Tensar acquired by Castle Harlan

By Ron Bygness

Atlanta-based Tensar Corp. announced in a July press release that it has been acquired by Castle Harlan Inc., a middle-market private equity firm.

Tensar is a worldwide manufacturer of geosynthetics, including geotextiles, geogrids, and drainage and erosion control materials.

The release said that Castle Harlan, founded in 1987, is a global private equity firm focused on making control investments in middle-market companies. The firm is based in New York City and has offices in Sydney and Singapore through its global affiliate, Champ Private Equity.

Since its inception, Castle Harlan has participated in eight private equity funds, five in the U.S. and three in Australia. Those funds totaled approximately $6 billion in capital commitments, according to the press release.

Tensar Corp. has been owned since 2005 by Arcapita Inc., a global investment group. The release noted that Tensar and its subsidiaries will continue to adhere to their core businesses-“delivering engineered systems that are a combination of technology, engineering, design, and products.”

Ron Bygness is the senior editor of Geosynthetics magazine.