Home of the Mallory Brand Since 1900
Hopkins Announces the Acquisition of Acme Chamois
Blenheim, Ontario, Sept. 5, 2017 – Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation announced today that it has acquired Acme Chamois, the market leading supplier of genuine leather chamois products in North America. For 65 years, the company’s chamois has been marketed under the widely recognized Tanner’s Select® brand. Acme Chamois has been a part of Acme Sponge and Chamois Co., Inc.
The acquisition strengthens Hopkins’ leadership position in vehicle cleaning accessories, complementing its existing cleaning tools and soft goods, including its synthetic drying towels. The Acme Chamois product offering includes its genuine leather chamois and synthetic cloth for drying and chamois-based wash sponges.
“We are pleased to add the Acme Chamois product line and the Tanner’s Select® brand to Hopkins’ portfolio. The Tanner’s Select® brand bolsters our growing line-up of market leading automotive cleaning brands, including: Auto Spa™, Carrand™ and Pacific Coast™” said Bradley T. Kraft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hopkins. “Bringing the Acme chamois products together with our automotive cleaning products will be a win for our customers,” added Mr. Kraft.
“We’re very excited that Hopkins will build on the heritage of the Tanner’s Select® brand into the future,” said Jim Cantonis, President of Acme. “Over the years we have been approached numerous times to sell our chamois business, now we have found the right fit; Hopkins has the right culture, it does business in the right manner and has an outstanding reputation in the industry; we could not think of a better partner to ensure the future for this business.”
As part of the acquisition, Hopkins will add an operations and distribution facility in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where genuine leather chamois products are sized, packaged and distributed. Acme will continue to operate its natural and synthetic sponge business as The Acme Sponge Company, which was not a part of the transaction.
Recent acquisitions by Hopkins include Air Power America®, the leader of oil extraction technology for automotive and marine engines, Bell Automotive Products, interior and vehicle accessories; Mallory®, the market leader in Canada for snow tools and in North America for gas station squeegees; the fluid management drain pans and ramps of F3 Brands; Mr. Funnel®, a simple but effective line of portable fuel filters that remove water, dirt and debris from all types of fuels; and TowDaddy® line of towed vehicle wire harness kits.
About Hopkins
Headquartered in Emporia, Kansas, Hopkins is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of quality, innovative specialized towing products and functional accessories for the automotive and recreational vehicle aftermarkets. Hopkins markets its products under a number of well-recognized brand names, including: Carrand™, AutoSpa™ and Pacific Coast™ Vehicle Cleaning Products; Mallory® squeegees; Hopkins Towing Solutions® Trailer Wiring & Brake Control Products; Bell®, Victor™, Monkey Grip™ and Go Gear® Vehicle Accessories; Sub-Zero® and Mallory® Snow & Ice Tools; Flo-Tool® Fluid Management Products; BrakeBuddy® RV tow brakes; nVISION® Vehicle Safety Products; Arm & Hammer™ and DUO™ Automotive Air Fresheners; and Juice™ Booster Cables. Founded in 1953, the company has been guided by the philosophy that its products will deliver meaningful innovation, performance and value to the consumer. Hopkins has North American manufacturing and distribution in the US, (i.e., Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, California); in Canada in Blenheim, Ontario and in Mexico in Juarez, Chihuahua. ONCAP invested in Hopkins in June 2011. For more information on Hopkins, visit its website at www.HopkinsMfg.com.
About Acme Chamois Products
Acme was founded in 1932 Michael Cantonis as a distributor of natural sponges. In 1952, the company began importing natural chamois to complement the sponge offering. In 1962, the company began producing chamois in its own facility in Tarpon Spring, FL. Acme takes pride in controlling from “Sheep to Shelf,” sourcing its leather pelts from New Zealand, tanning in Turkey and cutting to size in Florida. For more information on Acme, visit its website at www.acmespongeandchamoisonline.com.
About ONCAP
ONCAP is the mid-market private equity platform of Onex. ONCAP, in partnership with operating company management teams, invests in and builds shareholder value in North American small and mid-size companies that are leaders in their defined market niche and possess meaningful growth potential. For more information on ONCAP, visit its website at www.Oncap.com.
Onex is one of the oldest and most successful private equity firms. Through its Onex Partners and ONCAP private equity funds, Onex acquires and builds high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. At Onex Credit, Onex manages and invests in leveraged loans, collateralized loan obligations and other credit securities. Onex has approximately $24 billion of assets under management, including $7 billion of Onex proprietary capital, in private equity and credit securities. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey and London, Onex invests alongside its fund investors and is the largest limited partner in each of its private equity funds. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com.
For More Information:
Bradley T. Kraft
President & CEO
(620) 340-8405
Mike Williams
Chief Marketing Officer
(620) 340-8403
