Argand Partners Announces Acquisition of Capezio

NEW YORK, April 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Argand Partners, LP ("Argand"), the New York-based middle-market private equity firm, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Miami, today announced the acquisition of Ballet Makers Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, "Capezio" or the "Company"). The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1887, Capezio is an iconic global brand in the dancewear sector. The Company designs and manufactures premium and highly technical footwear, apparel, and accessories that support dancers and athletes of all ages to practice, compete and perform. Headquartered in Totowa, NJ, the Company has been owned by the Terlizzi and Giacoio family for nearly 140 years and under Argand's ownership, a number of key family members, including the CEO, will remain invested alongside Argand. Capezio has built an incredible brand heritage, reflecting a unique understanding of dance market trends, and a true appreciation of its core customers. Capezio is regarded for authenticity, quality, superior craftsmanship, and classic design of its products. The Company has established itself as a top player across its key business segments and serves a loyal customer base in North America, with a growing presence in Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Asia.

The Argand team is excited to accelerate Capezio's next phase of growth while honoring the Company's brand heritage. Argand plans to build upon the Company's existing success by, among other things, developing innovative product lines, establishing collaborations and licensing arrangements with strategic partners, and continuing to build deep, authentic engagement with the global dance community. We believe this strategy will not only maintain the long-standing family legacy and Company culture, but will also modernize the Company in order to achieve long-term growth.

Joyce Schnoedl, Argand Partner, commented, "We are delighted to invest in this iconic brand that has, since its inception, helped to instill a love of dance and appreciation of the art among dancers across the world. As a dancer myself and consumer of the Capezio brand for several decades, I have a deep personal connection and commitment to the Company. We look forward to supporting Capezio's next phase of growth."

Michael Terlizzi, Capezio's Chief Executive Officer and a fourth-generation family member/owner of the Company, commented, "Argand and its advisors have built a strong relationship with our management team over several months and we are delighted to formalize their partnership to build off of ~140 years of commitment to the dance community. The Argand team brings a complimentary skillset to our business and our team is excited to be part of the Argand portfolio."

Tom Nastos, long time fashion executive and advisor to Argand in the transaction, stated "Capezio is a renowned brand with a rich history of excellence in dance and performance products. Under Argand's stewardship, we are committed to upholding this legacy while introducing innovative products to expand Capezio's offerings. Our goal is to blend tradition with innovation, ensuring that Capezio continues to be an iconic brand in the industry and respected by performers worldwide." Jeremiah Wanzell of Growth Mindset Advisors introduced the deal to Argand and supported the deal team with due diligence and value creation strategies for Capezio.

Meriwether Group acted as the sell-side advisor to Capezio. David Howitt, Founder & CEO of Meriwether, said "Meriwether Group is honored to have advised Capezio, a globally recognized brand with a deep legacy in the industry. We are confident that Argand is the ideal partner to support Capezio's next chapter of growth, bringing strategic expertise and resources that will amplify its legacy while expanding its international reach. We believe Capezio will thrive under this new partnership."

Alta Capital Partners served as financial advisor to Argand.

About Argand Partners
Argand Partners is a New York-based middle-market private equity firm, with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Miami. The firm makes investments in manufacturing, distribution, and business services companies with a strong U.S. nexus (headquarters, significant operations, primary growth market, and/or majority of revenue) and often significant global operations.

Argand-owned companies are typically niche market leaders in the U.S. and/or globally, have sustainable competitive advantages, defensive characteristics, and significant growth potential supported by secular demand trends.

Argand is a control investor with a team that employs a hands-on approach to partnering with great management to create value across the investment lifecycle and pursue significant growth.

Argand is a signatory to the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment and the ILPA Diversity in Action initiative. 

Further information on Argand can be found on the firm's website: http://www.argandequity.com

For more information about Argand or the Capezio transaction, contact:
Joyce Schnoedl, Partner
Argand Partners
(212) 588-6483
jschnoedl@argandequity.com

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SOURCE Argand Partners