NH-based ‘Green’ Products Company Sold

MANCHESTER – New Image Coatings, LLC the manufacturer of environmentally sensitive waterproofing products and poly-blends for all types of wood, concrete/masonry and other surfaces, has been sold to U-C Coatings of Buffalo, New York. The sale was completed April 20.

New Image, located at 150 Dow Street, markets its products under the brand Seal-Once™, which is a trade secret formula penetrating nano particle that is non-toxic, eco-friendly zero VOC, waterproofing sealer for all wood, composite decking and concrete/masonry surfaces. Seal-Once will inhibit wood rot by preventing mold/mildew from entering the wood.

The product contains no volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and has earned a number of special certifications including GreenSpec™ Listed; Singapore Green Label Certified; U.S. Green Building Council® Member; and qualifies for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits as a low-emitting product.

“We have grown dramatically over the past few years but came to realize that this revolutionary product needed a partner and greater financial horsepower to take this product to its full potential across the globe,” said Hank Croteau, owner of New Image Coatings. “The sale to U-C Coatings will open up broader markets and provide a strategic vision for deploying Green coatings to a broader market than we could ever achieve on our own.”

Seal-Once is currently sold through a network of retail paint/hardware, and lumber stores across the United States, and has distribution agreements in the United States, Asia, Canada, Caribbean and beyond. U-C Coatings markets a range of products worldwide, including to the logging industry.

Seal-Once has been used as a sealer in private homes, industrial buildings, on pavers and beyond. Applications are many including the Wildcat Wooden Roller Coaster at Hershey Park, PA to historic New England homes along the coast in Northern MA, the Hamptons in Long Island and San Francisco, CA.

“We are very excited to have Seal-Once join our family of products,” said Thomas Johel, president of U-C Coatings. “We are committed to expanding this line and to further the commitment to environmentally sensitive products, which consumers have made clear that they want.”

Business Transition Strategies served as transaction advisor to New Image Coatings and coordinated the transaction. John Howe, director, and Ken Schaefer, deputy director, worked as a team on the project. BTS is based in Pembroke, N.H. and Andover, Mass.

U-C Coatings, based in Buffalo, New York, is supported in its expansion by Sidereal Capital Partners and Argosy Capital.

What our clients are saying...

“New Image Coatings, owners of Seal-Once, retained Business Transition Strategies in April of 2015 to locate a strategic buyer for the company. This was successfully completed during April of 2016 when we were acquired by UC Coatings of Buffalo, New York. Working at our side throughout this process were John Howe director, and Ken Schaefer, deputy director, of Business Transition Strategies. From the start of the project, where the information memorandum was developed, to helping us create the management presentation to acquirers, through negotiating the letter of intent and then the definitive agreement, they were there with me and our professional team every step of the way. It took nearly one year to the day to complete the project, but they never lost focus on my best interests and helped me keep my eye on business. This sale was very complex. It included transfer of trade secrets from the product developer, …as well as the transfer of a manufacturing and licensing agreement we had with the core compound producer… John and Ken marketed the company to a range of strategic acquirers, including a number of private equity groups and their platform companies, which ultimately resulted in an agreement with United Coatings… BTS’s level of expertise in the process and close attention to detail enabled us to successfully navigate the deal. I would recommend John Howe and Ken Schaefer to any company owner considering selling.”

- Hank Croteau

New Image Coatings