Aurora Capital Group Acquires Industrial Container Services From Wingate Partners

LOS ANGELES, DALLAS and MONTEBELLO, Calif., Sept. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurora Capital Group, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm ("Aurora"), today announced that it has acquired Industrial Container Services, LLC ("ICS"), the largest provider of reconditioned container solutions in the United States, from Wingate Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm ("Wingate"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

With more than 100 years of experience in the industrial container industry, ICS is the leading provider of reconditioned steel drums in the United States. ICS provides customers with the most complete container management system available including supply, reconditioning and retrieval. ICS has 18 facilities located in 13 states and serves customers across a broad array of industries, including: fruit, food, paint, coatings, inks, chemicals and a variety of other end markets.

Mark D. Rosenbaum, Partner of Aurora Capital Group, said, "We look forward to working closely with Calvin Lee and ICS's management team to build upon the Company's growing franchise and help ICS reach its future goals. With opportunities to accelerate expansion and product innovation in the reconditioned steel drum market, we are excited to aid ICS in continuing its growth trajectory. We believe the Company, as the market leader, is well-positioned to offer the most complete container management services and solutions throughout the country."

Brad Brenneman, Principal of Wingate Partners, said, "We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Calvin and the ICS team. They have done a terrific job of executing day in and day out to achieve a compelling vision. As a result, this transaction provides Wingate with a significant return on its investment. We are confident that ICS and its customers will continue to be well-served as part of its new ownership group, and we wish them the very best."

Calvin Lee, Chief Executive Officer and President of ICS, said, "Our partnership with Wingate over the past six years has been critical to ICS's growth and success in becoming a leader in the U.S. reconditioned steel drum industry, and Aurora is the right partner for ICS as we enter the next phase of our company's growth and development. I am confident that with the continued leadership of our experienced management team, the dedication of our more than 750 hard-working employees and the operational and financial expertise of our new owners, ICS will continue to meet the important needs of our regional and national customers and provide them with the highest quality, environmentally responsible and cost-effective products for many years to come."

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as legal advisor to Aurora Capital Group. Piper Jaffray & Co. acted as financial advisor to Wingate Partners and ICS and Haynes and Boone, LLP acted as their legal advisor.

About Industrial Container Services, LLC

Industrial Container Services (ICS) is the largest provider of reusable container solutions in the United States. Through its 18 strategically located facilities in 13 states, ICS is well-positioned to service national as well as regional customers. ICS strives to be the supplier that customers call first for high quality, environmentally responsible products at the best possible value. The Company offers unparalleled expertise with over 100 years experience in the industrial container industry. ICS is focused on anticipating customer needs and exceeding expectations. The Company offers the most complete container management system available including supply, reconditioning and retrieval. For more information about ICS, visit: http://www.iconserv.com.

About Aurora Capital Group

Aurora Capital Group is a Los Angeles-based private investment firm managing over $2.0 billion of capital across several private equity funds. Aurora's traditional private equity vehicle, Aurora Equity Partners, focuses principally on control-investments in middle-market businesses with leading market positions, strong cash flow profiles, and actionable opportunities for growth in partnership with operating management. Aurora Resurgence invests in debt and equity securities of middle-market companies and targets complex situations including corporate carve outs. Aurora's investors include leading public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations active in private equity investing. For more information about Aurora Capital Group, visit: www.auroracap.com.

About Wingate Partners

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Wingate Partners was founded in 1987 to acquire controlling equity interests in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses, typically with revenues between $50 million and $250 million. Wingate's strategy is to actively support management in driving business practices to substantially improve operating performance and growth. For more information about Wingate, visit: www.wingatepartners.com.

Media Contacts:

For Aurora Capital Group:
Averell Withers / Joe Berg
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449

For Wingate Partners:
Brad Brenneman
(214) 720-1313

SOURCE Aurora Capital Group