Koozie Group's sale to Garyline earned HIG Capital the PE Hub Small-Cap North America Deal of the Year Award, highlighting a successful turnaround of a promotional products company.

HIG acquired Koozie Group from BIC Graphic North America in 2017 for $85 million, recognizing its strong fundamentals in pens and calendars. Over eight years, HIG invested in repositioning the Clearwater, Florida-based company, adding acquisitions like Imagen Brands and Skinner & Kennedy to diversify into hard goods, while enhancing operations and management. Despite pandemic-related challenges reducing travel-driven demand, HIG, aided by McKinsey, boosted EBITDA by tens of millions through pricing and service improvements.

In April 2025, HIG sold Koozie to Garyline, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital also based in Florida. The synergy stemmed from complementary capabilities and shared US manufacturing commitments, making it a natural fit. HIG's strategy of addressing complexity, partnering with management, and driving returns culminated in this award-winning exit.