Harvest Builds Communications –

Harvest Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, is working hard to build up its portfolio company priNexus Inc. Last month the company acquired its third add-on, Tukaiz Communications, for an undisclosed amount.

Bill Korner, chief executive of priNexus, and Harvest Partners formed the company in 1999 as a platform to launch a marketing communications company with a nationwide presence to service customers in all aspects of marketing materials production across multiple media.

Tukaiz Communications, a digital communication services company that serves domestic and international clients, will expand both priNexus’ product offerings and geographic reach. “Tukaiz complements the existing operations of priNexus while also broadening its digital communication services network and extending our solutions capabilities,” said Korner in a statement. “Tukaiz Communications solidifies our offering in the Chicago market as a single source provider of marketing services adding a significant benefit to its customers and priNexus’ customers.”

Harvest Partners plans to build the company to $500 million in revenue. Since the company’s start, it acquired Halo ISDG, a cross-media database and content management software developer, in November 1999 and Finlay Printing, a high-end commercial printer, last April.

The firm, founded in 1981 by Harvey Mallement and Harvey Wertheim, invests in middle market U.S. and Western European companies in the $40 million to $400 million revenue range focused on manufacturing, specialty services and distribution. Harvest Partners is currently investing its third fund, which closed on $362 million in February 1998. The firm is expected to launch a successor fund this year, which will reportedly target $500 million.

Other recent investments by Harvest Partners include the acquisition last summer of Global Energy Equipment Group LLC, a manufacturer of equipment for gas turbine power plants, for $310 million and the acquisition of ALFCO, a manufacturer of specialty indoor air filters, by portfolio company Home Care Industries Inc.