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Highlights
- East West Engineering’s sale marks a key milestone for Arbor Permanent Owners' investment model.
- Arbor adopts a unique permanent capital approach, focusing on long-term, sustainable growth.
- East West Engineering offers innovative material handling solutions across multiple industries.
Grant Thornton has provided strategic advisory services to East West Engineering, a leading Australian supplier of forklift attachments and material handling equipment, on its sale to Arbor Permanent Owners. The sale marks a significant milestone as Arbor’s first cornerstone investment, with plans to build a portfolio of strong Australian businesses that can serve the needs of those looking for succession solutions.
Based in Brookvale, Sydney, East West Engineering was established in 1981 by Ron King. Over the past four decades, the company has earned a reputation for its expansive range of quality products and its commitment to continuous innovation. Its diverse products cater to industries such as construction, farming, manufacturing, warehousing, mining, and infrastructure. In a statement, King emphasized that Arbor’s unique investment approach, which ensures the capital remains permanent and is not tied to a typical investment fund life, was key to offering stability for the future growth of East West Engineering.
Arbor Permanent Owners, a collective of entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs, operates under a distinctive investment philosophy. Unlike traditional private equity firms, Arbor avoids a set investment horizon and provides permanent capital, which allows the company to focus on long-term, incremental growth without the pressure of fund life expiration. This aligns with East West Engineering’s values and vision for ongoing sustainability and innovation, allowing the company to continue providing exceptional material handling solutions to its clients for years to come.
Grant Thornton’s Holly Stiles, Partner and National Head of Corporate Finance, commented that as the business owner demographic continues to approach retirement, many are exploring options for transferring ownership while realizing value from their businesses. With the right investor partner, such transitions ensure the continued success and development of established companies like East West Engineering.
East West Engineering has a proven track record in offering over 3,000 products and more than 8,000 developed solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. Its catalogue of materials handling products supports businesses by improving equipment flexibility and boosting machinery performance.
For Arbor Permanent Owners, the acquisition not only strengthens its investment approach but also extends its commitment to maintaining operational continuity. With a base of permanent capital, Arbor is poised to invest in industries that endure economic cycles, focusing on sustainable long-term growth.
Through this partnership, East West Engineering embarks on a new chapter that ensures continuity while upholding the legacy of excellence set by its founder. With Arbor’s support, the company is positioned for growth in the years ahead.
