Arnott Industries
Private Equity Manager (GP)
Calera Capital
Details
Region
USA
Sector
Consumer
Stage
Medium buyout
Type
Fund secondary
Vintage
2015
Exit Type
Secondary Buyout
Highlights
Proceeds
£19.0m
Exit multiple
2.7x
IRR
15%
      About the 
company
Arnott Industries (“Arnott”), founded in 1989, is a global leader in the engineering and manufacturing of aftermarket replacement air suspension products and accessories for passenger vehicles.
Headquartered in Florida, the company offers a comprehensive range of products, including air struts, air springs, compressors and conversion kits.
Arnott’s products improve the ride quality of a range of cars and trucks, including vehicles manufactured by Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Arnott is known for its commitment to quality and innovation, serving the automotive aftermarket with reliable and high-performance solutions.
Investment rationale
- At the time of investment, Arnott Industries had a robust and scalable business model with substantial untapped growth potential.
 - Arnott’s strong competitive position in aftermarket air suspension products provided a strong foundation for future growth.
 - There was the potential to create value through accelerated new product launches, geographic expansion and accretive add-on acquisitions.
 - The partnership with Arnott’s founder, Adam Arnott, and CEO, Joe Santangelo, was central to the success of this investment.
 
Our relationship
Pantheon has a long-established relationship with Calera Capital, having previously invested in two secondary deals in their funds. Pantheon subsequently made a primary investment into Calera Capital Partners V.
Active management and value creation
- Over the course of the investment period, Arnott expanded its operations to serve customers in over 50 countries.
 - Arnott grew its core product line to over 800 offerings, all while continuing to provide a quality service to its key distribution and installer partners.
 - Company revenue more than doubled during PIN’s ownership, with double-digit organic growth rates and the completion of four highly strategic and accretive add-on acquisitions.
 
Exit
- In November 2024, Arnott was acquired by MidOcean Partners, a US-based private equity manager specialising in middle-market private equity, structured capital and alternative credit investments. PIN made a return of 2.7x on the original cost and an internal rate of return (“IRR”) of 15%.
 
