Baird Investment Banking Receives Top Honors for Outstanding Transactions in ‘07

Baird, an employee-owned international financial services firm, today announced that the firm received top honors from key trade publications for its investment banking work in 2007. Baird Investment Banking was named “Manufacturing Adviser of the Year” by Acquisitions Monthly, a U.K.-based publication of Thomson Financial, and won two manufacturing deal awards – “U.S. Middle Market Industrial Deal of the Year” and “U.S. Middle Market Consumer Deal of the Year” – from The M&A Advisor.

“Our investment banking team is proud to be recognized by others within the industry for the excellent work accomplished in 2007,” said Steve Booth, Director of Investment Banking. “At Baird, we emphasize our in-depth industry expertise, commitment to quality and ability to deliver the best results for clients. It’s affirming to have other respected individuals and organizations recognize and reward those same qualities.”

“Manufacturing Adviser of the Year”
In 2007, Baird advised ECO SpA, an Italian-based company and European leader in the manufacture of coils and coolers for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industries, on its sale to Luvata OY, a Finland-based company whose Heatcraft business is the North American leader for the supply of HVAC/R coils. Baird's advice and process management helped steer the deal through a deteriorating credit market to a successful, on-time closing in August 2007, creating the top player in the global market for HVAC/R coils.

As a result of Baird’s role in this successful deal, Acquisitions Monthly selected the firm as the 2008 "Manufacturing Adviser of the Year," proclaiming, “Baird has managed to dominate various engineering niches over the past few years.”

Industrial and Consumer Deals of the Year, U.S. Middle Market
For The M&A Advisor’s 6th annual M&A award contest, Baird’s instrumental work on two manufacturing deals was recognized. Baird advised LKQ Corporation, the Chicago-based leader in providing recycled original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts to the vehicle aftermarket, on its acquisition of Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc., the largest provider of collision related aftermarket parts. In the midst of difficult credit markets, Baird successfully led a $428 million equity financing package, reducing LKQ’s reliance on difficult lending markets. The highly strategic transaction earned Baird the “Industrial Deal of the Year” honor as the new company became the leader in collision replacement parts for North America.

Similarly, Baird’s role in advising Wilton Industries, Inc., a Chicago-based premier food crafting and housewares company, on its sale to EK Success, a portfolio company of private equity firm GTCR, was recognized as the “Consumer Products Deal of the Year." The transaction, which closed successfully in August despite turbulent credit markets, was one of the largest historical transactions in the Crafts and Housewares industries. In addition, the Wilton management team continues to run the combined company (now called Wilton Products) from its headquarters in Woodridge, Illinois. 

About Baird Investment Banking
Recognized as the “Middle Market Bank of the Year” for 2006 by Investment Dealers’ Digest, Baird is a leading international investment bank focused on the middle market. With more than 125 investment banking professionals in the U.S. and Europe, Baird provides corporations with in-depth market knowledge and extensive experience in merger and acquisition and equity financing transactions. Over the past 10 years, Baird has advised on over 650 M&A and financing transactions with a total value of more than $95 billion. Baird has been recognized for its excellent advisory and equity services, earning 2007 awards for “Manufacturing Deal of the Year – Industrial” and “Manufacturing Deal of the Year – Consumer” from The M&A Advisor, as well as “Equity Financing Deal of the Year” in 2006. The firm also was recognized as the 2008 “Manufacturing Adviser of the Year” by Acquisitions Monthly.

About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned international investment banking, private equity, wealth and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has nearly 2,200 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of nearly $78 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird was recognized as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity operations. For more information, please visit About Baird.