October 8, 2018
Bellevue, WA: Berntson Porter Corporate Advisory Advises Kathy Craft-Reich on the Sale of Craft Architects, PLLC. to Nelson Worldwide, LLC.
Berntson Porter Corporate Advisory, LLC (“BPCA”), an M&A advisor serving middle market clients in the Pacific Northwest, today announced it acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Kathy Craft-Reich in the sale of Craft Architects, PLLC (“CRAFT”), based in Seattle, WA, to Nelson Worldwide, LLC. (“NELSON”), headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.
CRAFT, founded in 2003, is an award-winning, industry-leading provider of architectural and interior design services, specializing in the provision of services to local, national and international clients in the industrial, financial, commercial, and retail arenas. Led by Principal and Founder, Kathy Craft-Reich, the firm has a 15-year history of award-winning design, and the firm’s pioneering work for Prologis produced the first multi-story warehouse space in the U.S. at Georgetown Crossroads in Seattle, notable for its three-story structure with truck access on two levels. The firm’s innovative concept is expected to help meet increasing demand in the commercial real estate market for industrial manufacturing and distribution space in dense, urban areas.
NELSON is a global brand experience firm delivering architecture, interior design, graphic design, branding and consulting services.
The strategic move will expand NELSON’s Seattle location, a part of the firm’s rapidly growing West Coast presence, and launch a full nationwide industrial practice area. Combined with CRAFT’s more traditional, suburban industrial portfolio, the West Coast firm’s capabilities in urban, multi-story design extend NELSON’s growing industrial design practice, currently based in Minneapolis in the Midwest and Atlanta and Alpharetta in the Southeast, to create a comprehensive nationwide practice. The addition of CRAFT will allow NELSON to bring its knowledge and expertise in industrial design to clients across the country.
“We are beyond thrilled to have CRAFT join our firm,” said John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., Chairman and Co-CEO of NELSON. “This is a great opportunity for us to create a true nationwide presence in the industrial market and bring a fresh approach to designing these important spaces. CRAFT’s portfolio of state-of-the-art projects will also boost our profile as an innovative leader in the industrial market.”
“CRAFT greatly looks forward to an expanded ability to work across the country and globe as a part of NELSON,” said Kathy Craft-Reich, Principal. “We couldn’t be more excited to join operations with a firm that shares our client service philosophy and commitment to forward-thinking industrial space design.”
Pitt Means, Managing Director at BPCA, commented, “we could not be happier for Kathy. She has worked hard over the last 15 years to build CRAFT into a regional force in industrial architecture and design, and we believe NELSON will be a great partner to support the continued growth of her practice.”
This is the fifth completed transaction that BPCA has advised on since the firm’s formation in 2017. Other completed M&A transactions included companies in the manufacturing, industrial services, wood products, and logistics industries.
For more information about this transaction, please contact the BPCA deal team:
Pitt Means
Managing Director
pmeans@bp-cas.com
Gregory Noone
Managing Director
gnoone@bp-cas.com
About Berntson Porter Corporate Advisory
Berntson Porter Corporate Advisory is an M&A advisor serving private companies in the Pacific Northwest. The firm offers strategic consulting and transaction execution related to business sales, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. Past transaction experience includes companies in manufacturing & distribution, building products, aerospace, food processing, professional and business services, and construction.
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