PE firm HIG Capital adds Iron Bow to government market investments

Miami-based private equity firm H.I.G. Capital has made another deal in the government market with an investment in federal IT reseller and integrator Iron Bow Technologies.

In a release posted Thursday, Iron Bow called the pact an “equity partnership” intended to help the company with its organic growth strategy and identify possible acquisitions to expand its portfolio and market reach.

H.I.G. will have a majority interest in Iron Bow, a company spokesperson told WT. Iron Bow CEO Rene LaVigne and the executive team will continue to lead the company and hold the minority investment, the spokesperson said.

Spun out of the former Apptis in 2011, Iron Bow is predominantly known as a reseller of IT hardware and software to federal agencies. LaVigne has led the business since its formation.

H.I.G. has more than 100 companies in its portfolio with $30 billion in combined annual sales and Iron Bow is the group's third federal market investment. H.I.G. entered the government contracting scene last year through a pair of acquisitions in government IT company NCI Inc. and defense consulting services provider Whitney, Bradley & Brown.

H.I.G. is an ongoing example of a relative newcomer from private equity that has found plenty to like in the federal market amid newfound budget growth -- particularly in defense and IT modernization -- along with underlying general economic confidence. Of course, traditional strategic buyers and PE firms with longstanding federal market footprints have also contributed to the ongoing run of deals of all shapes and sizes.