Columbus, NE – Columbus Hydraulics (“Columbus” or the “Company”), a portfolio company of Arctic Capital and Northstar Capital, has been acquired by Wipro Hydraulics, the hydraulic cylinder manufacturing business of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering. Hennepin Partners acted as Columbus’ exclusive financial advisor. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Taft served as legal counsel to the Company.
Columbus Hydraulics is a U.S. based manufacturer of custom hydraulic cylinder solutions. The Company specializes in high-mix, low-volume custom solutions for markets and applications that demand quality, performance, reliability and durability. Established in 1952 and headquartered in Columbus, NE, Columbus Hydraulics has a strong reputation for designing, engineering and manufacturing hydraulic solutions for mobile equipment OEMs across agriculture, construction, turf maintenance and marine applications. Columbus’ cylinders are engineered to be customer and application specific, creating meaningful differentiation from standard size and function.
Arctic Capital and Northstar Capital commented on the transaction and Hennepin Partners’ involvement stating, “The team at Hennepin Partners has been a value-add partner throughout our investment period. The Hennepin Partners team provided guidance and advice during our hold period and continued by delivering senior banker led process execution to get us to the conclusion of the sale to Wipro. Hennepin Partners’ advice, process leadership and the resources they made available to us and the Company from start to finish were key to achieving a successful outcome.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Pratik Kumar, CEO, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering & Managing Director, Wipro Enterprises, said, “As a leading independent hydraulic cylinder manufacturer, Wipro Hydraulics has established a significant presence in all growth markets. This acquisition strengthens our position and enhances our manufacturing capabilities in North America. By integrating Columbus Hydraulics’ expertise in customized hydraulic solutions, we aim to provide even more comprehensive offerings to our customers.”
Sitaram Ganeshan, President, Wipro Hydraulics, added, “The acquisition of Columbus Hydraulics, following our recently acquired Mailhot Industries, is a strategic move to accelerate growth in North America. This acquisition complements our product and customer portfolio, allowing us to offer a broader range of hydraulic solutions for varied applications. Our combined skilled workforce will enable us to innovate for the current and future needs of our customers.”
Brian Schneider of Northstar Capital, said, “I want to express my gratitude to the Columbus Hydraulics team for their dedication throughout this remarkable growth journey. Wipro is the perfect partner to propel Columbus into its next stage of expansion in North America. I look forward to seeing Columbus thrive under Wipro’s leadership.”