MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – CriticalPoint Partners, LLC (“CriticalPoint”) is pleased to announce that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to Xcel Wetsuits (“Xcel” or “the Company”), a global leader in protective sports equipment for watermen and a portfolio company of Wedge Brands, on its investment from Gladstone Capital Corporation (Nasdaq:GLAD) (“Gladstone Capital”). The investment from Gladstone Capital will provide Xcel with flexible capital to invest in growth initiatives and help accelerate the Company’s international expansion plans.
Founded in 1982 on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel designs and markets high-quality, innovative equipment and apparel for the surfing, diving, and paddleboarding categories. The Company’s products are distributed through specialty retail stores both domestically and internationally as well as through e-commerce channels. Xcel’s passionate focus on product design, revolutionary materials, and best-in-class manufacturing has revolutionized the watersports industry.
Jarka Duba, a Director at Xcel commented, “The CriticalPoint team was the key to success in this transaction. We were extremely pleased with their attention to detail and impressed by their focus on deal execution throughout the process. They were an invaluable resource in finding the right investor for the next stage of Xcel’s growth and delivering an excellent outcome for all stakeholders.”
CriticalPoint served as the exclusive financial advisor to Xcel in connection with the transaction. The transaction, led by Nick Cipiti on behalf of CriticalPoint, demonstrates the firm’s expertise in middle market consumer products transactions and commitment to act as a trusted advisor with proven abilities to deliver for its clients.
To learn more about Xcel, please visit http://www.xcelwetsuits.com.
Please contact Nick Cipiti with any questions about this transaction.
Nick Cipiti
Managing Director
Direct: (310) 321-4172
[email protected]
About CriticalPoint
Headquartered in Los Angeles, CriticalPoint is a leading full-service financial M&A firm that uniquely combines the best of investment banking, private capital, and valuation service offerings. CriticalPoint executes, sources, and invests in deals across a wide variety of industries for the traditionally underserved middle market. Since our founding in 2012, our mission has been to serve the needs of owners, entrepreneurs, management teams, and stakeholders with our experience, knowledge, and expert judgment, to help them realize their companies’ greatest potential. From our deep-rooted foundation in private equity and investment banking, and our devotion to deal origination and business development, combined with being entrepreneurs at heart, we believe we are differentiated and well positioned to help companies wherever they are in their life cycle.
