Cleveland, OH – Signet Capital Advisors (“SCA”), a financial advisory firm providing sell-side, buy-side, capital raising, and debt placement services to middle market clients, served as sell-side advisor to Ohio-based Delta Railroad Construction, Inc. (“Delta”), a construction and maintenance of railway plant and machinery operation, in the Company’s sale of 90% share capital to a subsidiary of Italian-based Salcef Group S.p.A. (“Salcef”)
Delta is one of the top tier railroad construction and maintenance companies in the USA and Canada, operating since 1957. Third and fourth generation of the Laurello family, descendants of the founder Cosmo Anthony Laurello, an Italian emigrant, manage the operation. They will continue to function under the Delta name at their Ashtabula, OH facility, which employs over 150 people.
SCA examined a number of potential strategic and private equity buyers in the railroad space, both international and domestic. The like-minded management styles of Delta and Salcef made it a clear fit for all parties. The Laurello family, who will actively remain in Delta's managerial and corporate structure, was also excited to partner with another Italian-based family that is third generation owned.
“The Signet Capital Advisors team researched the complexities of our business and sector to identify the best outcome for us both financially and personally,” said Larry Laurello, CEO of Delta. “We are thankful for their integrity, creativity, and professionalism that led to this new opportunity for our employees and the company to continue to prosper in the North American market.”
The engagement initiated in August 2019 and, despite the unprecedented barriers presented by COVID-19 shutdowns and international travel closures which complicated the overall process and timing, the SCA team delivered on structuring, negotiating and capitalizing the transaction to a successful close. Additionally, the team expanded their resources by referring legal and other advisory resources that are fluent in Italian law and language.
“This is the first transaction in the history of more than 25 years of experience that I have closed a deal with such limited in-person interaction,” said Mike Paparella, Managing Director of Signet Capital Advisors. “Under typical circumstances, there would have been three additional, or more in-person visits and the deal would have closed four months sooner. Despite the global pandemic, we were able to leverage the latest technologies to push this transaction forward and we are proud to have advised our client in making the best long-term decision for their company’s future.”
Signing and closing were finalized September 15, 2020 and the acquisition is not subject to any condition precedent.
About Signet Capital Advisors
Signet Capital Advisors (“SCA”) provides financial advisory services such as sell-side, buy-side, capital raising, and debt placement to middle market clients. SCA also provides strategy creation, outsourced corporate development, and benchmarking services (through the Corporate M.P.G.™ analysis) to company owners and management teams. Learn more at signetcapadvisors.com
About Delta Railroad Construction
Delta Railroad Construction was founded in 1957 by Italian emigrant Cosmo Anthony Laurello in Ashtabula, Ohio. Delta was started as a small railroad construction business to service local industrial rail lines. Today they have diversified into many areas of the railroad construction industry including; Mass Transit, Commuter Rail, Class I Railroads, Shortline Railroads, Government and Industry, Maintenance of Way equipment, Flash Butt Welding of T-Rail and Crane Rail. Delta is a family owned business and currently has third and fourth generation family members operating the business. Read more at www.deltarr.com
