NEW ORLEANS – LongueVue Capital, a New Orleans-based private equity firm, has announced its investment in Kingston Brass, a designer and distributor of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, bathtubs and accessories. LVC and its consumer operating partner Chris Homeister partnered with Kingston’s founders, Erik Chen and Frieda Lin, to “accelerate growth through strategic investments focused on customer, channel, product and distribution expansion,” said a company spokesperson.
Headquartered in Chino, Calif., Kingston designs and distributes water fixtures, bathtubs, kitchen and bathroom accessories, and other plumbing products for both residential and commercial applications. Kingston operates in both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business channels. Founded in 1998, the company has approximately 150 full-time and part-time employees.
“We are extremely excited to partner with Kingston,” said Ryan Nagim, managing partner at LVC. “Given our relevant experience with a highly analogous business, TileBar, we strongly believe that we can immediately add value and strategically support the company’s leadership team. We look forward to driving growth both organically and through acquisitions.”
“Kingston’s recent successes serve as a testament to the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence in service, unparalleled quality, and continuous innovation,” said Chris Homeister. “We are delighted to enter this partnership with an exceptional team that deeply appreciates LVC’s collaborative approach and shares our strategic vision and cultural values.”
“Kingston has an impressive track record of organic growth within the kitchen and bathroom fixtures market. With its proprietary, innovative designs and seamless channel integration, Kingston is not just a provider of plumbing fixtures; it’s a lifestyle brand,” said Evan Golden, principal at LVC. “We are thrilled to partner with the Kingston team, and together we believe the Company is well positioned to become a disruptive industry leader.”
LVC Vice President Erin Saer, Senior Associate Nick Davaz and Associate Rankin Hobbs worked alongside Ryan Nagim, Chris Homeister and Evan Golden on the Kingston transaction. Abacus Finance provided senior debt financing in support of the transaction. Greenberg Traurig LLP served as legal counsel to LVC.
Founded in 2001, LongueVue Capital partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to drive value creation in middle-market companies. The company has managed over $1 billion of committed capital spanning five funds. It has invested in a variety of industries, including consumer, healthcare, specialty packaging, food and beverage, transportation and logistics, and precision manufacturing.
