Galls Bought by CI Capital Partners

Private equity firm CI Capital Partners has acquired Galls, a cataloger of public safety equipment, from Aramark Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1967, Galls markets and sells uniforms, duty gear, footwear, medical supplies and other products used by law enforcement, fire safety, emergency medical, private security and corrections personnel.
Galls recorded $163 million in revenue last year.

Why would Aramark, which purchased Galls in 1995, get rid of the business-to-business cataloger? “The Galls business is focused on police and fire uniforms, which is outside Aramark’s core businesses of food, facility and other support services, and uniform and career apparel for health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas,” says Chris Kampe, a managing director for investment firm Tully & Holland.

CI Capital Partners specializes in leveraged buyouts and consolidations of middle-market companies, Kampe says. The firm prefers to invest in industries and business sectors such as distribution, government services and defense.

What’s more, the private equity already owns workplace safety equipment mailer Conney Safety Products, which it bought from Takkt America in 2007 for $48 million.

For its part, Conney Safety this past July bought Mettam Safety Supply Co.

Aramark, which itself was bought in 2006 by an investor group in a deal valued around $8.3 billion, is also getting out of the direct channel to focus on its core food service and facilities management business. Aramark said in 2009 it would stop selling its WearGuard-Crest work clothing and accessories brand in its catalog and direct mail pieces.