Kinderhook announces merger of Circon Environmental, Chemtron Corp. and KilnDirect Inc.

Kinderhook Industries LLC, New York City, has announced the merger of La Porte, Texas-based Circon Environmental; Avon, Ohio-based Chemtron Corp.; and Sumter, South Carolina-based KilnDirect Inc. Each company was an existing portfolio company of Kinderhook and will be rebranded under the Circon Environmental name.

According to a Kinderhook release, “the merger will create a leading pure-play provider of sustainable waste management solutions.”

Circon, Chemtron and KilnDirect each are dedicated to the engineering and processing of nonhazardous and hazardous waste streams to create fuel replacements to traditional natural gas and coal. Kinderhook says the vertically integrated platform will have the scale and capabilities to provide end-to-end environmental solutions on a national level for waste generators across all end markets.

“We are excited to combine three successful companies to create an ESG-focused environmental solutions platform. We believe the lack of a pure-play sustainability-focused provider of scale in the market creates a unique opportunity for the combined company, and we look forward to building this consolidated platform with our management team,” Rob Michalik, managing director at Kinderhook, says.

Frank Iezzi, who will serve as CEO of the combined platform adds, “We are excited to welcome in Chemtron and KilnDirect into our growing family of companies. Through the addition of the Chemtron and KilnDirect teams, Circon’s expertise will be even stronger as we expand the products and services we offer with a focus on delivering an ever-growing level of sustainable environmental solutions to our customers.”

Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, served as legal counsel to Kinderhook. Financing for the transaction was provided by Chicago-based Twin Brook Capital.