ICS Announces Acquisition Of Unified Networking Solutions

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Endicott, NY March 17, 2022 – ICS, a portfolio company of ClearLight Partners and leading provider of Information Technology (IT) Managed Services in the Northeast, announced it has acquired Unified Networking Solutions (UNS), a provider of IT Products and Services in the Southeastern Massachusetts market.

Headquartered in Raynham, MA, UNS was founded in 2010 and has grown by helping local government, education, and commercial clients throughout New England achieve success by providing technology solutions and support. UNS offers managed IT services, hardware and software procurement, and implementation services.

Kevin Blake, CEO of ICS, commented: “We are thrilled to have the Unified staff join the ICS Family. ICS’ mission is to make a difference in our employees’ lives, our customers’ businesses, and the communities we serve. It was clear that Unified’s culture and core values fit right in with ours. We are looking forward to growing our Northeastern footprint through future acquisitions.”

“After getting to know the team at ICS, it became clear that they were the perfect partner to bring expanded products, services and resources to Unified clients. This will allow us to meet the changing needs of our customers,” said Brian McDonald.

Kyle Burke, a Partner at ClearLight said, “Our partnership with Kevin Blake and ICS has been excellent. We remain enthusiastic about continued tailwinds in the IT managed services space and believe UNS is a terrific complement to ICS.”

About ICS

ICS is a provider of IT Managed Services, cybersecurity, cloud migration and implementation services for small to medium-sized businesses. The company offers on-site and remote support to customers in the Northeastern US (United States), with an emphasis on cybersecurity, risk management and a remote workforce. ICS was founded in 1986 and is currently led by 20+ year industry veteran Kevin Blake.

For more information, please visit www.icscomplete.com

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since its inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com

ClearLight Partners Promotes Jeff Manassero and Kyle Burke to Partner and Dustin Byer to Principal

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA July 14, 2021 – Private equity firm ClearLight Partners announced today the promotion of Jeff Manassero and Kyle Burke to Partner and Dustin Byer to Principal.

“Jeff, Kyle and Dustin have been key contributors to ClearLight’s success, and we’re delighted to announce these promotions,” said Michael Kaye, Founder and Managing Partner of ClearLight.

Kyle joined ClearLight in 2006 and, other than time off to get his MBA, has been with ClearLight since that time. Before joining ClearLight Kyle worked as a management consultant with Bain & Company. Kyle holds BA and BS degrees from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Jeff joined ClearLight in 2009. Prior to joining ClearLight Jeff worked as an analyst with Goldman Sachs. Jeff earned a BA in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.

Dustin joined ClearLight in 2016. Prior to joining ClearLight Dustin worked as an associate with THL Credit in Los Angeles. Dustin graduated with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

 

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since its inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, visit www.clearlightpartners.com.

ICS Announces Acquisition Of AKUITY Technologies

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Endicott, NY January 5, 2021 – ICS, a portfolio company of ClearLight Partners and leading provider of Information Technology (IT) Managed Services in the Northeast, announced it has acquired AKUITY Technologies (“AKUITY”), a provider of IT Managed Services in the greater New England area.

Headquartered in Auburn, MA, AKUITY was founded in 1988 and has grown by helping small-to-medium sized businesses throughout New England achieve success through greater returns on their technology investment. Along with managed IT services, AKUITY offers strategic planning, hardware and software procurement, and complete implementation services.

Kevin Blake, CEO of ICS, commented: “AKUITY is a terrific company that shares our mission of providing high quality IT services with first-class customer service. We are extremely impressed with AKUITY’s people and culture and are excited about our new partnership.”

“ICS has a clear vision for meeting client needs in the right way,” said Brian Hanify, AKUITY’s COO (Chief Operations Officer), who will continue to lead the division. “I’m excited about the resources and capabilities our combined company provides to clients, keeping them secure from threats and ahead of technological change while allowing them to focus on the business of their business.”

ClearLight Managing Partner Michael Kaye said, “We continue to be very happy with our partnership with Kevin Blake and ICS. We believe AKUITY and ICS are an excellent fit and we are excited to continue investing in the IT managed services space.”

About ICS

ICS is a provider of IT Managed Services, cybersecurity, cloud migration and implementation services for small to medium-sized businesses. The company offers on-site and remote support to customers in the Northeastern US (United States), with an emphasis on cybersecurity, risk management and a remote workforce. ICS was founded in 1986 and is currently led by 20+ year industry veteran Kevin Blake.

For more information, please visit www.icscomplete.com

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since its inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com

Jordan Selleck of 51 Labs interviews Mark Gartner on ClearLight’s history and the past, present and future of private equity deal sourcing.

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ClearLight Partners Invests in ICS

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA May 08, 2020 – Private equity firm ClearLight Partners announced today that it has made an investment in ICS, a provider of IT managed services, in partnership with ICS’ owner, Kevin Blake. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Endicott, NY, ICS was founded in 1986 and has grown over its nearly 35-year history to now include three offices in upstate New York serving small and medium-sized businesses across a diverse array of end markets. ICS’ service offering includes managed services, cybersecurity, cloud migration & other project-based services, and hardware and software reselling. “We are impressed with the organization and culture that Kevin and his team have built and their ability to provide great service for their clients. We look forward to supporting ICS through its next period of growth,” commented Josh Mack, a Partner at ClearLight.

“ClearLight had a well-articulated thesis for the MSP industry, and it was clear very early on that ICS and ClearLight were a great match,” said Kevin Blake, CEO of ICS. “I’m confident that, together, we’ll build the leading Northeastern MSP whose brand is synonymous with keeping our clients ahead of technological change and cybersecurity so that they can compete more effectively within their respective industries.”

“We have really enjoyed getting to know Kevin through this process. His leadership has driven strong growth in the business while maintaining a customer-first approach across the organization. We are thrilled to be partnering with Kevin and ICS,” said Michael Kaye, Managing Partner at ClearLight.

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com.

ClearLight Partners Invests in Handel’s Ice Cream

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA November 25, 2019 – Private equity firm ClearLight Partners announced today that it has made an investment in Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, a franchisor of premium ice cream scoop shops, in partnership with Handel’s owner Leonard Fisher. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, the Handel’s story started in 1945 when Alice Handel began serving ice cream out of her husband’s gas station. Alice’s first batches were made using old fashioned recipes with fresh fruit she picked from her own backyard. Since then, Handel’s has grown to include nearly fifty corporate and franchised locations in California, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Utah, Texas and Oregon. The menu has also expanded and now includes over 100 flavors of homemade ice cream. All ice cream is made in the store, with batches made fresh daily at each location. “We knew Handel’s was special from the moment we were introduced to the business,” commented Andrew Brennan, a Partner at ClearLight. “The welcoming culture of the Company, the incredible focus of the team on simply making great ice cream, the fanaticism of its customer base, and the taste and quality of its ice cream itself were all inspiring to us. This partnership represents a chance to introduce the fabulous Handel’s ice cream experience to more people across the country and to continue to delight children, adults and families with a product that Alice Handel would be proud of.”

“It has been a pleasure working with ClearLight given their strong background in helping franchised concepts and other consumer brands to grow,” said Leonard Fisher, CEO of Handel’s. “I knew early on that we had a shared vision for how to support Handel’s growth while preserving the brand’s core values and continuing to invest in the quality ingredients and process that make Handel’s ice cream the best there is. Together, we are looking to become to many more people what we already are to our customers – America’s favorite scoop shop!”

“We are thrilled to partner with Leonard and bring Handel’s to new communities, we are very excited about our future together,” said Michael Kaye, Managing Partner at ClearLight.

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com.

ClearLight Partners Exits its Investment in Richardson

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA November 25, 2019 – Private equity firm ClearLight Partners announced today that it has sold Richardson to Kartesia, an independent and privately-owned European investor in small and middle-market companies, which will merge Richardson with Kartesia’s existing portfolio company, Sales Performance International (SPI).

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Richardson is a leading provider of tech-enabled, enterprise sales training solutions to the Global 1000. With over four decades of successful client outcomes, Richardson is known for its role in creating step-change improvements in sales force effectiveness. With a modern and comprehensive suite of content and services, Richardson helps clients better find, win and grow profitable new business.

ClearLight was attracted to Richardson because of the company’s thought and market leadership positions in the sales training sector. Together, ClearLight and the Richardson team helped the business enter new markets, modernize and expand its product offering and delivery methods, and establish Richardson as a global organization able to address the needs of the largest and most sophisticated clients in the world. “Richardson has a superb reputation in the market for its unique connected curriculum of content and solutions, and its ability to drive positive lasting change in selling organizations,” commented Andrew Brennan, a Partner at ClearLight. “It has been a privilege to work with the company’s incredibly talented team as they have successfully grown and improved the business.”

“ClearLight was a great partner with a long-term focus on building enduring enterprise value. Their patient support helped us enter new markets, expand and modernize our sales training content and generate a tangible return on investment for our clients,” said John Elsey, CEO of Richardson. “The company is as strong as it has ever been and is well positioned to continue helping our clients maximize the effectiveness of their sales teams.”

“We are proud to have been a long-term partner with Richardson and its great management team,” said Michael Kaye, Managing Partner at ClearLight.

ClearLight was advised by Capstone Headwaters and Armstrong Teasdale LLP.

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com.

ClearLight Partners Exits its Investment in Pure Water Technology-PHSI

ClearLight Partners Exits its Investment in Pure Water Technology-PHSI

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NEWPORT BEACH, CA December 18, 2018 – Private equity firm ClearLight Partners announced today that it has sold Pure Water Technology-PHSI (PHSI) to Quench USA, Inc. (Quench), an operating segment of AquaVenture Holdings Limited (NYSE: WAAS).

Headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, Pure Water Technology-PHSI is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers and marketers of point-of-use water purification coolers. The company’s products are distributed to commercial customers throughout the U.S. via a network of over 90 dealers, and through a direct sales channel that includes regional branches as well as large, national accounts. PHSI’s bottleless water coolers represent a simpler, cheaper and greener solution compared to traditional five-gallon water jugs.

ClearLight invested in PHSI in 2009 and, in partnership with PHSI’s management team, supported the growth of the company’s dealer channel while launching a new initiative to sell directly to end users. This direct to consumer initiative led to the opening of seven regional branches to expand the company’s presence in previously underserved markets and the introduction of several new, innovative products. During ClearLight’s ownership period, PHSI and its dealer network placed over 100,000 coolers with commercial accounts seeking a better solution for clean drinking water. “Early on, we recognized the opportunity to disrupt five-gallon water jugs, so it was rewarding to work with the company and help it sustain a leading market position in an industry that needs a dependable, high quality product like PHSI’s,” said Josh Mack, a Partner at ClearLight.

“ClearLight was a great partner as an investor with a long-term focus on building enterprise value. Their support helped us enter new markets, expand and improve our product portfolio and bring clean water to America’s workforce,” said Bob Tangredi, CEO of PHSI. “Pure Water Technology products are recognized as the premier systems in the rapidly growing point-of-use water industry. Quench strengthens its position in the market by adding a large loyal customer base, leading manufacturing capabilities and a strong dealer network.”

“Point of use water coolers are a great solution, and PHSI has been a leader in the field. We are particularly proud to have overseen the successful entry into the direct channel, and the company’s success in working with commercial customers across the nation,” commented Michael Kaye, Managing Partner of ClearLight.

ClearLight was advised by Raymond James and Armstrong Teasdale LLP.

About ClearLight Partners

ClearLight Partners is a private equity firm in Southern California that invests in established, profitable middle-market companies with significant growth potential. Since inception, ClearLight has raised $900 million in capital across three funds from a single limited partner. The team at ClearLight has extensive operating and financial experience and has a history of successfully partnering with owners and management teams to drive growth and create value.

For more information, please visit www.clearlightpartners.com.