Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Ranew’s Companies and ALJ Regional Holdings, Inc. & United Global Development

Benchmark International has facilitated the sale of Ranew’s Companies and its affiliates to ALJ Regional Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK: ALJJ) and United Global Development (UGDC). The Ranew’s Companies is a leading supplier of precision fabrication solutions, industrial coating services, and assembly and logistics services to multinational manufacturers of vehicles and associated equipment.

ALJJ is a publicly traded holding company and the parent of two industry-leading businesses, Realtime Digital Innovations and Faneuil. Benchmark International identified ALJJ as the potential acquirer through our marketing outreach to publicly traded companies in the commercial printing or coating industries. Benchmark International Director Michael MacInnes stated, “We were aware that ALJJ had just successfully exited Phoenix Color so we marked them early in our process as a likely buyer with a deep understanding of the coating side of the business and a strong position in terms of cash on hand.”

UGDC is an institutional investment platform focused on the investment, development, and management of single-tenant, net lease properties with a $1.2+ billion portfolio consisting of over 350 properties across the United States. Benchmark International presented the opportunity to UGDC at an M&A buyer conference during the initial meeting between the two firms.

In addition to achieving the clients’ aspirations concerning overall deal value, ALJJ issued one of the sellers, Mr. Ranew, 19.99% of the equity interests in the purchasing entity in consideration of the rollover of certain of Mr. Ranew’s equity interests. ALJJ and Mr. Ranew have entered into a stockholders’ agreement providing for certain customary rights, as well as a purchase/sale right commencing on the fifth anniversary of the closing date to cause ALJJ to either, at ALJJ’s election, (i) purchase all the common stock held by Mr. Ranew or (ii) sell to Mr. Ranew all the common stock of the acquisition entity held by ALJJ, in each case, at a value determined by Mr. Ranew.

“Bringing in UGDC to acquire certain assets of Ranew’s Companies that ALJJ either did not want or the value of which would have pushed the transaction size above ALJJ’s caps was an absolute key to selling this business,” emphasized Clinton Johnston, Benchmark International’s Managing Partner on the transaction. The sale to ALJJ, the sale to UGDC, and the execution of certain leases between the two acquirers closed simultaneously, a mandatory condition for the sellers.

While certain financial details of the transactions were published as part of ALJJ’s mandatory public disclosures, the term of the UGDC transaction remain confidential.