L Squared Acquires Kano Laboratories
In December 2024, L Squared Capital Partners announced the acquisition of Kano Laboratories. Kano is an 85-year-old leading provider of Kroil premium consumable chemical solutions used predominantly in industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (“MRO”) applications.
In January 2024, Kano further expanded its portfolio by acquiring Super Lube, a founder-owned brand known for its premium food-grade synthetic industrial greases and lubricants. These products are utilized across various applications aimed at ensuring ongoing asset reliability and machine maintenance. Super Lube is recognized for its exceptional performance, fostering strong relationships with customers in more than 45 countries. This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Kano’s emphasis on equipment repair and critical maintenance, benefiting from the enhanced sales infrastructure and distribution partnerships recently established by Kano.
“We are excited to partner with the management team at Kano to help accelerate the Company’s growth, particularly through accretive acquisitions,” said Randall Hunt, Managing Partner at L Squared. “We see a fragmented landscape of niche specialty chemical products – such as Super Lube – that offer a great value proposition, but lack the sales resources to scale; Kano has built the go-to-market infrastructure to be the partner of choice for these businesses.”
We are excited to partner with the management team at Kano to help accelerate the Company’s growth, particularly through accretive acquisitions.
Randall Hunt
Managing Partner at L Squared
Kano’s CEO, Mark Klein, added, “The partnership with L Squared marks an exciting new chapter for Kano. We’re grateful to find a partner with experience in supporting rapidly growing companies, including investing in the resources necessary to acquire niche, founder-owned industrial chemicals businesses when it is time for them to pursue a sale.”
About Kano Laboratories
Founded in 1939 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Kano is a leading producer of iconic, Kroil branded penetrating oils and lubricants for industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), and professional specialty trade markets. Kano has built a passionately loyal customer base around Kroil products, which are used by professionals and DIYers to loosen rusted, corroded, and frozen mechanical parts.
In January 2024, Kano acquired Synco Chemical Corporation and its line of premium synthetic, food-grade lubricants designed for industrial applications, including its best-selling Super Lube line of premium synthetic lubricants. For more information, visit https://www.kanolabs.com/.
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Media Contact:
Joan Duvall, VP of Marketing
(615) 430-2451
jduvall@kanolabs.com
