Firm News - October 18, 2012

Harris Williams & Co. Advises Centerplate in its Sale to Olympus Partners

Harris Williams & Co., a preeminent middle market investment bank focused on the advisory needs of clients worldwide, announces the sale of Centerplate, Inc. (Centerplate), the leading provider of event hospitality services to North America’s premier sports facilities, convention centers and entertainment venues, to an investment group led by Olympus Partners (Olympus).  Centerplate was a portfolio company of Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. (Kohlberg).  Harris Williams & Co. acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Centerplate.  The transaction closed on October 16, 2012 and was led by Mike Hogan, Ned Valentine, Ryan Nelson, Karl Kirkeby and Brad Morrison from the firm’s Richmond office.

“We are excited to help the Centerplate management team find a partner that shares their vision for the company’s future and tremendous growth opportunities.  Centerplate is truly an innovative market leader, and we look forward to following the continued success of the business as they grow and expand their market leading event hospitality services platform,” said Mike Hogan, managing director at Harris Williams & Co.

Centerplate crafts and delivers "Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results." in over 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America – annually serving over 100 million guests.  Centerplate has provided event hospitality services to 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 13 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration.  Last year, the company was named the fastest growing restaurant/hospitality group in the country by Nation's Restaurant News.

Kohlberg is a leading U.S. private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, NY.  Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has completed 57 platform investments and more than 100 add-on acquisitions, with aggregate transaction value in excess of $8 billion.  Kohlberg has invested over $3 billion over its history and is currently investing its seventh private equity fund, Kohlberg Investors VII.

Founded in 1988, Olympus Partners is a private equity firm focused on providing equity capital for middle market management buyouts and for companies needing capital for expansion.  Olympus is an active, long-term investor across a broad range of industries, including restaurants, consumer products, healthcare services, financial services and business services.  Olympus manages in excess of $3 billion on behalf of corporate pension funds, endowment funds and state-sponsored retirement programs.

Harris Williams is a global investment bank specializing in M&A and private capital advisory services. Clients worldwide rely on us to help unlock value in their business and turn ambitious goals into reality. We approach every engagement with boundless collaboration, pooling expertise and relationships across industries and geographies. For over 30 years, our clients have trusted us to think strategically, execute precisely, and deliver superior outcomes to help them grow.


Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 13th floor, One Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, number 5408952. Harris Williams Private Capital Advisory Ltd. is an Appointed Representative of Sturgeon Ventures, LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority number 452811. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is 16th Floor, Marienturm, Taunusanlage 9-10 60329, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschäftsführer/Director: Paul Poggi, VAT No. DE321666994. Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.