Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. (“Wynnchurch”), a leading middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement to sell Labrie Environmental Group, LLC (“Labrie” or the “Company”) to Hiab Corporation (HE:HIAB), a leading provider of smart and sustainable on-road load handling solutions.
Headquartered in Levis, Quebec, Labrie is a premier manufacturer of specialty refuse collection vehicles across North America. Labrie serves residential-focused haulers and municipalities across the U.S. and Canada, predominantly through its extensive dealer network. The Company designs and produces a comprehensive portfolio of automated side loaders, front loaders, rear loaders, and aftermarket parts and services under its Labrie, Wittke, and Leach brands.
Wynnchurch acquired Labrie in September 2020 and subsequently undertook a comprehensive transformation of the business, which included: building a new executive leadership team, significantly expanding manufacturing capacity, developing the Company’s dealer network in underpenetrated geographies, and driving continued innovation across its product portfolio. Over the course of Wynnchurch’s ownership, Labrie more than doubled production throughput, added new dealer locations, and introduced innovative products and features.
Greg Gleason, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, stated, “Labrie represented a unique opportunity to invest in a market leading platform in the essential and non-discretionary refuse industry. When we acquired the business, we saw a company with unparalleled brand recognition, proprietary technology, and deeply loyal customer relationships, but one that needed focused leadership, expanded capacity, and operational support to realize its full potential.”
John Hatherly, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch, added, “Labrie is a strong example of Wynnchurch’s approach to partnering with talented management teams and providing the resources, operational support, and strategic direction needed to accelerate growth and build a strong foundation for the future. We are grateful to Michael and his team for their leadership and wish them success in this next chapter.”
“Wynnchurch has been an outstanding partner throughout this transformation,” stated Michael Eastabrook, President and CEO of Labrie. “From the moment they invested in Labrie, the team at Wynnchurch committed the resources, expertise, and capital required to build something exceptional. Together, we professionalized our operations, invested in our people, deepened our dealer relationships, and accelerated our innovation agenda. I am enormously proud of the entire Labrie team and what we have accomplished together, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue to serve our customers with best-in-class refuse collection solutions.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals, and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2026.
Baird served as financial advisor to Labrie. Ropes & Gray LLP served as lead transaction counsel to Wynnchurch.
About Labrie:
Founded in 1971, Labrie is a leading manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles across North America. The Company markets its full suite of products under the Labrie (side loaders), Wittke (front loaders), and Leach (rear loaders) brands, which are all well-known and respected in the industry. The Company is headquartered in Levis, Quebec and operates manufacturing facilities located in Quebec, Georgia, and Mexico. For more information, please visit: www.labriegroup.com.
About Wynnchurch Capital:
Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999 and is a leading middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial growth and profit improvement.
Wynnchurch manages a number of private equity funds with $9.1 billion of assets under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs, and restructurings. Recently, Wynnchurch acquired NABRICO Marine Products, a leading manufacturer of hopper barges, tank barges, fiberglass covers, and marine components. Other recent investments include: Charter Industries, a leading provider of edgebanding and complementary products; Astro Shapes, a leading manufacturer of custom aluminum extrusions; and Principal Industries, a leading provider of LED components and engineered assemblies. For more information, please visit: www.wynnchurch.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
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