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Supports the Company’s strategic expansion while strengthening its position in the Southeast

Irving, TX – April 2, 2024 —

Shermco Industries, Inc. (“Shermco”), one of North America’s largest and fastest growing providers of electrical testing, maintenance, commissioning and repair services, announced today it has completed the acquisition of Power Test, Inc. (“Power Test”), a NETA-accredited electrical testing business based in Harrisburg, NC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Since 2005, Power Test has been a leader in providing field service, maintenance, testing, repair and analysis of power distribution systems and equipment to numerous customers in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas. Power Test is accredited by NETA, the InterNational Electrical Testing Association.

The Power Test management team, including Ron McCormick, Doug Templeton and Rich Walker, will join Shermco following the acquisition. Leveraging the support and resources of the wider Shermco organization, the team will continue to offer unmatched service excellence and a rigorous focus on safety, aligning with Shermco’s foundational values.

“This strategic acquisition is a significant milestone in our journey towards expanding and enhancing Shermco’s service offerings in the southeastern United States, and we anticipate continuing our acquisition strategy to expand our presence in key markets,” said Phil Petrocelli, CEO of Shermco.

Doug Templeton, owner at Power Test, added, “We are very excited to join the Shermco team, which shares our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in safety and professionalism for both our employees and clients. Their additional resources and expertise will allow us to continue to grow and add innovative services.”

Shermco is majority-owned by San Francisco-based Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm.

About Shermco
Headquartered in Irving, TX, Shermco provides electrical testing, maintenance, commissioning and repair services to a wide range of utility, industrial, energy and other end markets. With more than 40 locations, Shermco serves a diversified blue-chip client base across North America. The Company is an active participant in NETA (the InterNational Electrical Testing Association), EASA (Electrical Apparatus Service Association), and AWEA (American Wind Energy Association). For more information, visit www.shermco.com.

About Gryphon Investors
Gryphon Investors (https://www.gryphon-inv.com/) is a leading middle-market private equity firm focused on profitably-growing and competitively-advantaged companies in the Business Services, Consumer, Healthcare, Industrial Growth, and Software sectors. With approximately $9 billion of assets under management, Gryphon prioritizes investments in which it can form strong partnerships with founders, owners, and executives to accelerate the building of leading companies and generate enduring value through its integrated deal and operations business model. Gryphon’s highly-differentiated model integrates its well-proven Operations Resources Group, which is led by full-time, Gryphon senior operating executives with general management, human capital acquisition and development, treasury, finance, and accounting expertises. Gryphon’s three core investment strategies include its Flagship, Heritage, and Junior Capital strategies, each with dedicated funds of capital. The Flagship and Heritage strategies target equity investments of $50 million to $350 million per portfolio company. The Junior Capital strategy targets investments in junior securities of credit facilities, arranged by leading middle-market lenders, in both Gryphon-controlled companies, as well as in other private equity-backed companies operating in Gryphon’s targeted investment sectors.

Schijndel, March 27, 2024 – Belgian investment fund KeBeK Private Equity, together with Dutch
company Apicem Investments, has reached an agreement on the acquisition of a majority stake in
Askové. The current Managing Director of Askové, Leon Heemskerk, will remain involved as a minority
shareholder and will transfer the day-to-day management of the company to Lars Claassen,
Managing Partner of Apicem Investments.

Askové designs and builds high-quality process equipment based on thermoplastics. Over the years,
Askové has specialized in process technology, mechanical and control solutions for the treatment
and cleaning of fluids and emissions, in both biological and chemical ways. In doing so, Askové has
focused on finding practical and eƯicient solutions to problem situations concerning odor treatment
and handling of (contaminated) gases and chemical fluids in industrial processes. Furthermore,
Askové also specializes in the storage, transport and dosing of chemicals in the process industry.
The company works for a number of Water Boards, drinking water companies and renowned
industrial and food companies, among others.

Askové invests in research and development to create innovative process solutions that meet the
needs of its customers to comply with increasingly stringent regulations. This includes designing new
equipment and improving existing products to increase eƯiciency, reliability and safety.
The company is committed to long-term relationships with its customers and provides
comprehensive customer service and support. This includes training of customer personnel,
preventive maintenance, repairs and technical support to ensure that equipment continues to
perform optimally.

The company has approximately 35 dedicated employees. In recent years, Askové has experienced
substantial sales growth. Significant growth is also expected in the future, driven by the increasing
interest in biological purification and nitrogen issues, but also by expanding application areas and
broadening Askové’s product range, with continuity of high quality operations as a fixed value.

For more information:
Askové – www.askove.com

Leon Heemskerk: l.heemskerk@askove.com or +31 650 515141
Apicem – www.apicem.nl
Lars Claassen: l.claassen@apicem.nl or +31-(0)6-4342 5511

At Apicem Investments, we are passionate about entrepreneurship and believe in the power of
collaboration with a personal touch. We pursue strong partnerships with our portfolio companies
and investors, leveraging our expertise, network and personal experience to help them grow and
prosper.

KeBeK Private Equity – www.kebek.be
Gerd Smeets: Gerd.Smeets@kebek.be or +32 2 66 99 022

KeBeK is an independent Belgian investment fund that invests in solid, medium-sized companies
with an identifiable potential for further value creation. KeBeK actively supports the management
team of its participations in the implementation of the jointly defined business strategy. KeBeK
usually takes controlling interests, without however taking an operational role. The fund is managed
by 4 partners who have worked together for many years and have a proven track record in the private
equity industry. KeBeK’s resources are provided by recognized institutional investors, family oƯices
and successful entrepreneurs.

Eindhoven, 27 March 2024 –Metis Group has entered into an agreement with Strukton to acquire A1 Electronics, a provider of electronics manufacturing services, located in Almelo, the Netherlands. With A1 Electronics joining Metis, as per today, the group further strengthens its position in the growing electronics market.

A1 Electronics and its subsidiary Buca Electronics provide electronic manufacturing services focused on the high-mix, low-volume segment, servicing ~100 customers. The current management team consisting of Rudy and Rob Oude Vrielink, and Lamber Voortman, will participate as minority shareholders and maintain their roles as managing directors of A1 to ensure continuity and support further growth of the company.

The mutual strategic-operational collaboration with Metis will enable A1 Electronics to achieve an acceleration of growth and further increase the added value for its customers. A1 complements Metis Group with its very high-mix, low-volume production capabilities, and adds potting and cable assembly capabilities. Whereas Metis’ extensive engineering, technology and higher volume production capabilities will be beneficial for A1’s customers.

Reinier Beltman, CEO of Metis Group, remarks: “Following the launch of the Metis Group earlier this year, we are excited to welcome A1 Electronics to the Group. With over 23 years of experience, A1 Electronics is a very valuable addition. Joining forces will accelerate our joint growth path. We are looking forward to work with Rob, Rudy, Lamber and the team”.

Rudy Oude Vrielink, Managing Director of A1, adds: “We are excited to join Metis Group and are pleased to have found a partner that endorses our philosophy and enables us to provide even more added value to our customers. We look forward to the collaboration with Metis”.

Boris Wirtz, chairman of Metis Group’s Supervisory Board, concludes: “As Supervisory Board we are pleased to welcome A1 to the Metis Group. The acquisition fits perfectly in our buy-and-build strategy which is focused on creating a group of high-quality electronics companies that complement and strengthen each other, whereby we concentrate on realizing synergies through continued knowledge and best-practice sharing”.

About A1 Electronics
Established in 2001, A1 Electronics has developed into a one-stop provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS). The Company specializes in assembling printed circuit boards and integrated finalized products. Its capabilities include SMT, THT, cable assembly, box-build, testing, potting, logistics and lifecycle management services.

A1 Electronics distinguishes itself through its seamless integration of quality and delivery performance. Its commitment to excellence begins with qualified and skilled personnel, supported by a state-of-the-art machine park that adheres to the latest industry guidelines and certifications.
The company has demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility, notably through its subsidiary Buca Electronics, which exclusively employs individuals with a distance to the labor market.

For more information about A1 Electronics, please visit https://www.a1electronics.nl

About Metis Group
Metis Group is a group of electronics companies that provide development, manufacturing and product life cycle management services to customers in a variety of markets. With a combined revenue of well over EUR 130M+ and a strong and committed workforce of 500+ employees across multiple locations in the Netherlands including Eindhoven, Veendam, Drachten and Almelo; Metis Group is ready to support its partners with high-tech electronics solutions.

For more information about Metis Group and its subsidiaries, please visit https://metis-group.nl

We are pleased to announce that Groome Industrial Service Group (“Groome”), a portfolio company of Argosy Private Equity has completed the acquisition of W-S Companies.

W-S Companies and its subsidiaries, (collectively “W-S” or the “Company”), is a provider of industrial services through eight associated entities, offering industrial cleaning and maintenance services such as abrasive grit-blasting, mechanical machine maintenance, explosive de-slagging, welding, and environmental waste removal and disposal, catering primarily to gas & coal-fired power plants. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the Company operates out of 15 facilities spanning Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin, with additional satellite facilities in Nebraska and North Dakota.

For over 50 years, Groome has provided specialty maintenance services nationwide for several industries including natural gas-fired power generation, coal-fired power generation, refinery, shipping, manufacturing, and aviation. As an industry leader focused on the future, Groome’s turnkey services reduce harmful emissions, improve plant performance, and extend the life of valuable industrial equipment. Their experienced in-house labor teams have helped to establish Groome as the maintenance provider of choice.

W-S provides complementary service offerings to Groome’s base industrial cleaning services, such as industrial and municipal waste removal and disposal, welding & pipefitting education, hydro-excavation, and industrial vacuuming. Additionally, synergies in the customer base in the Midwest and South are expected to offer combined cross-selling opportunities. The acquisition is also expected to improve seasonality of revenue.

Jeff Bause, President & CEO of Groome, stated, “We are excited for W-S to join the Groome Team, creating a bigger and better specialty maintenance company with an even stronger nationwide presence. Both companies provide a service mix that is complimentary to one another while also offering unique specialty services. This acquisition now gives Groome one of the broadest offerings in the industry.”

“We are thrilled about the combination of Groome and W-S. Given Groome’s experience with previous acquisitions, we have confidence in the team’s demonstrated ability to execute integration plans. The consolidated companies now offer a comprehensive suite of services delivered on a national scale. This acquisition not only strengthens Groome’s position in the market but also underscores our commitment to providing unparalleled value and support to its clients,” said Keven Shanahan, Managing Partner, Argosy Private Equity.

Integration is already underway. The Groome and W-S management teams, along with Argosy, are actively working on implementing Argosy’s Value Acceleration Methodology (VAM™) acquisition program to help integrate the operations, realize synergies between the companies, and seek to grow the combined company.

For more information, please contact Keven Shanahan at kshanahan@argosycapital.com

NEW YORK, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Apollo-managed Funds (“Apollo Funds” or the “Funds”) have agreed to sell 65.2 million common equity shares in Vallourec SA (Euronext: VK; “Vallourec”, the “Company”), a value-added manufacturer of premium tubular steel products, for €14.64 per share to ArcelorMittal. The shares sold represent a 28.4% equity interest¹ in Vallourec and a total transaction value of approximately €955 million, and upon close will mark the Apollo Funds’ exit of the investment.

“We’re proud of the extremely strong results achieved during our Funds’ ownership as the Company transformed its operations under a top leadership team led by Philippe Guillemot and established itself as a focused world leader in the manufacturing of high performance tubular products. Along with this business transformation have come record levels of profitability, a more sustainable competitive position and an opportunity to capture future growth in the energy transition markets,” said Apollo Partner Gareth Turner. “There is still considerable potential to expand upon what we have achieved but it is now appropriate for Apollo to transition our Funds’ shareholding to an industrial partner that can take the Company forward. We remain confident that Vallourec is well-positioned for long-term growth and we wish Philippe and the entire team continued success.”

Philippe Guillemot, Vallourec Chairman and CEO, said, “Apollo’s operational and capital markets expertise was instrumental to Vallourec’s turnaround, and we thank the Apollo team for their unfailing support and world-class partnership. With Apollo’s Funds’ assistance, we have fundamentally changed the operational and financial structure of Vallourec and we believe we are on the right trajectory to deliver enhanced shareholder value over the coming years.”

After leading the financial restructuring of Vallourec, Apollo Funds became the largest equity investor in Vallourec in 2021. As a strategic capital partner, Apollo played a pivotal role in the design, launch, and implementation of the “New Vallourec” plan in May 2022, which helped to transform the Company’s operational design, footprint and capabilities, and drove EBITDA from €258mm in 2020 prior to Apollo Funds’ investment to €1,196mm in 2023, reflecting the best results in nearly 15 years.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2023, Apollo had approximately $651 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Contacts

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

¹ Not taking into account preferred shares already issued but not vested as of today.

Source: Apollo Global Management, Inc.

Released March 12, 2024

After 4 years of investment, AUCTUS completes the exit of Profiltubi S.p.A.

AUCTUS announces the sale of the entire shares of the Italian Profiltubi Group including O.M.V Ventura to a new strategic partner – the Eusider Group. Profiltubi is a key player in the Italian market for the production and distribution of carbon steel welded tubes, with a consolidated turnover in excess of 100 million euros.

The Profiltubi Group, based in Reggiolo, Italy, has been operating in the steel sector for 50 years and specializes in the production of electro-welded carbon steel tubes, which can be produced in various shapes and sizes. Since its majority investment in 2020, AUCTUS supported the further business development of Profiltubi in partnership with its CEO Giorgio Figerio and some members of the Alfieri family, fostered the transition to a modern management and implemented a targeted M&A strategy that resulted in the add-on acquisition of 100 percent of O.M.V. Ventura in 2021.

Eusider Group is headquartered in Costamasnaga, Italy, and is owned by the second generation of the Anghileri family. Eusider is one of Italy’s leading service centers within the metal processing industry, operating with 900 employees at 10 other subsidiaries and 15 production facilities, producing around 1.3 million tons of steel. The group reported a turnover of EUR 1.2 billion and an EBITDA of 10.6% in 2022.

Giorgio Frigerio, who will continue to be responsible for the Profiltubi Group as CEO, stated, “I am really grateful – also on behalf of all Profiltubi and OMV employees – for this transaction with the Eusider Group, which will enable us to further develop significantly within the welded tube sector. As an experienced manager in the Italian steel industry, I was pleasantly surprised to find in AUCTUS not only a reliable and professional financial investor but also, and probably mostly, a partner with a clear and strong entrepreneurial mindset.”

The vendors were supported by the firm ADVANT Nctm (Michele Motta, Giovanni de’ Capitani di Vimercate, Lucilla Casati, and Vittoria Belcuore) as legal advisor.

On behalf of AUCTUS the transaction was managed and executed by Dr. Nicolas Himmelmann, Marco Bortot and Luca Astarita.

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About AUCTUS
AUCTUS is the most active investment company for small- and medium-sized companies in Europe with more than 415 investments in the past 23 years. The focus of our investments is on majority holdings in companies with annual sales of between EUR 10 million and EUR 150 million. AUCTUS stands for sustainable organic and also inorganic growth by acquisitions. We achieve this in a trustful partnership together with the management of our companies. We are specialized in building successful medium-sized company groups – We create market leaders. The more than 35 experienced AUCTUS investment experts currently manage around 50 platform investments from various sectors of the economy. The sum of the platform investments with a total of more than 200 individual companies achieves annual sales of € 3 billion. Sales and results have been growing at >10% per year for years. Our successful work is regularly rewarded with prestigious awards and top international rankings.