Generational Equity Advises MGP Connecting Rods in Sale to Race Winning Brands

By Generational Equity

02/27/2019

Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, Giannone Performance Products Inc. dba MGP Connecting Rods, to Race Winning Brands, Inc., a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries LLC. The acquisition closed December 4, 2018.

MGP Connecting Rods, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a premium manufacturer of high-performance aluminum connecting rods. Founded in 1996, MGP offers designs and quality that surpass the needs of the most demanding engines and engine builders by utilizing race-proven design engineering and CNC machining technology. Its proprietary features, such as Cap Interlocking Serration and small end Hard Bore Technology, provide benefits proven to support the rigors of top tier racing.

“The company is set to reach full potential now as part of the Race Winning Brands family,” said Darcell Giannone, MGP owner and wife of founder Michael Giannone. “I am excited to see the brand continue to grow and prosper in alignment with Michael’s vision for MGP.”

Race Winning Brands is the leading manufacturer of high performance and racing related components sold to the automotive and powersports markets. RWB is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio and markets its products globally through a portfolio of leading brands, including JE Pistons, Wiseco Performance Products, K1 Technologies, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Dart Machinery, Rekluse Motor Sports, Falicon Racing and ProX Racing Parts.

MGP represents the fifth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands.

“We continue pursuing our vision of leading racers to victory with the best engine parts in the market,” said Race Winning Brands CEO Brian Reese. “MGP is further investment in our expansion to adjacent categories.”

Race Winning Brands is a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, a private investment firm that manages more than $2.0 billion of committed capital. The company focuses on middle market businesses with defensible niche market positioning in the healthcare services, environmental/business services and automotive/light manufacturing sectors.

Generational Equity Senior Managing Director Stephen Crisham’s team, led by trusted affiliate David Lewis and assisted by VP Chad Comroe, successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director Randy Kamin established the initial relationship with MGP.