Lincoln International represents Time-O-Matic, Inc., d/b/a Watchfire, in its sale to Harbour Group

CHICAGO, April 30, 2008 – Lincoln International, a global mid-market investment bank, today announced the sale of privately held Time-O-Matic, Inc., d/b/a Watchfire, (“Watchfire” or the “Company”), a leading provider of digital light-emitting diode (“LED”) signs and related software and services for a variety of outdoor commercial applications. In conjunction with President David Wood and other senior management, Watchfire was acquired by an affiliate of Harbour Group, a St. Louis based operating company.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Danville, Illinois, Watchfire is a highly-regarded designer, manufacturer, and marketer of digital LED displays, billboards and related software that serve a variety of outdoor commercial display applications.  For over 75 years, Watchfire has enjoyed a preeminent market position built on constant innovation, service excellence, and unrivaled product quality.  Watchfire has been privately held by the Wood family since 1971. 

Lincoln International worked closely with Watchfire and its shareholders to evaluate strategic options for the Company and carefully select the right investment partner for the business.  “Lincoln created a unique sale process tailored to the specific needs and objectives of our shareholders,” said Mr. Wood.  “Lincoln added significant value by providing expert advice throughout the entire transaction process, including recommendations on the timing of a sale, introducing us to a financial partner that had significant LED experience, and by using its extensive relationships to help us improve our business during the sale process.  We are very pleased with the outcome of Lincoln’s sale process and look forward to working with our new partner, Harbour Group, to continue Watchfire’s tremendous growth.”

Jeff Fox, Harbour Group’s chief executive officer, said, “The Wood family and management have built an excellent business – Watchfire’s outstanding reputation in their industry is unmatched. We believe there are compelling drivers in the market for the conversion to LED-based signs, billboards, and messaging systems. In addition to market growth, we see exciting opportunities to drive growth through internal initiatives. And we continue to search broadly for additional complementary acquisitions.”

Mr. Wood added, “My siblings and I did a great deal of soul-searching prior to making this decision. After spending time with the Harbour Group team, I am confident that they have the values, tools, and resources necessary to help Watchfire achieve our long-term objectives. The keys to the company’s success have been our product quality, our extensive dealer network, and our focus on servicing the customer; we picked a partner who understands the importance of these fundamental aspects of our business. Harbour Group will help take Watchfire to the next level.  I thank Lincoln for finding such an excellent partner for our business.”

About Watchfire
Time-O-Matic (now known primarily as “Watchfire”) has been manufacturing outdoor electric signs for more than 75 years and LED signs for 10 years, and has more than 12,000 outdoor LED signs in daily operation throughout North America. Watchfire is located in Danville, Ill. with marketing and sales operations in Indianapolis. For more information, go to www.watchfiresigns.com.

About Harbour Group
Harbour Group is a privately owned company based in St. Louis, Mo. Harbour Group and its operating companies are engaged in the manufacture and distribution of a wide variety of consumer and industrial products, including decorative kitchen and bath hardware, specialty LED lighting products, linear actuators and switches, automotive-enthusiast products, lubricating systems and equipment, abrasives, diamond cutting products and related tools, entertainment and music products, and auxiliary plastic processing equipment. Since its founding in 1976, Harbour Group has acquired 156 companies in 34 different industries. More information about Harbour Group can be found at www.harbourgroup.com.   

Über Lincoln International
Lincoln International Group (“Lincoln International”) als global aufgestelltes und integriertes M&A-Beratungshaus für mittelgroße Transaktionen bietet Lincoln International mit hervorragend ausgebildeten Experten Corporate Finance-Beratungsdienstleistungen auf höchstem Qualitätsniveau an. In den Büros in Chicago, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, New York und Paris, der strategischen Partnerfirma China Everbright sowie weitere Partnerorganisationen in Asien sind für Lincoln International rund 100 M&A-Experten tätig, von denen rund jeweils die Hälfte in den USA und in Europa arbeiten. Weitere Informationen über Lincoln International unter www.lincolninternational.com.

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