Top 40 supplier Stouse (asi/89910) announced that private equity firm Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Incorporated (GHJ&M) has partnered with management and the supplier’s ownership to inject capital into the company for future growth.

"The entire Stouse team is excited about our new association with GHJ&M and the opportunities this partnership will bring,” said Stouse CEO Bruce Reed. “We look forward to utilizing the resources of our new partner to further invest in our business and better serve our customers with best-in-class quality printed products." Reed added that, besides a change in its business structure from Inc. to LLC for tax and legal purposes, business with customers “will involve no changes to [their] relationship with Stouse.” The supplier will remain at its headquarters in New Century, Kan.

Co-Owner Bary Marquardt, who purchased Stouse in 1977, will remain active at the board level moving forward. “Will Lewis, who has co-owned Stouse with me since 1981, and I sought a partnership with a new investor that would carry on the culture that we have worked to build at Stouse over the past four decades. We are excited to have found that partner in GHJ&M. With the continuity of our management team and the additional resources of GHJ&M, the team is in a position to truly take Stouse to the next level."

Added Joe Heinen, managing director of Minneapolis-based GHJ&M: "It is rare to find companies and management teams with the operational strength and strong growth trajectory that is so evident to us in Stouse. The company has worked hard to secure its strong reputation in the industry, and we look forward to working with the team to help write the next chapter in the Stouse growth story."

According to Counselor’s State of the Industry issue, Stouse generated $46.6 million in revenue in 2014, a year-over-year increase of 6.4%. The supplier has grown 14% over the last five years.