Chicago-area private equity shop Wynnchurch is cashing out of one of its industrial workhorses, agreeing to sell Labrie Environmental Group, a maker of refuse-collection trucks, in a deal valued at roughly $1.04 billion. The buyer is Hiab, a global load-handling equipment group, which will fold Labrie’s side-, front- and rear-loader products into its North American operation. The transaction is a major exit for the Rosemont-backed firm and shifts a long-serving Canadian truck manufacturer into strategic hands.
The price tag and basic terms surfaced Monday in Crain's Chicago Business, citing a Bloomberg report, which highlighted the roughly $1.04 billion valuation as the standout figure.
Deal Reporting And The Buyer
Independent wire coverage also picked up the acquisition, with Reuters copy circulating on market sites and flagging Hiab’s move to buy Labrie as part of its North American push. Reuters framed the purchase as a step in Hiab’s strategy to broaden its product line in road-going load-handling and municipal equipment.
Wynnchurch And Labrie Background
Wynnchurch says it acquired Labrie in September 2020 and still lists the business on its portfolio page. The private equity firm, headquartered in the Chicago area, reports roughly $9.1 billion in assets under management. On Wynnchurch Capital, Labrie is positioned as an industrial platform with room for growth and aftermarket opportunity.
Why Hiab Is Buying
Hiab has been busy on the acquisition front as it builds out its service and product footprint in North America, a theme that shows up in its recent investor materials. Scooping up Labrie gives Hiab an existing dealer and service network for municipal refuse vehicles, along with a larger installed base of trucks that can fuel aftermarket sales and parts revenue. For more on Hiab’s recent strategic moves, its investor updates and deal activity are outlined in Hiab news releases.
Where Labrie Makes Trucks
Labrie manufactures automated side loaders, front loaders and rear loaders, and runs manufacturing and parts centers across North America, including facilities in Lévis, Quebec, and Lafayette, Georgia. Those locations and related service centers are detailed in the company’s product materials. Facility and contact information appear in a Labrie Group brochure.
What To Watch Next
The Labrie sale comes amid a busy stretch of exits and portfolio reshuffling for Wynnchurch as private equity owners continue to monetize industrial manufacturing platforms. Local deal coverage of other Wynnchurch transactions offers a glimpse of the operating playbook that strategic buyers can pursue after these sales. One recent example is the firm’s divestiture of metal fabrication platform Ironform, covered by CityBiz.
