Thompson Street Capital Partners (“TSCP”), a private equity firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, today announced that its portfolio company Allyant, the leading provider of accessible document, digital, and alternative format print communications solutions, has acquired Braille Works, a trusted provider of accessible alternative format communications, including braille, large print, audio, and accessible PDFs. Transaction terms were not disclosed.
Founded in 1994 by Joyce and Lou Fioritto, Florida-based Braille Works has spent more than three decades helping organizations make information accessible for people who are blind or who have low vision, earning the trust of customers across healthcare, financial services, government, education, and the private sector.
The acquisition builds upon Allyant’s established alternative format business, more than doubling its production footprint and capacity by expanding its presence to Florida. With production processes that adhere to the highest standards of privacy and security, the combined platform expands Allyant’s ability to serve highly regulated industries and to support organizations navigating an increasingly complex accessibility regulatory landscape across every customer touchpoint.
“We are thrilled to partner with Joyce and Lou Fioritto on this transformational combination. Together, Braille Works and Allyant will deliver new value to our customers, new opportunities for our employees, and a better experience for the individuals and communities that benefit from best-in-class accessible communications,” said Craig Albrecht, Managing Director at TSCP.
“We’ve admired Braille Works for many years, not only because of the quality of its work, but also because of the values the organization represents,” said Ariel Kunar, CEO of Allyant. “The founders have built a remarkable company founded upon the belief that everyone deserves equal access to information. We’re honored to build on that legacy while expanding our ability to help organizations deliver accessible communications with greater expertise, capacity, and confidence.”
Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to TSCP. Hyde Park Capital and Polsinelli served as financial and legal advisors to Braille Works.
