Jurassic Quest® Has Been Acquired by L2 Capital Partners

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 28, 2019) – Statesman Corporate Finance, LLC (“Statesman”) is pleased to announce that Jurassic Quest Holdings, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively “Jurassic Quest^®“, “JQ”, or the “Company”) has completed a majority recapitalization led by L2 Capital Partners, L.P. (“L2”). Statesman served as the exclusive financial advisor to JQ throughout the transaction, which closed May 1, 2019.

Jurassic Quest®, founded in 2013, is already surpassing 1 million show attendees annually and has over 1.6 million followers on Facebook. JQ is the largest dinosaur-themed traveling “edutainment” event in the United States. Operating two identical touring companies, JQ staged 90 events in 34 states in 2018. In 2019, JQ has expanded outside the US for the 1st time staging highly successful shows across Canada. JQ shows are three to four day events staged in convention halls and expo centers and feature life-sized animatronic dinosaurs exhibited in settings replicating their natural habitats and action scenes. JQ consults with  paleontologist to create accurately reflected displays spanning the Cretaceous, Triassic and Jurassic eras. JQ educates, entertains and provides families with an unparalleled experience through its interactive exhibits, guided tours, rides, and other attractions.
Founded by Dan & Leticia Arnold, JQ is based in Houston, Texas, and has approximately 100 full time employees, 80% of which travel with one of the two tours. JQ’s senior management team and all its employees will continue with the Company.

Commenting on the Transaction Dan Arnold said, “Statesman’s assistance throughout this process was invaluable. Our Company has grown so fast and is so unique we didn’t know where to start in presenting ourselves and identifying options for securing a strategic acquirer. We believe we have found the ideal partner in L2 as they exhibited the same passion for the business as Leticia and I, and bring the experience, resources and capabilities to help rapidly accelerate the Company’s growth and further innovation.”

Connor McMahan, an L2 Principal, said “The opportunity to partner with a company such as JQ is rare in that its market leadership and demonstrated value proposition are distinct amongst its peers. We have assembled an extraordinary group of board members and advisors that will help guide JQ’s very talented management team in executing on its tangible path to organic growth at home in the US and abroad.”

More information about the transaction can be found here.

About the other transaction participants

Statesman Corporate Finance, LLC is the FINRA-licensed broker dealer affiliate of Statesman Business Advisors, LLC. With offices in Houston and Austin, Texas, Statesman is a leading middle-market investment banking firm providing merger and acquisition, capital formation, valuation and other general corporate financial advisory services to middle-market companies. The Statesman team advising on this engagement was led by Managing Director Erik Konicki, Principal Walter Tomlinson, and Analyst Nathan Hurst.

Calvetti Ferguson led by Partner Chin Yu and Director Anneka Sciola, provided pre-sale Quality of Earnings support to JQ.

L2 Capital is a lower middle market private equity family office that specializes in making controlling or minority investments in business service, consumer product and manufacturing companies with enterprise values up to $75 million.

Capitala Group (“Capitala”) provided debt financing and co-invested in the transaction with L2. Capitala is a $2.7 billion asset management firm that provides capital to lower and traditional middle market businesses throughout North America.

Lindeman ESQ law firm (Solana Beach, CA) led by Partner Curt Lindeman, provided legal counsel to JQ.

Pepper Hamilton LLP law firm (Philadelphia, PA) led by Partner Bruce Fenton, provided legal counsel to L2 Capital.