Mechanix Wear, a designer and manufacturer of performance work gloves, has announced the acquisition of Kinco, a 50-year-old, family-owned company specializing in glove production. Mechanix Wear is a portfolio company of middle-market private investment firm Gryphon Investors.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1975, Kinco manufactures and distributes gloves for farm, outdoor, and industrial use, with an enthusiast following in the ski and snowboard industry. The company primarily sells its products through retail partners and direct-to-consumer channels. Travis Kindler, son of the company’s founders and current owner, will remain at Kinco as president, reporting to Mechanix Wear CEO Jesse Spungin, and will retain a minority stake. The acquisition includes Welch, a work and safety suspender business owned by Kinco.
Spungin said, “We are delighted to join forces with Travis and the Kinco team. As leading protective apparel brands with distinguished family histories, our companies share a track record of quality and durability, long-lasting customer relationships and a growth mindset. Kinco is a natural complement to the Mechanix Wear platform and will broaden our product portfolio and channel footprint, expanding upon our mission to deliver trusted hand protection.”
This transaction represents the second add-on acquisition for the Mechanix Wear platform, which previously acquired Chicago Protective Apparel.
Kindler commented, “We are thrilled to join the iconic Mechanix Wear brand and could not envision a better home for the Kinco business. Our employees and customers will benefit from the scale and broader resources of a larger company, and with Gryphon’s capital and operational resources behind us, we will invest in growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction to ensure a long-lasting legacy for the business we have been honored to build.”
EC M&A acted as the financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis acted as the legal advisor to Gryphon. Adaptive Capital Partners acted as financial advisor, and Petersen + Landis acted as legal advisor to Kinco.
Founded in 1991, Mechanix Wear debuted “The Original” work glove at the 1991 Daytona 500. Headquartered in Valencia, CA, the company sells its products in over 20,000 retail store locations across more than 70 countries and through industrial distributors.
Image courtesy Mechanix Wear
