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Management and Gilde Buy Out Partners acquire Spandex from Gerber Scientific, Inc.

22 AUGUST 2011 - Tolland, Zurich – Gilde Buy Out Partners (‘Gilde’) announces the acquisition of the Spandex Group (‘Spandex’) from Gerber Scientific, Inc. (‘Gerber’) by funds managed by Gilde as well as Spandex management. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Spandex is a leading supplier to the sign making and display industry. The company is specialized in marketing, sales, distribution and support of sign making and printing related systems and materials. Headquartered in Ruemlang/Switzerland, Spandex has various operations across Europe and Australia.

Spandex has been a business division of Gerber, an international supplier of automated manufacturing systems for the sign making, specialty graphics, packaging, apparel and industrial industries based in Tolland, Connecticut/USA. Gerber was recently acquired by Vector Capital, a US based private equity firm. With the acquisition, Spandex becomes an independent company and management, with the support of Gilde, will continue to execute its growth strategy.

Rod Larson, CEO of Spandex: “We at Spandex are delighted to become associated with Gilde. Spandex, as a stand-alone enterprise, will be able to accelerate its growth and at the same time benefit from the support and resources which Gilde can bring to bear”.

“The acquisition of Spandex represents an exciting opportunity for Gilde to invest in one of the leading companies in a growing industry”, says Ralph Wyss, Managing Director of Gilde Buy Out Partners. “We will support Spandex' growth strategy that is aimed at further expansion in the company’s existing markets as well as in new markets”, Wyss adds.

Press Release | Acquisition of the Spandex Group (PDF)