Private equity firm New Water Capital (NWC) announced the recapitalization and merger of two established providers of flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs) – Bulk Lift International LLC and Bagwell Supply Ltd.

The combined company will be one of the largest designers, manufacturers, and distributors of FIBCs and complementary packaging and shipping products in North America, and primarily serve customers in the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, minerals, and construction products industries.

Founded in 1978, Bulk Lift has strengthened its capability and expertise in its core of FIBC solutions and grown its offering to include a suite of complementary packaging solutions, including pallets, stretch films, and liners. The company has also expanded its manufacturing operations to a state-of-the art facility in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and developed an international supply chain complete with local quality control presence to assure product quality. The company is headquartered in St. Charles, IL, with distribution locations across the US.

Established in 1997, Bagwell is a Canadian provider of FIBCs, small industrial bags, and complementary packaging solutions, with facilities in Richmond, BC, and Mississauga, ON.

With its expanded reach, the new, combined company will be positioned to better serve customers in the US, Canada, and Mexico with a deeper pool of technical expertise, broader product line offerings, and more diversified supply chain solutions.

“Our company has built a reputation for quality, flexibility, and supply-chain reliability that has made us the preferred supplier to a growing number of high-end industrial customers,” said Bulk Lift CEO Tony Famiano. “With the expanded footprint of the new company and New Water’s financial and operational support, we are ideally positioned to both grow our customer base and better serve our existing customers as their product and service needs evolve in a rapidly changing marketplace.”

“New Water is delighted to partner with two established players in the North American FIBC market,” said New Water Capital Principal Matt Carlos. “The combined investment marks the third platform for our firm’s second fund. The combination of these two companies creates a market leader that is uniquely focused on serving the most demanding end markets that will be resilient in the face of a dynamic economic environment.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Bulk Lift, and CIBC Mid-Market Investment Banking served as the exclusive financial advisor to Bagwell.