Exit Strategies Group Advises on Successful Sale of Automation Inc.

Exit Strategies Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that it recently served as exclusive M&A advisor to the owners of industrial automation solution provider Automation Inc. on their successful sale to Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT). Deal terms were not disclosed.

Founded in Minneapolis in 1981, Automation, Inc. distributes motion controls, robotics, machine vision, process controls, sensors, pneumatics, material handling and machine framing components from leading global manufacturers, and designs and builds mixed technology systems.  Exceptional technical support and extensive production, engineering and system integration services have made Automation Inc. a sought-after supplier partner to major OEM and end user manufacturers in the Upper Midwest.

Exit Strategies is incredibly pleased to have partnered with Henry O’Donnell and Scott Sorensen and the Automation Inc. management team. We led them through a structured sale process that produced multiple competitive bids and optimized shareholder value. This deal illustrates Exit Strategies’ continued commitment to providing strategic valuation and M&A advisory services to North American industrial automation technology companies.

Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. Its leading brands, specialized services, and comprehensive knowledge serve MRO and OEM end users in virtually all industrial markets through our multi-channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

About Exit Strategies Group

Exit Strategies is a leading provider of strategic merger and acquisition advice/execution and business valuation services. Founded in 2002, with offices in San Francisco CA and Portland OR, the firm has advised on well over 100 M&A transactions and has performed hundreds of business valuations. Exit Strategies represents closely-held and family-owned companies and helps them optimize results in a strategic sale or recapitalization. Its industry expertise spans all areas of industrial automation products and services and advanced manufacturing. For more information visit www.exitstrategiesgroup.com.


Al Statz is the founder and president of Exit Strategies Group. To discuss a potential business sale, merger or acquisition, confidentially, Al can be reached at 707-781-8580 or alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com.