Event Photography Group Completes Key Acquisitions in 2012
SADDLE BROOK, NEW JERSEY, January 2013 -- Friend Skoler & Co., Inc., a private equity firm that invests in leading companies in the smaller end of the middle market, announced today that its portfolio company, Event Photography Group, Inc. (“EPG”), closed five key acquisitions in 2012, establishing in the process two new business segments. These acquisitions enhanced EPG’s position as North America’s premier photographer and direct marketer of treasured personal and family images.
In February 2012, EPG acquired University Photography of Lawrence, Kansas, a regional competitor in the graduation photography market and a leader in composite photography, a new capability for EPG. EPG’s new Composite division serves sororities and fraternities across the country and provides portraiture services and framed composites that display every member of the organization for each year. The Composite division leverages EPG’s relationships with colleges and provides further brand building opportunities with students.
In October 2012, EPG acquired Brightroom, Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas, a competitor in the endurance race photography industry. The Brightroom acquisition reinforces EPG's leading position in international endurance race photography and makes EPG the exclusive photographer of the five World Marathon Majors (New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Berlin marathons). In addition, the acquisition of Brightroom provides EPG with photo lab fulfillment operations based in Fort Worth, Texas.
In November 2012, EPG acquired Worldwide Photography (“WWP”), a leader in holiday mall-based photography. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, WWP operates seasonal studios featuring photos with Santa and Easter Bunny characters at mall locations nationwide. The iconic nature of the Santa and Easter Bunny photos match EPG’s strategic positioning, and the WWP acquisition expands EPG’s base of consumers to include younger families. The acquisition of WWP provides a solid new business vertical for EPG.
In December 2012, EPG continued its efforts to consolidate the graduation photography industry by acquiring the graduation photography business of two regional competitors, Mangiante Photography, based in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chadon Photographers, based in Bloomington, Indiana. EPG has acquired 13 graduation photography businesses since its founding in 2007.
Steven Skoler, a Managing Director of Friend Skoler, stated “With the 2012 acquisitions, EPG enhanced its leading market positions in graduation and endurance race photography, acquired a state-of-the art photographic printing facility, and entered the composite and mall-based holiday photography markets with leading companies and strong management teams. We are excited to support EPG’s management in their endeavors to expand the Company’s platform and capabilities.”
About Friend Skoler & Co.
Founded in 1998, Friend Skoler & Co., Inc. is a private equity firm that invests in leading companies in the smaller end of the middle market in partnership with management. FSC typically invests between $5 million and $30 million of equity per transaction. A key element of the firm's strategy is to leverage its extensive experience as investors in and operators of middle market companies. Friend Skoler is headquartered in Saddle Brook, NJ. For additional information, please visit www.friendskoler.com.
About Event Photography Group, Inc.
Founded in 2007 through the acquisitions of Bob Knight Photomarketing and Chappell Studio, Event Photography Group is the leading photographer and direct marketer of treasured individual and family images, including graduations, endurance races, and mall visits with company-provided holiday themed characters. For additional information, please visit www.GradImages.com, www.MarathonFoto.comand www.WWPonline.com.
For additional information, contact:
Cheryl Moss
Friend Skoler & Co., Inc.
201-712-0075
cmoss@friendskoler.com