Louis Mintz News

Babson Capital provides US$12-million In subordinated debt to support Drew Marine acquisition of Chemring Marine Group’s Rescue Division. Babson Capital Management LLC, a global investment manager with $149 billion in assets under management and operations on four continents, announce it provided $12 million in mezzanine debt to support Drew Marine LLC’s acquisition of the Chemring Marine Group’s Rescue Division. Under Drew Marine’s ownership, Chemring’s Rescue Division will be renamed Drew Marine Signal and Safety. Drew Marine Signal and Safety is the world’s leading supplier of marine distress signals to the commercial shipping and leisure markets. The Company’s products are marketed under established brand names including Pains Wessex, Comet, Aurora and Oroquieta.

Affiliates of Drew Marine (Drew Marine) completed of the previously announced acquisition of Chemring Group PLC’s (Chemring) maritime interests for cash consideration of £32 million. Under Drew Marine's ownership, the acquired business will be named Drew Marine Signal and Safety (DMSS). DMSS is the world's leading supplier of marine distress signals including handflares, manoverboard buoys, line-throwers and other required rescue products under established brands including Pains Wessex, Comet, Aurora and Oroquieta. The Company's products are produced in Bremerhaven, Germany; Pamplona, Spain; and Lara, Australia. The business will continue to be headquartered in Hampshire, UK.

Drew Marine, a worldwide supplier of water treatment, fuel management, safety, maintenance and cleaning products to the maritime industry, celebrated its first year under J.F. Lehman’s private equity ownership on September 13 and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new corporate headquarters. Whippany Mayor, John Sheridan, Chairman and Founding Partner of J.F. Lehman & Company and former Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman, and J.F. Lehman & Company Partner and Chairman of Drew Marine’s Board of Directors…