Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”), a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, announced today that it has partnered with management to complete the acquisition of Champion Manufacturing, Inc. (“Champion”), a subsidiary of Invacare Corporation.  Based in Elkhart, Indiana, Champion is a leading designer and manufacturer of seating products for the healthcare market. The Company’s product portfolio primarily consists of highly engineered medical recliners sold to outpatient, post-acute medical facilities for treatments such as hemodialysis, where patient comfort is of critical importance. 

Champion is the third investment from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners SBIC Fund, L.P., a $225 million private equity fund.  According to Lauren Leichtman, Co-Founder and CEO of LLCP, “Champion has a strong track record of growth since inception.  With its leading position in the dialysis center market and growing position in similar healthcare markets, the company is ideally positioned to benefit from the continued strong growth within these market segments.  We are excited to partner with the current CEO Doug Keeslar and the rest of the Champion senior management team and look forward to the continued growth of the business.”

Doug Keeslar, Champion’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “I am very excited about partnering with LLCP as the company seeks to further strengthen its market position and fuel its next stage of growth.  LLCP has a long history of being a value-added partner to its portfolio companies and I look forward to leveraging their strategic, financial and M&A expertise.” 

Champion Manufacturing was advised by SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.  Senior debt financing was provided by Madison Capital.