Private equity firm Crestview Partners has completed a majority investment into JMP Solutions, an Ontario-based automation systems integrator. JMP is the first step in Crestview’s strategy to invest $200 million of equity to build a market leading global automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments, delivering fully automated solutions to customers.
JMP marks Crestview’s fourth industrial technology investment in recent years and second investment in automation, following its acquisition of JR Automation in 2015, which it sold in 2019. Under Crestview’s ownership, JR expanded from $170 million of sales and five production facilities in the U.S to more than $600 million of sales and 23 facilities worldwide through both organic growth and four acquisitions.
Other current Crestview industrial technology investments include ATC Drivetrain, Elo Touch Solutions and SyBridge Technologies.
JMP is an automation systems integrator and automation services provider headquartered in London, Ontario and with additional operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1987, the company designs, engineers and integrates hardware and software to automate its customers’ manufacturing, production and distribution facilities.
JMP president Scott Shawyer and the rest of the JMP leadership team will remain with the company in their current capacities.
“This investment builds on Crestview’s experience investing in industrial technology businesses to create global leaders,” said Alex Rose, co-president and partner at Crestview. “We systematically look for niche markets where we believe we can increase the scope of products and services offered and the geographic reach of the businesses to create global solutions providers in markets that lack them. In spite of its size, importance and growth, the automation industry remains highly fragmented and ripe for the development of another global technology leader. We are excited to partner with the team at JMP to help accelerate the company’s global growth and position the business for long-term success.”
MNP acted as financial advisor and Miller Thomson LLP acted as legal advisor to JMP. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Stikeman Elliott LLP served as legal advisors to Crestview.