R.L. Hulett Advises Wolcott Water Systems on its Sale to Psalm of Life Capital LLC and Sutherland Capital

R.L. Hulett (“RLH”) is pleased to announce that its client, Wolcott Water Systems, Inc. (“Wolcott”), has been acquired by Psalm of Life Capital LLC and Sutherland Capital/Missouri Rural Investment Fund (together, the “Buyer”). In this transaction, RLH acted as exclusive financial advisor to the Seller.

Wolcott was founded in Columbia, Missouri in 1928 and today is a leading Midwest-based distributor of industrial and commercial water treatment chemicals, including ion exchange resins, filtration media and reverse osmosis membranes, to industrial, institutional and municipal customers across the U.S. After more than thirty years of owning and operating the business, Anne Orazio and Jane Mahieu were seeking a combination of liquidity and a partner who could help take the business to its next stage of growth. Ms. Orazio and Maheu engaged R.L. Hulett to represent Wolcott in a sale process to find the right buyer, with a particular focus on preserving the Company’s culture of taking care of its employees and customers along with technical expertise and decades-long supplier relationships. Psalm of Life Capital/Sutherland Capital emerged as the ideal buyer, bringing growth capital and resources to support Wolcott’s continued expansion into higher-margin product categories, including reverse osmosis filtration systems, while allowing existing management to remain in place through the next chapter of growth.

Upon closing the transaction, President and Co-Owner Anne Orazio had this to say:

“We’re excited for the customers and employees of Wolcott as this new chapter of ownership begins with Psalm of Life Capital and Sutherland Capital. Jane and I are grateful to our team for the dedication that has built this company over the better part
of a century, and to the R.L. Hulett team for their guidance throughout this process.” -Anne Orazio, President, Wolcott Water Systems

About Wolcott Water Systems

Founded in 1928 in Columbia, Missouri, Wolcott is a leading Midwest-based distributor of industrial and commercial water treatment products, including ion exchange resins, filtration media and reverse osmosis membranes, to industrial, institutional and municipal customers across the region. With a long history of dependable service and deep expertise in industrial water treatment, the Company has built a strong reputation as a trusted regional provider. Its success is rooted in decades of reliable operations, enduring customer relationships, and a commitment to quality and responsiveness. Over the years, the Company has cultivated a diverse and loyal customer base that values its consistent service, technical knowledge, and ability to deliver tailored solutions across a wide range of applications

About Psalm of Life Capital

Psalm of Life Capital LLC is a private investment firm founded by Paul Fox to acquire/partner with founder- and family-owned businesses. Mr. Fox has over 30 years of operational experience in the food and ag sector, running large food processing plants in both the US and Mexico. Throughout the sale process, Psalm of Life Capital distinguished itself as an experienced and collaborative investor, working closely with Wolcott ownership and management to structure a transaction that supports the Company’s continued growth while preserving the team, culture and customer relationships built over nearly a century. Alongside Sutherland Capital, Psalm of Life Capital is well positioned to help guide Wolcott into its next chapter of growth.

About Sutherland Capital

Sutherland Capital is a growth capital investment firm that provides flexible debt and equity financing to lower middle-market businesses, partnering closely with experienced management teams to support expansion, acquisitions and complex growth situations. The firm has an established track record investing in Missouri and the broader Midwest, including its support of Quaker Windows’ production expansion in Eldon, Missouri, and is committed to fostering job creation and economic development in the communities where it invests. In this transaction, Sutherland Capital invested alongside Psalm of Life Capital through its Missouri Rural Investment Fund.

About R.L. Hulett

R.L. Hulett is a St. Louis-based middle market investment bank providing sell-side and buyside M&A advisory, capital markets advisory and valuation services to business owners and private equity executives. Founded in 1981, RL Hulett has advised in over 300 transactions across a variety of industries including industrials, food & consumer, packaging, transportation & logistics, business services, healthcare and software/tech-enabled services. The firm focuses on middle-market, family and founder-owned businesses with revenue ranging from $10 – 250MM and EBITDA from $2 – 20MM. In this transaction, RLH advised the Seller and facilitated the sale process by preparing marketing materials, contacting strategic and financial buyer candidates and negotiating with prospective suitors throughout the process.