug Hill, Managing Director of Nautic. “We are very pleased to be partnering with the Custom Window management team.”

“We welcome our new relationship with Nautic, a firm that shares our vision of growth and will be a valuable partner as well,” said Greg Schorr, President and CEO of Custom Window. “We see an extraordinary opportunity in Florida and across the Southeastern U.S., and the strategic and financial resources Nautic brings will enable us to capitalize on Custom’s significant growth opportunities.”

“We are highly impressed with the Custom management team, which has driven notable growth at the organization,” continued Chris Pierce, Principal of Nautic. “The market for windows and doors is growing, particularly in the impact-resistant and vinyl segments where Custom has a long-running track record of producing high-quality, trusted products. We also believe the new product line that is being introduced this month will continue to drive growth for the company, particularly on the non-impact side of its business.”

GE Capital, Jefferies LLC, Newstar Financial, and Triangle Capital Corporation provided financing for the transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Custom Window Systems, Inc.

Custom is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium impact-resistant and non-impact windows, doors, and porch enclosures in Florida and across the Southeastern U.S.  Custom was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Ocala, FL. For more information, see www.cws.cc/.

Certain statements about Nautic made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate Nautic’s business relationship with such persons, including with respect to Nautic’s facilities as a business partner, rather than Nautic’s capabilities or expertise with respect to investment advisory services. Portfolio company executives were not compensated in connection with their participation, although they generally receive compensation and investment opportunities in connection with their portfolio company roles, and in certain cases are also owners of portfolio company securities and/or investors in Nautic-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein.