PE Gate Completes Two Acquisitions in the Design Industry in a Single Week

PE Gate LP acquires Naylor Design Inc. and Kramer Design Associates in back-to-back closings, expanding its portfolio into architecture and wayfinding design.

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, September 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- PE Gate LP (PE Gate), a Toronto-based private equity firm focused on lower-mid market, owner-led businesses, today announced it has completed the acquisitions of Naylor Design Inc. (“Naylor”, operating in conjunction with Naylor Architect Inc.), a national commercial architecture firm, and Kramer Design Associates Limited (“KDA”), a Toronto-based signage and wayfinding design firm. Both transactions closed Friday, July 31, 2026.

“Closing two transactions in the same week is a milestone for our platform, but the real story is what both businesses represent: twenty-five and more than fifty years, respectively, of client relationships built by founders who wanted a partner for the next chapter, not an exit from it,” said Ara Sahakian, General Partner, PE Gate. “In both cases, the outgoing owners rolled over meaningful equity and stayed close to the business. That alignment is exactly what we look for, and it reflects our focus on essential, service-driven businesses with strong recurring revenue and clear succession in place.”

Naylor Design Inc. / Naylor Architect Inc.
Founded in 1999, Naylor is a Toronto-based architecture firm licensed across nine Canadian provinces, specializing in commercial interiors and tenant improvement projects for restaurants and quick-service food chains, hospitality and hotels, retail, automotive dealerships, and airport concessions. The firm has delivered more than 2,000 projects for national franchise brands, casual dining operators, and commercial developers, with a core focus on multi-site rollout architecture: adapting brand prototypes across markets, coordinating permitting across jurisdictions, and delivering consistent execution at scale.

In connection with the transaction, Tushar Negi joins the firm as Principal Architect to lead day-to-day operations. Founder Chris Naylor is transitioning into an advisory role, retaining equity in the business and continuing to support client relationships and business development. TD Bank provided an acquisition facility, along with an operating line of credit, to support the business going forward.

“This isn’t about slowing down for me, it’s about how we scale,” said Chris Naylor, founder of Naylor. “Tushar brings the energy and design leadership we need to grow into new markets, while I stay focused on the client relationships and standards that built this firm over 25 years.”
“What Chris built is rare: a quarter-century of relationships and work across retail, restaurant, hospitality, commercial, and automotive, serving national brands and developers across Canada,” said Tushar Negi, Principal Architect at Naylor. “My job is to honour that and push it forward.”

Kramer Design Associates Limited
Founded in 1967, Kramer Design Associates (KDA) is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary design firm with more than 50 years of experience creating distinctive environments and experiences for clients across Canada and internationally. KDA’s work spans sports and entertainment, mixed-use developments, residential, retail, hospitality, education, institutional, civic, transportation and transit environments, with expertise in signage and wayfinding, digital media architecture, environmental and experiential design, branding, and street furniture.

The former owners of KDA, led by Jeremy Kramer, have retained a significant ownership stake in the business, underscoring their confidence in its future and their continued alignment with PE Gate through the next phase of growth.
Desjardins provided acquisition financing, along with an operating line of credit, to support the business going forward. CIBC’s Mid-Market Investment Banking group originated the transaction and led the process on behalf of the sellers.

“We have built an incredible team, strong client relationships and a reputation for delivering innovative work across a diverse range of sectors and markets,” said Jeremy Kramer, Principal and Creative Director at KDA. “We’re proud of that legacy and excited about the opportunity ahead. PE Gate shares that vision, and together we see significant opportunities to expand our capabilities, reach new markets and continue delivering the quality of work for which KDA is known.”

Looking Ahead
With both transactions now closed, PE Gate’s attention turns to executing its growth strategy across both businesses and building long-term value for shareholders. The firm expects to share updates on both portfolio companies as they progress.

About PE Gate LP
PE Gate LP is a Toronto-based private equity firm that invests in essential, service-driven, lower-mid market businesses by supporting management transitions and offering flexible exit options for owners looking to retire. PE Gate is a registered Exempt Market Dealer in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. pe-gate.com

Ara Sahakian
PE Gate
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