Waupaca Foundry to be Acquired by Monomoy

WAUPACA, Wis., NEW YORK and TOKYO – Dec. 21, 2023 – Proterial, Ltd. (“Proterial”), a leading international producer of high-performance materials for mobility, industrial infrastructure, and electronics, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Monomoy Capital Partners (“Monomoy”) to acquire Waupaca Foundry, Inc. (“Waupaca Foundry” or the “Company”), North America’s leading supplier of cast and machined iron castings. Waupaca Foundry will continue to operate under its current management team, led by President, CEO, and COO Michael Nikolai. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Wisconsin with operations dating back to 1871, Waupaca Foundry supplies gray and ductile iron to diverse markets using state-of-the-art processes and technology led by high-caliber people and processes. Waupaca Foundry is the leading supplier of cast and machined iron castings for automotive, commercial vehicle, agriculture, construction, and other industrial markets. The Company has over 4,000 employees and operates five iron foundries with 1.4 million tons of capacity, making it one of the largest metal casting suppliers globally. 

“Waupaca Foundry is excited to start a new chapter with Monomoy, an experienced, operationally-focused investment group, to continue to invest and grow our commitment to our customers, suppliers, and employees. The Waupaca leadership team looks forward to a bright future and the opportunities that can stem from this partnership,” said Nikolai. “We are thankful for Proterial’s support and welcome the resources and partnership Monomoy will bring. Together, we will focus on capitalizing on opportunities to expand and grow the business in a wide range of sectors in the Americas, including the automotive, industrial machinery, agricultural machinery, and construction machinery sectors, while building upon our legacy of success.”

“In 2014, we partnered with Waupaca Foundry to further accelerate our global expansion. Since then, our successful collaboration resulted in the increased efficiency of manufacturing sites and raw material procurement in North America,” said Proterial Representative Director, Chairman, President, and CEO Sean Stack. “I would like to thank Mike, his team, and all the dedicated employees at Waupaca for their important contributions to the business and Proterial. We believe they will be in great hands with Monomoy and well-positioned for continued growth and success.”

“Waupaca Foundry has made tremendous advancements during its time with Proterial, and we are enthusiastic about building on that momentum as we establish our partnership with the Company,” said Monomoy Founding Partner and Co-CEO Dan Collin. “We look forward to working alongside Mike and the Waupaca team to leverage our operational resources to unlock continued growth.”

The transaction is expected to close in early 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions.  BMO Capital Markets Corp. provided debt financing for the transaction.

BMO Capital Markets Corp. served as exclusive financial advisor to Monomoy with respect to the transaction while Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal counsel.  JPMorgan Securities LLC and Moelis & Company LLC served as financial advisors and Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to Waupaca Foundry.