Austin, Texas – Blue Sage Capital, a leading lower-middle market private capital firm, today announced the first and final close of the Blue Sage Strategic Credit Fund, L.P. (the “Fund”), at $287 million, including a substantial commitment from the General Partner. This fundraising occurred only months after Blue Sage announced the closing of its $618 million flagship buyout fund, Blue Sage Capital IV. The Fund was significantly oversubscribed, closing above its initial target of $150 million and initial hard cap of $262 million. Blue Sage structured the new fund as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) and limited the fund size to maintain its lower-middle market focus. Blue Sage is backed by a global group of Limited Partners, including well-known college/university endowments, charitable foundations, pension funds, large family offices, insurance companies, and entrepreneurial individuals. Several of the Limited Partners have now partnered with Blue Sage across multiple prior funds, some going back to the firm’s founding almost 25 years ago.

The Fund continues Blue Sage’s strategy of partnering with founders, families, and management teams in high-potential lower-middle market businesses. As with prior Blue Sage funds, the fund focuses on investment partnerships with environmental solutions, niche manufacturing, and specialty services companies in North America, particularly in Texas, the Southwest, and the Midwest. The Fund will invest in both debt and equity securities, with the flexibility to provide creative investment structures that align well with their partners’ needs. The firm strongly prefers to be the first institutional investor in the companies with which it partners.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Blue Sage Capital (“Blue Sage”) is pleased to announce its recent investment in the merger of Skid Pro Attachments Inc. and Accessories Unlimited LLC (“AU”) (together, “Skid Pro” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated provider of attachments for skid steers and compact track loaders. The transaction marks a combination of two robust and complementary businesses. It also represents a strategic partnership between Blue Sage and the new Skid Pro leadership team.

Founded in 2011 by Ben Hartwell and Josh Sanden, Skid Pro has established itself as a leading sales and marketing platform for high-quality attachments, selling directly to thousands of customers across a variety of end markets, including vegetation management, landscaping, snow clearing, construction, and forestry. Accessories Unlimited, founded in 2006 by Mark Rasmussen and Travis Ballard, has grown alongside Skid Pro as its dedicated engineering and manufacturing partner. AU provides quality and custom-built products tailored for various end user specifications. The merger brings these two entities formally under one platform, aligning operations, strengthening supply chains, and expanding a portfolio of nearly 100 products. Blue Sage's investment in Skid Pro reflects an ongoing commitment to partnering with high-performing, founder-owned companies backed by strong management teams.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Blue Sage Capital (“Blue Sage”) is pleased to announce its recently completed investment in Clean Scapes Enterprises, Inc. (“Clean Scapes” or the “Company”), a leading commercial landscaping business based in Austin, Texas. The transaction marks a strategic partnership between Blue Sage and Clean Scapes’ leadership team to accelerate the Company’s expansion across Texas and beyond.

Founded in 2005 by Rex Gore and Ivan Giraldo, Clean Scapes has grown to become a premier provider of landscape design, installation, maintenance, and enhancement services to a wide variety of commercial property types across Texas. The Company represents Blue Sage’s continued commitment to partnering with industry-leading companies with exceptional management teams.

“We are thrilled to partner with a recognized and trusted commercial landscaping platform in our hometown,” said Eric Weiner, Partner at Blue Sage. “Equally exciting is the opportunity to work alongside a high-caliber team led by CEO Bubba Nickel. We have long admired Clean Scapes’ journey from a humble startup to a top-tier regional landscaping business, and we are eager to continue the Company’s growth trajectory across its end-to-end suite of services.”

AUSTIN, TX – Blue Sage Capital, a leading lower-middle market private equity firm, today announced the final close of Blue Sage Capital IV, L.P. (the “Fund”), at $618 million including a substantial commitment from the General Partner. The Fund was significantly oversubscribed, closing above its initial target of $400 million, initial hard cap of $550 million, and more than double its $300 million prior fund size. Blue Sage limited the size of the Fund to maintain its lower-middle market focus and could not fully accommodate a substantial amount of Limited Partner interest generated in only months of fundraising. Blue Sage is backed by a global group of Limited Partners including well-known college/university endowments, charitable foundations, pension funds, large family offices, insurance companies, and entrepreneurial individuals. Many of the Limited Partners have now partnered with Blue Sage across multiple prior funds, some going back to the firm’s founding almost 25 years ago.

The Fund continues Blue Sage’s strategy of partnering with founders, families, and management teams in high-potential lower-middle market businesses. As with prior Blue Sage funds, Fund IV focuses on investment partnerships with environmental solutions, niche manufacturing, and specialty services companies in North America, particularly in Texas, the Southwest, and the Midwest. Blue Sage strongly prefers to be the first institutional investor in the companies with which it partners.

AUSTIN, TX – All-State Industries, Inc. (“All-State”), a Des Moines, IA-based portfolio company of Blue Sage Capital (“Blue Sage”), is pleased to announce its acquisition of United Gasket Corp. (“United Gasket”). United Gasket is a leading manufacturer of custom non-metallic components, including adhesive-backed gaskets, felts, and other flexible parts. United Gasket and its subsidiary, Gaskoa, Inc., have a long-tenured history serving a diverse range of industries, including electronics, rail, non-engine auto, HVAC, pumps and lighting.

“We are very excited to welcome United Gasket into the All-State family, as Mark and team have built an exceptional business that is poised for continued growth,” said Scott Pulver, CEO of All-State. “With the addition of United, All-State will now have a broadly diversified die cut operation with the ability to handle the full spectrum of size, volume, and material types that allow us to better service our existing customer base and pursue growth in new, untapped markets.”

Mark Pahios, CEO of United Gasket noted, “All-State is the exact partner that we were looking for. We take great pride in servicing our customers and this partnership will allow us to provide even more value through the full range of All-State’s nonmetallic solutions.” Mark Pahios will continue to lead the United Gasket division as part of the All-State platform.

AUSTIN, TX - Baker Manufacturing Company, LLC (“Baker”), an Evansville, WI-based portfolio company of Blue Sage Capital (“Blue Sage”), is pleased to announce its acquisition of the Pump Division of A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co (“A.Y. McDonald”). The acquisition will include A.Y. McDonald’s full pump product line, which includes its comprehensive portfolio of submersible pumps, booster pumps, jets, sump pumps, and pressure tanks for the residential and agricultural markets.

The transaction marks the first acquisition Baker has completed since partnering with Blue Sage in July 2022 and will serve to expand Baker’s Water Systems product offerings and market coverage.

"We are thrilled to bring A.Y. McDonald’s Pump Division into the Baker family,” said Don Wesdell, CEO and President of Baker. “A.Y. McDonald’s rich history and strong reputation in the industry will be a cornerstone of this transition, and we are committed to maximizing the legacy of their pump products while continuing to meet the needs of our valued customers.”

“This acquisition is a tremendous opportunity for Baker Manufacturing while allowing us to further enhance our focus on the water works, natural gas, and plumbing industries,” said Rob McDonald, CEO of A.Y. McDonald. “Baker Manufacturing is a trusted source with deep expertise in this market, and we are confident that they will continue to grow and enhance this pump division with the same dedication and quality our customers have come to expect.”