Private equity firm Kohlberg has acquired a majority interest in Advanced Industrial Devices ("AID") from Black Bay Partners, according to a press release from Kohlberg. AID's existing management team, led by CEO Russell Claybrook, will retain a significant ownership interest in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1983, AID builds systems that control motor speed, distribute power and automate critical operations across the data center, water and wastewater, power infrastructure and broader industrial markets. The company's systems keep cooling towers, chillers, fans, compressors and pumps running reliably while reducing water and electricity use, and AID also helps utilities and infrastructure operators modernize aging systems through field service, repair, training and engineering support.
"As demand for power increases across data centers and other critical infrastructure, the challenge for operators is not only power availability, but also power reliability. AID directly helps customers overcome these challenges," said Benjamin Mao, Senior Partner at Kohlberg. Ben Yu, a Partner at Kohlberg, added that "rising compute demand is driving a real shift toward more advanced cooling infrastructure in data centers, and that's exactly where AID's solutions play a critical role."
Claybrook said the deal "positions us to accelerate our next phase of expansion," and thanked Black Bay for its partnership over the past four years. Black Bay Partners' Managing Partner, Michael LeBourgeois, said the firm wished "Kohlberg and the AID team all the best with AID's next chapter of growth."
Harris Williams served as financial advisor to AID, while Baird advised Kohlberg. Ropes & Gray served as legal counsel and Kirkland & Ellis as financing counsel to Kohlberg, with Jones Walker LLP representing AID and Black Bay.