Helping Entrepreneurs Realize a Dream

Sentinel was introduced to Sonny’s by a boutique advisory firm tasked with finding a financial partner who would assist the owner and CEO in executing his vision of transforming Sonny’s into a one-stop shop for all car wash needs. Sentinel was chosen because of our strong cultural fit with the management team, experience investing in branded manufacturing businesses, proven record of growing businesses through strategic add-on acquisitions, and capital committed to support an aggressive growth vision.

• To acquire a majority interest in the leading player in conveyorized car wash systems and related products
• To partner with a world-class entrepreneur in achieving his vision to significantly extend the Sonny’s platform
• To capitalize on Sonny’s leadership position to make strategic bolt-on acquisitions to grow its suite of services and expand its geographic presence
• To participate in expected industry growth driven by the technology-driven shift to highly automated, more convenient express wash formats

Accelerated Growth Through Acquisitions: Sentinel brought its acquisition experience to bear by helping the Sonny’s team, who had not made any acquisitions before our investment, make six acquisitions that:

• Added carwash chemicals, a highly attractive consumable product, to its product offering
• Extended Sonny’s product offering in foaming equipment, signage, and marketing
• Added local distribution, construction, and service in the Southeast and Southwest, two key growth geographies for the car wash market

Expanded the Footprint to Facilitate Growth: Sentinel helped the entrepreneur grow the business by investing in a new, state-of-the-art facility on the West Coast and undertaking a significant expansion of Sonny’s Florida headquarters.

Exceptional Financial Performance: During Sentinel’s ownership, Sonny’s sales and profitability more than doubled, fueled by strong performance in its equipment business and successful cross-selling from the add-ons.

Having accomplished our investment objectives in under four years, Sentinel and management sold Sonny’s to another financial buyer in a highly successful transaction. The entrepreneur we backed continued to run the business under new ownership.