L Capital, The Lancer Group’s private equity affiliate, announcesinvestment in Gladson Holdings, the leading provider of digital content and omnichannel optimization solutions for the CPG and FMCG industries
SAN FRANCISCO & SAN DIEGO, CA – L Capital LLC is pleased to announce its second equity investment by its inaugural fund, L Capital I LP. The minority investment in Gladson Holdings was made in partnership with the The Wicks Group, a private investment firm based in New York City that invests in middle-market companies operating in selected segments of the information and education industries principally in the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1989, Wicks has invested over $1 billion of capital in more than 35 platform companies and approximately 100 add-on acquisitions.
Gladson Holdings was founded in 1971 and is a leading provider of digital content and related services to the consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”), fast-moving consumer goods (“FMCG”) and retail/grocery industries. Gladson delivers product data to support omni- channel initiatives that improve shopper engagement and that maximize efficiency within retail, online and logistics operations. The Company owns the largest proprietary product content library in the industry, containing more than 1 million individual products and 8 million product images. Its blue-chip client base includes some of the biggest household names in retail.
The Lancer Group was engaged by Wicks (Gladson’s sponsor) to assist with two pre-deal diligence and talent activities that resulted in expert diligence introductions and the hiring of Paul Salay as CEO of the company. L Capital completed a minority investment in Gladson in June 2017.
About The Lancer Group
The Lancer Group is a leading retained executive search firm that is trusted by private equity firms, their portfolio companies and public corporations to deliver high-impact leaders. The firm specializes in board-driven search mandates including CEOs, CFOs, C-suite executives and board directors as well as private equity investment professionals and operating partners. The Lancer Group has provided strategic counsel to clients across a range of industries and has particular expertise in technology, industrial, energy, healthcare and consumer markets.
With relationships at over 50 of the top 100 private equity firms, The Lancer Group provides a range of pre-deal private equity advisory services beyond traditional executive search. These services include deal origination, diligence support and introductions to “backable” executives.
Founded in 1998, The Lancer Group is privately held and operates from offices across North America and Australia (www.thelancergroup.com).
About L Capital
L Capital is a specialty private equity firm focused on the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector. L Capital makes equity co-investments alongside leading buyout and growth equity funds and provides advisory services including diligence support and deal origination. The affiliation with The Lancer Group provides access to a global talent network, proprietary deal flow, and relationships with 50 of the top 100 private equity firms ranked by assets under management.
L Capital is led by its co-founder and managing partner, Bart Foster. Bart is an experienced private equity investor who has made over $360M of private equity investments in the technology sector.
About Gladson Holdings
Founded in 1971, Gladson is the leading provider of product images, product content andrelated services for the US consumer packaged goods industry. The firm’s database iswidely acknowledged as the most complete, accurate and up-to-date database available, supporting shelf space management, category management, logistics, advertising, research and e-commerce applications such as online shopping and nutrition programs for consumers.
Firm Contacts
Scott Dunklee
(858) 551-1001 Ext. 2860
scott.dunklee@thelancergroup.com
Michael Misiaszek
(858) 551-1001 Ext. 2868
michael.misiaszek@thelancergroup.com
Liliana Corona
(858) 551-1001 Ext. 2874
liliana.corona@thelancergroup.com