Investment History

The Cypress Companies can trace our Akron, Ohio, roots back to the mid-1970s when our predecessor, The Brenlin Group, was formed.

The Brenlin Group focused on turn-around acquisitions. From its inception through the mid-1990s, the company acquired and consolidated a long list of businesses, ultimately owning 16 industrial companies. These companies' capabilities included steel production; metal stamping; Tier-One automotive supply; reaction injection molding; manufacturing of brakes, mounted ball bearings, and gaskets; tire and wheel distribution; forging; and remanufacturing.

After achieving in excess of one billion dollars in combined sales, The Brenlin Group partnership dissolved and its assets were divided among the principals in 1995. The Cypress Companies was formed that same year.

  • 1995: The Cypress Companies, Inc. is formed
    Holdings include: Tredit Tire & Wheel, Ausco Products, Riker Products, Prior Gaskets
  • 1998: Acquisition of Performix Technologies (Warren, OH & Kingsford, IN) from Ogelbay Norton
  • 2000: Ausco sells SUV/Light Truck jack product line to Dura Automotive to concentrate on off-road brakes
  • 2002: Acquisition of Universal Polymer & Rubber (Middlefield, OH)
  • 2003: Performix Technologies acquires the steel side additive business of Rossborough-Remacor (Lorain, OH)
  • 2007: Sale of Performix Technologies to Harsco Corporation
  • 2008: Sale of Prior Gaskets to United Gasket Corporation;
    Universal Polymer & Rubber acquires ACL Customer Rubber (Ravenna, OH)
  • 2010: Tredit Tire & Wheel acquires distribution business of JCA Corporation (Puyallup, WA)
  • 2011: Acquisition of Tem-Pace (Niles, MI)
  • 2012: Tem-Pace acquires Spec-Temp (Antwerp, OH)
    Universal Polymer & Rubber acquires Dybrook Products, Inc. (Warren, OH)
  • 2014: Universal Polymer & Rubber acquires Universal Rubber & Plastics Corporation (Tallmadge, OH)
    Tredit Tire & Wheel acquires Wayne Tire and Wheel's OEM Distribution Business (White Pigeon, MI)
  • 2017: Universal Polymer & Rubber acquires certain assets of Crest Rubber Company (Ravenna, OH)
  • 2018: Universal Polymer & Rubber acquires Gasko Fabricated Products (Medina, OH)