PlayCore, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of a broad range of playground equipment and related play products, and a portfolio company of Irving Place Capital, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Ultra Play Systems, Inc. For more than 20 years, Ultra Play has manufactured and supplied park amenities, outdoor athletic equipment, preschool equipment, and accessible picnic tables, park benches, and bleachers. Through its UltraCoat™ Site Amenities, the Company offers the most advanced coating technology available. Ultra Play’s thermoplastic coated steel furniture and site amenities offer superior mechanical performance, impact resistance, and UV stability.
Ultra Play Systems, Inc. will continue as an operating division of PlayCore, Inc. in Red Bud, Illinois. Mike Moll will continue to serve as the company’s General Manager.
“We are excited about the addition of Ultra Play to the family of PlayCore brands and the resulting expansion of our site amenities offerings. The partnership provides many opportunities to support the company’s growth while also fulfilling PlayCore’s mission of providing leadership in the important area of play equipment and recreation products that enrich childhood through play,” said Bob Farnsworth, President and CEO of PlayCore. “We see this partnership as a significant step forward in the development of Ultra Play and PlayCore’s future growth potential and we look forward to working together with the management team of Ultra Play.”
Mike Moll, Ultra Play General Manager and PlayCore Vice President shared, “We pride ourselves in providing the highest quality products and services in the site amenities industry. We are looking forward to working with PlayCore’s talented team and believe that collectively, we share the same values and will be able to continue strengthening the company, our innovative products, and our dedication to customer service.”
About PlayCore: PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the world by advancing play through research, programs, and partnerships. We infuse this learning into our complete family of brands.
We combine best in class planning and education programs with the most comprehensive array of recreation products available to create solutions that match the unique needs of each community we serve.
About Ultra Play Systems: Ultra Play Systems, Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of park amenities, outdoor athletic equipment, preschool equipment, and accessible picnic tables, park benches, and bleachers. The Company’s UltraCoat™ products offer the most advanced coating technology available in the market. The thermoplastic coated steel furniture and site amenities offer superior mechanical performance, impact resistance, and UV stability. The company is headquartered in Red Bud, Illinois. More information is available about Ultra Play Systems, Inc. at www.ultraplay.com and www.ultracoat.net.
About Irving Place Capital: Irving Place Capital, formerly known as Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, invests private equity capital in compelling buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital opportunities alongside superior management teams. Irving Place Capital focuses on making control or entrepreneur-driven investments. Since its formation in 1997, Irving Place Capital has been an investor in 68 portfolio companies, and has managed equity commitments in excess of $5 billion, including its current $2.7 billion institutional fund. Existing investments include: Alter Moneta, Balducci's, CamelBak Products, Caribbean Financial Group, Cavalry Investments, Churchill Financial Holdings, Doral Financial Corporation (NYSE: DRL), MC Shipping, Multi Packaging Solutions, New York & Company (NYSE: NWY), PlayCore, Rimrock Energy, Stuart Weitzman, Transamerican Auto Parts Company, Universal Hospital Services and The Vitamin Shoppe. Prior investments include Aearo Technologies, Aéropostale (NYSE: ARO), Reddy Ice Holdings, and Seven For All Mankind, among others. More information about Irving Place Capital is available at www.irvingplacecapital.com.
