Bunker Hill Capital Announces Investment in Kingpin Tattoo Supply and the Appointment of Brian Etter as CEO of Nexus Brands Group

SAN DIEGO

Bunker Hill Capital, a leading Boston and San Diego based private equity investor in lower middle market companies, announced the addition of Kingpin Tattoo Supply (“Kingpin”) to its portfolio company Nexus Brands Group (“Nexus” or the “Company”). Kingpin, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of tattoo supplies. Kingpin joins TATSoul, a leading premium brand supplier of furniture, equipment and consumable supplies to the tattoo industry, to solidify the Company’s leading market position and create the largest family of branded full service tattoo supply manufacturing and distribution companies in North America.

Brian Kinsman, Managing Partner at Bunker Hill Capital remarked, “Kingpin and TATSoul are two like-minded companies that care deeply about their ongoing commitments to the professional tattoo artist community; providing artists with the highest quality furniture, equipment and consumable supplies along with the most highly regarded customer service that the industry has to offer.” Dave Mayer, founder, CEO and President of Kingpin has spent the last twenty years building the Kingpin brand into an industry standard for professional tattoo artists. “I have always been impressed with TATSoul’s commitment to product quality, innovation and ongoing artist support. I feel that this partnership has been twenty years in the making and I am looking forward to Kingpin and TATSoul continuing to be the industry’s innovative leader and voice of the professional artist,” said Dave Mayer.

In conjunction with the acquisition of Kingpin, Bunker Hill Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Etter as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nexus Brands Group. An accomplished and experienced CEO, Brian most recently served as the CEO and President of Motorsport Aftermarket Group, Inc. (MAG), the leading independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded aftermarket parts and accessories for motorcycles prior to its sale. “Brian’s terrific job guiding MAG through a fourfold increase in revenue, the acquisition and integration of six companies and the management of eighteen brands worldwide within an enthusiast market gives us great confidence that Brian is the ideal person to lead Nexus Brands Group,” said Rufus Clark, Managing Partner, Bunker Hill Capital. Brian Etter stated, “I believe that the passion, authenticity and engagement of both professional artists and motorcycle enthusiasts are very similar. I am looking forward to working with our customers and brands to develop new innovative products, while maintaining our focus on high quality and superior customer service”. Billy Chen, Co-founder and CMO of TATSoul remarked, “The addition of Kingpin to the Nexus family of brands and the appointment of a senior executive as accomplished and seasoned as Brian demonstrates Bunker Hill’s commitment to supporting Nexus Brands’ vision.”

About Nexus Brands Group

Nexus Brands Group (“Nexus” or the “Company”) is a family of leading brands and businesses that design, manufacture, market and distribute furniture, equipment and supplies to professional customers serving the tattoo, pet grooming and spa/salon markets. The Company includes TATSoul, an industry leading brand in the tattoo industry, ComfortGroom for the pet grooming market, and ComfortSoul for the spa/salon markets. The Company’s businesses operate independently and work together in the design, development and innovation of new products while receiving support from the Nexus Brands Group office.

About Kingpin Tattoo Supply

Kingpin Tattoo Supply (“Kingpin” or the “Company”) is a Florida based designer, manufacturer, and distributor of tattoo equipment and supplies. The Kingpin brand produces high quality needles and tubes and distributes a full breadth of other tattoo supplies including inks, machines, medical supplies and body piercing accessories. Founded in 1996, Kingpin has continually been an industry leader and is known for consistent high quality products and superior customer service.

About Bunker Hill Capital, L.P.

Bunker Hill Capital is a private equity firm that makes investments in lower middle market companies with enterprise values up to $120 million. The principals of Bunker Hill Capital have invested over $570 million in 37 transactions and target opportunities across four industry sectors including industrial products, business services, consumer products and specialty retail. Bunker Hill Capital’s current portfolio company investments include Papa Gino’s/D’Angelo, a dominant quick service restaurant operator in New England; Rizing, a leading SAP services firm; Dyno, the exclusive licensee of the Singer brand for sewing accessories and producer and marketer of holiday decorative home products; Hubbardton Forge, a Vermont based premier designer and manufacturer of branded hand-forged premium lighting fixtures; ASPEQ Heating Group, a manufacturer of highly engineered electric heating and thermal management technologies; Courtagen, a diagnostic testing services company; Nexus Brands Group, a designer, manufacturer, distributor and marketer of furniture, equipment and supplies serving the tattoo, pet grooming and spa/salon markets; and Taos, a California based IT infrastructure consulting and managed services firm. For more information on Bunker Hill Capital, please visit www.bunkerhillcapital.com.

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Bunker Hill Capital
Brian E. Kinsman, 858-793-4560
Managing Partner
or
Robert L. Clark, Jr. 617-720-4032
or
Austin Wright, 617-398-5514
Vice President