Ci Capital Partners, a prominent New York-based private equity firm, has announced the successful sale of its portfolio company, Impact Group, to Acosta, a leading integrated sales and marketing services provider in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This strategic move marks a significant achievement for CI Capital Partners, highlighting their expertise in fostering growth and value creation within middle-market companies. Impact Group, under CI Capital’s ownership since April 2016, has transformed from a regional player into a national force in outsourced sales and marketing solutions for CPG manufacturers.
During its partnership with CI Capital Partners, Impact Group experienced substantial growth, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. A key aspect of CI Capital’s value creation strategy was the execution of 12 add-on acquisitions, significantly expanding Impact Group’s service offerings and market reach. Beyond acquisitions, CI Capital Partners actively supported Impact Group in enhancing its capabilities through investments in e-commerce, technology, and operational efficiencies. These improvements included developing strategic partnerships and hiring key personnel to bolster e-commerce expertise, implementing advanced technology systems and business intelligence tools, and streamlining operations to improve forecasting and overall performance.
This focused approach enabled Impact Group to expand its presence from a regional focus in six Western states to a national footprint covering the 48 contiguous states. The results of CI Capital Partners’ strategic guidance are clearly reflected in Impact Group’s financial performance. Since 2016, the company has achieved remarkable growth, with revenue increasing ninefold and EBITDA experiencing a tenfold surge.
Tim Hall, Managing Director at CI Capital Partners, articulated the firm’s vision for Impact Group: “When we invested in Impact Group in 2016, we recognized an opportunity to cultivate a company that effectively serves the high-growth, specialty, and natural food sectors. Through a proactive buy-and-build strategy, we successfully expanded the company both organically and through carefully selected acquisitions, establishing a premier customer base and a nationwide presence.” Will Swayne, also a Managing Director at CI Capital Partners, added, “We deeply value the collaborative partnership we have built with the Impact Group team over the past five years and wish them continued success in their exciting next chapter with Acosta.”
Matt Buskirk, President of Impact Group, acknowledged CI Capital Partners’ pivotal role in the company’s transformation: “With CI Capital’s backing, Impact Group redefined itself from a regional, specialized entity to a national leader with deep local market expertise in natural, specialty, ethnic, and emerging brands. Our collaboration has been instrumental in building a robust company poised to further enhance its offerings and deliver even greater value to our clients moving forward.”
Following the sale to Acosta, CI Capital Partners will retain Impact Group’s Cluep business unit, a digital advertising agency acquired in September 2018. The transaction is anticipated to be finalized in July 2021, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions.
About Impact Group
Established in 1994, Impact Group is a dynamic and results-oriented sales and marketing agency with a nationwide presence. Leveraging decades of collective experience in the retail broker and CPG industry, Impact Group empowers clients to forge stronger connections with retailers and achieve significant growth and sales. The agency is committed to driving change through innovative services encompassing sales, merchandising, and category analytics for CPG companies. Trusted by over 700 leading CPG companies, Impact Group is recognized for its authentic, strategic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial culture. For further details, please visit https://www.impactgrp.com.
About CI Capital Partners
CI Capital Partners LLC is a leading North American private equity firm managing approximately $1.3 billion in assets. With a focus on middle-market companies since 1993, CI Capital Partners cultivates partnerships with experienced management teams and entrepreneurs to build substantial businesses. Their approach involves strategic add-on acquisitions, organic growth initiatives, and operational enhancements. To date, CI Capital Partners and its portfolio companies have executed over 395 acquisitions, representing approximately $10 billion in enterprise value. For more information about CI Capital Partners, please visit www.cicapllc.com.
