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January 23, 2020
Boschini Miller and Associates sold
By Jayne Gest
Fort Lauderdale-headquartered FMS Solutions has acquired Boschini Miller and Associates, an 18-person accounting services firm in Westmoreland County that provides support to multiple grocery, restaurant and other retail environments.
Local Deals Pittsburgh
January 23, 2020
Charles Robins on the importance of deal prep
When selling a business, everything starts with the fundamentals — preparing historical financials, readying a data room, etc. But, according to Fairmount Partners Managing Director Charles M. Robins, it takes more than just the basics for a company to maximize its valuation.
January 23, 2020
Seeley Law Office Merges Into Buckley King
The deal is expected to provide Seeley’s client base with a broader range of legal services, as well as enhance Buckley King’s service offerings to clients.
January 23, 2020
The State of M&A In Nashville
As the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference heads to Nashville to put M&A center stage, we asked top local dealmakers give their assessment of the state of the Nashville M&A scene.
January 23, 2020
Jeremy Falendysz: Be Ready To Answer The Tough Questions When You Sell Your Business
The decision to sell your business is an important, but very small step in the actual transaction timeline, says UHY's Jeremy Falendysz.
January 23, 2020
Victory Capital’s David C. Brown: Each Day Is A New Challenge, A New Opportunity To Make A Deal
If you’re not buying, and you’re not selling, you’re thinking about it and evaluating potential opportunities, says Victory Capital’s David C. Brown.
January 23, 2020
Frontenac’s Ronald W. Kuehl: Find Ways To Create Value, Then Execute Your Plan
Frontenac's Ronald W. Kuehl focuses on investments in the commercial, industrial and business service sectors, using a mix of patience and urgency to find good deal opportunities.
January 22, 2020
Jamie Van Buren coaches newly minted CEOs on buying and growth
Jamie Van Buren estimates he’s bought about 20 businesses over the course of his career, but today he truly enjoys mentoring young presidents and CEOs on buying companies and strategic initiatives to help the acquired company grow.
January 22, 2020
Dave Enright breaks down the capital stack
Dave Enright has a lot of experience in the "wild, wild west" of buying — deals that are below $5 million EBIDTA. The senior vice president and commercial banker at S&T Bank digs into the financing behind buying companies in the lower middle market.
January 21, 2020
Incline Equity raises $1.165B for latest fund
Incline Equity Partners has closed Incline Equity Partners V, L.P. and Incline Equity Partners V-A, L.P. on $1.165 billion of capital commitments. The fund was oversubscribed above its initial target of $850 million.
January 21, 2020
Martin Renkis: Be a 10-year thinker when raising funds
Founder Martin Renkis talks about raising capital for Smartvue and how long-term thinking ultimately landed put him in the best position to succeed — culminating in a sale to Johnson Controls in 2018.
January 20, 2020
Samya.AI Raises $6M In Seed Funding Led By Sequoia India
Samya.AI is an enterprise revenue growth AI SaaS company headquartered in Chicago with offices in London and its main product and R&D center in Bangalore, India.
January 17, 2020
Tammy Wolcott: Time kills deals, so move fast
W Squared co-founder Tammy Wolcott talks about how she and her team prepared the business for a sale.
January 17, 2020
Victor Thorne takes a smarter, more disciplined approach to investing
Victor Thorne was bit by the entrepreneur bug early. In his mid 20s, he started his first company with his older brother. Today, the partner at Origin Malt is still enthusiastic about investing and entrepreneurship, but his focus has changed.
January 17, 2020
Michael Mufson on determining value, finding investors in recapitalization
Recaps, a liquidity play, represent an estimated 75 percent of the private equity transactions taking place in the market today. Michael Mufson offers a closer look at recapitalization so owners can better understand the process.
January 16, 2020
Andrew J. Goldberg: Why A ‘Pre-Mortem’ Is A Useful Tool In Dealmaking
When you think about everything that can go wrong in a deal, it gives you a better chance at doing it right, says Andrew J. Goldberg.
January 16, 2020
John Roppo: Before the sale, focus on what you can control
John Roppo has found preparation critical to the sale process. The long-time CFO, who recently started his own consulting firm, gives some tips to help companies prep for sale and focus on what they can control.
January 16, 2020
John Ziss Jr.: Are You Ready To Make A Deal?
Dealmaking readiness is an important part of M&A strategy, says Kurtz Bros. Inc.'s John Ziss Jr.
January 16, 2020
LaSalle Network’s Tom Gimbel: Entrepreneur Still Searching For The Right Deal
The decision to make a deal is often a matter of perspective, says LaSalle Network’s Tom Gimbel.
January 16, 2020
LFM’s Steve Cook Assesses Deals Like An Operator
LFM Capital's Steve Cook talks about what he looks for in a deal and how a company that’s been prepped for a sale might not be it.
January 15, 2020
Digital Dream Labs buys Anki Robotics & Artificial Intelligence assets
Digital Dream Labs has acquired Anki Robotics and Artificial Intelligence assets without taking on any liabilities, effective immediately. The Pittsburgh company plans to relaunch the product line, deploy new features and develop new robots.
January 15, 2020
MRI Software Gets Investment From Harvest Partners
Harvest Partners joins existing investors TA Associates and GI Partners as institutional shareholders in MRI. At the same time, TA Associates is also making a significant new investment in the business.
January 15, 2020
Phoenix Rehab purchases Youngstown area clinics
Phoenix Rehabilitation and Health Services has acquired Youngstown-based TuDor Physical Therapy, which becomes the company’s first group of clinics in Ohio. This brings Phoenix’s total clinics to 117.
January 14, 2020
JetSelect Aviation sold to Jet Edge
Van Nuys, California-headquartered Jet Edge International has acquired Columbus-based JetSelect Aviation to create one of the most diverse fleets of aircraft based throughout the U.S.
January 14, 2020
Weinberg Capital Completes Exit Of AeroRepair
During Weinberg Capital's ownership, AeroRepair grew from a single facility located in New Hampshire to the largest independent wheel and brake maintenance, repair and overhaul platform in North America.
January 10, 2020
The State of M&A In St. Louis
It's an active M&A environment across industries and the entire spectrum of companies — from large to middle market to small. And that’s not expected to change much this year, despite warnings of a
January 10, 2020
How HBM Works With CEOs To Spur Growth
Andrew Fulford discusses HBM Holdings' expectations for operators and their role in dealmaking.
January 9, 2020
Americaneagle.com’s Michael Svanascini: When Customer Acquisition Wins Out Over Cultural Fit
While cultural fit is often critical to achieving a successful acquisition, it’s not mandatory, says Americaneagle.com’s Michael Svanascini.
January 9, 2020
Autobooks’ Steve Robert: Give Investors A Reason To Believe In Your Business
You can’t afford to be short-sighted, getting quick dollars and board members without thinking a few steps ahead, says Autobooks’ Steve Robert.
January 9, 2020
Rick Busby: Acquisition Gives The Rogers Co. A Foothold On The West Coast
When you take the long view in a deal negotiation, you often come out ahead, says The Rogers Co.’s Risk Busby.
January 9, 2020
Capital-raising tips any business can learn from
Coolfire Solutions CEO Don Sharp talks about raising capital, nurturing investor relationships and what should be understood when faced with the decision of whether, or whether not, to take on outside capital.
January 9, 2020
DHL Supply Chain gets proactive with the digital disruption
About three years ago, DHL Supply Chain changed how it considered digitalization, moving from defense to offense and working directly with startups. Sally Miller, CIO North America, shared how the company set up and runs this innovation funnel.
January 9, 2020
Baker Tilly’s Fred Massanova on not getting derailed by deal pace
Faster deal pace has led to shorter diligence processes at a time when that process has become more demanding. Baker Tilly's Fred Massanova offers a some advice for staying on track when buying a business.
January 8, 2020
Wabtec purchases RELCO Locomotives
Wabtec Corp. has acquired RELCO Locomotives Inc., a player in the locomotive overhaul and maintenance industry. The acquisition expands Wabtec’s freight services capabilities and capacity to support growth in the remanufacturing and repair business.
January 8, 2020
M/I Homes sells Easton office building to Alterra
Brad Kitchen, president of Alterra Real Estate Advisors, has purchased the five-story building occupied by M/I Homes corporate office at 3 Easton Oval, for $6.5 million. At $75 per square foot, Kitchen saw a value-add opportunity with this property.
January 8, 2020
Park Place Technologies Buys IntelliNet’s NOC
IntelliNet's NOC is Park Place Technologies' 13th acquisition since 2016 and its first in 2020, following the 2019 acquisitions of Entuity in August and UK-based MCSA Group Limited in April.
January 8, 2020
PPG to buy Italian manufacturer ICR
PPG has agreed to acquire Industria Chimica Reggiana S.p.A., a manufacturer of paints and coatings for the automotive refinish and light industrial coatings industries. The strategic deal will complement PPG’s current product offering and add specialized, value-added products.
January 7, 2020
MSA develops a better integration formula
Until a decade ago, MSA Safety hadn’t been very successful with its acquisitions. But that changed when the safety equipment manufacturer started taking an intentional approach to integration that's spearheaded by the right deal quarterback.
January 7, 2020
Goodyear Launches New Venture Capital Fund To Advance Future Mobility
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. announced a new venture capital fund, Goodyear Ventures, with $100 million targeted for new investments in future mobility solutions over the next 10 years.
January 7, 2020
MCCI Sells To Executive Team
MCCI was founded in 1993 by legendary broadcaster Mort Crim, joined by Post-Newsweek (WDIV-TV) Executive Producer and journalist Terry Oprea. Crim retired in 2008, selling the firm fully at that time to Oprea.
January 6, 2020
MAI Capital Closes Deal To Buy J.M. Hartwell
The acquisition closed on Dec. 31 and will increase MAI’s assets under management by over $640 million.
January 5, 2020
Penske Corp. Completes Deal To Buy Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Penske Corp. becomes just the fourth owner in the history of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has hosted the world's largest single-day sporting event — the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race — for more than 100 years.
January 3, 2020
Clearcover Closes $50M Series C Funding Round
This round follows the company's $43 million Series B, which closed in January 2019, and brings Clearcover's total funding to more than $104 million since its 2016 founding.
January 3, 2020
2020 shaping up to be a great deal year, with some caveats
Following 2019's strong dealmaking year, the expectation is an even stronger M&A market in 2020. However, as Griffin Financial Group’s John Lee notes, there may be uncertainties ahead that could prove disruptive.
January 3, 2020
Deal Us In
Dealmaking has become a part of the playbook for companies competing in the market today. We talked to some of Nashville's top dealmakers to learn how M&A is being woven into strategic plans — sometimes from the start — as a means of growth.
January 3, 2020
For Arnie Malham, Selling One Business Informs Growing The Next
Arnie Malham had a nice little business in MedView Services, but it wasn’t really sellable. “What we found out is that while we had a great little niche with great little margins, the upside wasn't big.
January 2, 2020
Dealmaking predictions for 2020’s M&A activity in Central Ohio
Smart Business Dealmakers spoke with Ice Miller's Rob Ouellette, Dickinson Wright's Scot Crow and U.S. Bank's Steve Bennett about what they forecast for the 2020 dealmaking climate.
January 2, 2020
A forecast of what to expect for 2020 Dealmaking in Pittsburgh
Smart Business Dealmakers spoke with Tecum Capital’s Stephen Gurgovits Jr., S&T Bank’s Brian Dobis and Innovation Works' Rich Lunak about what they anticipate for the 2020 dealmaking climate.
January 2, 2020
2020 Forecast: What To Expect For The Year In Dealmaking In Detroit
We spoke with Greenwich Capital Group's Andrew Dickow, Michigan Capital Advisors’ Gerry Giudici and Renaissance Venture Capital Fund’s Christopher L. Rizik to get their thoughts on what to expect from a dealmaking perspective in 2020.
January 2, 2020
2020 Forecast: What To Expect For The Year In Dealmaking In Cleveland
We spoke with Copper Run Capital's Matt Roberts, ErieBank’s Wes Gillespie, Carleton McKenna’s Chris McKenna and Folio Photonics’ Steven Santamaria to get their thoughts on what to expect from a dealmaking perspective in 2020.
January 2, 2020
2020 Forecast: What To Expect For The Year In Dealmaking in Chicago
We spoke with LaSalle Network's Tom Gimbel, Sun Acquisitions’ Domenic Rinaldi and Cendrowski Corporate Advisors’ Harry Cendrowski to get their thoughts on what to expect from a dealmaking perspective in 2020.
January 2, 2020
Hyperion completes AFC Hartmetall purchase
Columbus-headquartered Hyperion Materials & Technologies, which develops hard and super-hard materials for a range of demanding applications, has completed its acquisition of AFC Hartmetall, a premium cemented carbide tool blank manufacturer.
January 2, 2020
John Cerasuolo turns ADS Security into the brand sellers can trust
The ADS Security CEO provides an inside look at the company's deal process, from the work of the internal team to how the company markets itself to potential sellers.
December 27, 2019
Philadelphia 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 26, 2019
Cleveland 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 24, 2019
KKR Buys OverDrive From Rakuten
New York-based buyout firm KKR has agreed to buy Cleveland-based OverDrive Inc. digital reading platform for libraries and schools from Rakuten, which bought the business in 2015.OverDrive provides a
December 24, 2019
Culligan Buying AquaVenture Holdings for $1.1B
AquaVenture offers point-of-use filtered water systems and related services, as well as desalination and wastewater treatment products to governmental, municipal, industrial and hospitality customers.
December 24, 2019
Columbus 2019 Dealmaking Year in Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 23, 2019
Rivian Closes $1.3B Investment Round
The financing was led by funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. Amazon, Ford Motor Co. and funds managed by BlackRock also participated in the round.
December 23, 2019
Chicago 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 23, 2019
Virginia firm purchases Chase Tower
Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners LLC, a Richmond, Virginia-based commercial real estate investment firm, has acquired a 24-story office tower in downtown Columbus. Chase Tower is currently 60 percent occupied and presents a significant repositioning opportunity in a market that has historically experienced office occupancies above 90 percent.
December 23, 2019
Pittsburgh 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 23, 2019
Detroit 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 19, 2019
Huron Capital-Backed High Street Insurance Partners Buys InPro
Local Deals Detroit
December 19, 2019
PolyOne Buys Clariant Color, Additive Masterbatch Business In $1.45B Deal
The combined net purchase price is $1.45 billion, representing an 11.1 times-multiple of last 12 months-adjusted EBITDA, or 7.6 times, including anticipated synergies.
December 19, 2019
Equity funding up in Detroit, Pittsburgh
Local Deals Detroit Pittsburgh Philadelphia
December 19, 2019
Ovid’s Matt Geiger: Focus On Finding Ways To Get The Deal Done
Matt Geiger has experience as both an entrepreneur and an investor. When he’s an entrepreneur, he’s learned the value of letting the investor be the smartest one in the room.
December 18, 2019
RPM-Backed Mantrose-Haeuser Buys Profile Food Ingredients
Local Deals Chicago Cleveland
December 18, 2019
Hawthorne’s Katy Wiles: With the right process, buyers can minimize deal disruption
Katy Wiles has learned a thing or two about running an efficient deal process on the buy side. The lead attorney and legal adviser for Hawthorne Gardening Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro., shares her take on creating a core team and how deal processes should work.
December 18, 2019
Edward Chan on how to achieve just the right level of transaction preparedness
1315 Capital's Edward Chan talks deal prep — who to hire, when not to hire, how to prepare and how not to prepare your company for a sale.
December 17, 2019
Everstream’s Brett Lindsey: Don’t Be Afraid To Uncover Your Own Deal Opportunities
When you develop an effective M&A strategy to inform your decisions, you minimize the risk of making crucial mistakes. Everstream’s Brett Lindsey explains.
December 17, 2019
BPOC’s Troy Phillips: Wise Dealmakers Have A Plan Before Investing In Health Care
You don’t have to invest in every opportunity you see, says Beecken Petty O’Keefe’s Troy Phillips. Take time to find the right deal.
December 17, 2019
Jessica Gibson on raising capital from inside a health-tech startup
Pittsburgh’s efforts to grow its regional health-tech and life science startup sector haven’t paid off as much or as quickly as city and business leaders would like. But Ariel Precision Medicine CEO and co-founder Jessica Gibson believes there’s still a path forward with more collaboration.
December 16, 2019
Gecko Robotics raises $40M Series B round, led by Drive Capital
Gecko Robotics, which develops and operates robots to automate infrastructure inspections, has raised a Series B funding round of $40 million, led by Columbus-based Drive Capital. The Pittsburgh startup and Y-Combinator alum plans to use the funds to support its quickly scaling business operations.
December 12, 2019
Rob Dube: Being Mindful Is Key To Being An Effective Dealmaker
It seemed like a good deal, but things changed quickly for Rob Dube when he sold imageOne. Fortunately, he got it back and learned a valuable lesson about mindfulness.
December 12, 2019
Roll-Kraft’s Sanjay Singh: Find Deal Opportunities That Fit What You Want To Achieve
Dealmaking is a big part of Sanjay Singh’s life, both at Roll-Kraft and through his family office.
December 12, 2019
QED’s Hiroyuki Fujita: Dealmaking Can Be A Tool To Protect Your Company’s Future
QED’s Hiroyuki Fujita is confident his deal with Canon will both protect QED’s future and preserve its innovative culture.
December 12, 2019
Pre Brands’ Jason Pinter: Build An Investment Thesis That Works For You
Feedback is important as you’re building a business. But you’ve got to do what you think is best, says Pre Brands’ Jason Pinter.
December 11, 2019
Bruce Lazear lays out the anatomy of an ESOP
The idea of selling to a third party can be terrifying to many business owners. An employee stock ownership plan may be the answer, but first take the time to truly understand the fundamentals behind ESOPs, says Bruce Lazear, who's firm, Lazear Capital Partners, handles many of these exit strategies.
December 11, 2019
Jonathan Meltzer on leadership as a deal cornerstone
Here's some of what Jonathan Meltzer looks for in a buy-side opportunity to assure him he’s making the right investment.
December 11, 2019
Palumbo-Led Group Sells River North Office Building In Chicago
Local Deals Chicago
December 10, 2019
Buddy Flerl: Whether investing overseas or in the PE secondary market, people are the key
Buddy Flerl acts as an investor and limited partner in institutional funds in the secondary market, providing liquidity to PE firms. He also has experience investing overseas. In both scenarios, he says, it comes down to people.
December 10, 2019
Vertiv to be publicly traded after merger
Vertiv Holdings LLC, a global provider of digital infrastructure and continuity solutions headquartered in Columbus, will become a publicly traded company through a merger with GS Acquisition Holdings Corp, a special purpose acquisition company co-sponsored by an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and David M. Cote.
December 9, 2019
Innovation Fund NEO Awards $275K To Five Startup Companies
Founded by the Lorain County Community College Foundation, Innovation Fund awards technology-based startups up to $100,000 so they can validate their technologies and business concepts.
December 9, 2019
Baltimore-Based Axxella Buys Geneva’s SPIRE Institute
Spire is considered a world-class, mega-facility specializing in athlete training, development and competition within a wide variety of sports.
December 6, 2019
Purchase of West Virginia’s Mountaineer Casino closes
Colorado Springs-based Century Casinos Inc. has completed the acquisition of the operations of New Cumberland, West Virginia’s Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, as well as two Missouri casinos, from Eldorado Resorts Inc. for approximately $107 million.
December 6, 2019
JLL Income Property Trust Buys AZ-Based Distribution Center In $31M Deal
Chandler Distribution Center is a 211,000-square-foot, Class A industrial asset located in the southeast submarket of Phoenix.
December 5, 2019
Deal Us In
Business owners can’t afford to ignore M&A — even if they’re not actively looking to buy or sell. That’s because competitors are out scooping up a new technology, diversifying into new geographies, raising growth capital, and implementing long-term exit plans that help them run their companies better.
December 5, 2019
GM, LG Chem Form $2.3B Joint Venture In Lordstown
General Motors and LG Chem have announced plans to mass-produce battery cells for future battery-electric vehicles. Together, the companies will invest up to $2.3 billion through a new, equally owned joint venture company.
December 5, 2019
GTE buys companies with a unique model: entrepreneurship through acquisition
Entrepreneurship through acquisition or search fund can be less risky than starting a company from scratch, and GT Entrepreneurs is one of a handful of firms that help experienced operators find successful businesses. VP of Operations Robert Septak shares how the firm works.
December 5, 2019
PWP Growth Equity’s John McKee on seeing the other side when selling a business
Selling a business is, for many, ultimately about the transaction — a value-and-price equation based on data scrutinized through the diligence process. However, PWP Growth Equity Managing Director John McKee sees something more than that.
December 4, 2019
Pondera Holdings Leads $31M AutoPets Recap
The investment is intended to accelerate the company's growth, as well as provide a liquidity event to the founders of the business.
December 4, 2019
How A Mix Of Persistence, Patience And Discipline Got Kelvin Squires A Great Deal
Kelvin Squires really wanted to buy Center Line Electric, but he was willing to walk away from the deal if he didn't get what he needed.
December 4, 2019
Stuart Sorkin: Turnaround Deals Can Be Fulfilling, If You Know What You’re Facing
Assess a company from every angle before you go forward with acquiring the business.
December 4, 2019
Stonehenge’s Andrew Bohutinsky: The value of operators with skin in the game
When Stonehenge Partners invests in a business, it’s looking for operators who have skin in the game. This means, as a fund, it often finds the most opportunity through minority recapitalizations, says Managing Partner Andrew Bohutinsky.
December 4, 2019
Blue Olive’s Ed Weinfurtner: Focus On The Opportunity In Dealmaking And You’ll Find Success
Blue Olive Partners’ Ed Weinfurtner is always driven to find the next challenge. His attitude helps him turn tough situations into great opportunities.
December 4, 2019
Duolingo raises $30M in Series F funding; now valued at $1.5B
Duolingo has reached a $1.5 billion valuation after closing a $30 million Series F funding round from CapitalG, Alphabet’s growth equity investment fund and an existing investor in the company. This brings Duolingo’s total venture funding to $138 million.
December 4, 2019
Covestro to buy Bayer’s Robinson campus
Covestro LLC has agreed to purchase the Bayer Corp.’s Robinson Township campus, which is home to Covestro’s U.S. headquarters. The change in ownership is planned for Dec. 31, 2020.
December 4, 2019
Aspirant buys HR Imagined
Aspirant, a Pittsburgh-based global management consulting and technology firm, has acquired HR Imagined, an outsourced HR solution organization in Pittsburgh. As part of the deal, HR Imagined President Cheryl Paxton-Hughes will join Aspirant.
December 3, 2019
How Maxine Clark Financed Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear Workshop founder Maxine Clark talks about how she raised the capital — both financial and intellectual — to grow the retail chain and eventually take it public.
December 2, 2019
Heartland Bank to buy Cincy’s Victory Community Bank
Whitehall-headquartered Heartland BancCorp has agreed to merge Victory Community Bank, a federal savings association with its main office in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, into Heartland Bank, in a transaction valued at approximately $41.1 million.
December 2, 2019
Process Control's Bill Morgan offers an M&A education to owner-operators
The way Bill Morgan sees it, he’s an operator, not an M&A guy. But the truth is, he’s both.
November 27, 2019
The A.D. Farrow deal offers a recapitalization case study
Earlier this year, the three-store A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson dealership was purchased by Ricart Automotive. One of the investors, Fred Vorys, walks us through the sale, which is an interesting example of a recapitalization.
November 27, 2019
Gary DeJidas on staying conservative in today’s market and an inside look at an ESOP
In Gary DeJidas' mind many acquisitions are overpriced today, which is why GAI Consultants buys cautiously in an uncertain economy. The chairman and CEO also gives his perspective on ESOPs after 27 years under that ownership structure.
November 26, 2019
Target Data’s Ross Shelleman: Are You Ready To Make A Deal?
Before you get into a deal, you need to figure out if you have a willing seller, says Target Data’s Ross Shelleman.
November 26, 2019
Industrial Commercial Properties Buys Former Kmart Building In Garfield Heights
The structure, with its height and column spacing, is believed to be adaptive to redevelopment. ICP plans to update the facility, including the exterior.
November 26, 2019
Laura Pettit Rusick: Don’t Wait Until After The Deal To Address IT Due Diligence
Dealmakers who fail to incorporate IT due diligence into their M&A strategy are taking a big risk, says OPT Solutions Founder Laura Pettit Rusick.
November 26, 2019
Hyland's Bill Priemer Uses A Methodical Approach To Identify M&A Targets
Hyland is a very acquisitive company, but it wasn’t always that way, says Bill Priemer, the software company’s president and CEO.
November 26, 2019
Hildred Capital Partners’ Andrew Goldman on creating connections and culture’s effect on deal price
Hildred Capital Partners' Andrew Goldman says investors and operators bring different experiences and perspectives to a relationship. And when the two come together and share their experiences through a productive dialogue, everyone benefits.
November 25, 2019
Peninsula Capital’s Ty Clutterbuck: How To Find Your Way To A Great Deal Opportunity
Achieving synergy in business doesn’t have to be about making cuts. Through dealmaking, it can be a path to growth opportunities, says Ty Clutterbuck.
November 21, 2019
Pitt Ohio spinoff Idelic iterates quickly, including during fundraising
Hayden Cardiff approaches raising capital the same way he approaches building a product — with a lean startup methodology of build, measure and learn. The Idelic CEO discusses the company's growth and how he's applying what he's learned.
November 21, 2019
Dynamit merging with Virginia competitor
WillowTree LLC and Columbus-based Dynamit Technologies LLC, digital product agencies focused on designing and delivering mobile, web and voice applications, have agreed to combine forces to create the largest independent agency of its type in the U.S., with over 500 employees.
November 21, 2019
Henniges Autmotive’s Larry Williams: Keys To Working Effectively With Private Equity Ownership
Larry Williams has used simple, honest dialogue to build strong ties with each PE firm that has owned Henniges Automotive.
November 21, 2019
JumpStart, Rev1 receive Ohio Third Frontier funds
The Ohio Third Frontier Commission approved up to $26.5 million to JumpStart and up to $14 million to Rev 1 Ventures to help entrepreneurs develop innovative products and grow technology startup companies. Other recipients included the OhioHealth Innovation Development Fund, Akron PolyEnergy, Capture Collective, Exotome, IR Medtek, Matsaki Technologies, NeuroTherapia and RooSense.
November 21, 2019
Pepper Hamilton’s Daniel McDonough highlights transaction preparedness pitfalls
Lawyers, LOIs, unrecognized risks and setting up for your next professional chapter ... there's lots to consider, and plan for, when preparing your business for a sale. Pepper Hamilton Partner Daniel McDonough identifies a few traps to avoid during the process.
November 21, 2019
Fire-Dex’s Bill Burke: Acquisitions Provide Opportunities To Learn From Other Businesses
The four companies Fire-Dex has acquired in the past decade were good businesses. Bill Burke saw an opportunity to make them stellar.
November 20, 2019
Rockwell Automation Building Sells For $61M
Mohr Capital, a Dallas-based, privately held real estate investment firm, has sold the 460,000-square-foot net leased office building in Mayfield Heights.
November 19, 2019
Stadion Capital’s Michael Scott: You cannot outstructure a bad deal
When Michael Scott went out on his own in 2010, after more than 20 years of private equity and M&A experience, he knew there was no room for mistakes. That's why he looked for opportunities with a competitive advantage.
November 19, 2019
Home Chef’s Pat Vihtelic: What’s The Recipe For Success In Your Business?
Pat Vihtelic created Home Chef to transform the way we all cook and eat. A lucrative deal with Kroger has allowed him the space to do just that.
November 15, 2019
Philadelphia's Instem buys Columbus firm, Leadscope
Local Deals Philadelphia Columbus
November 14, 2019
Joseph D. Culley Jr. says post transaction, the clock is ticking on culture
Janney Montgomery Scott’s Joseph D. Culley Jr. says after a merger, companies need to quickly win on culture, otherwise your returns will suffer as people start to walk.
November 14, 2019
PwC’s Exit Strategies Report: When It’s Time To Sell, Make Sure You’re Ready
It’s OK if you’re not ready to sell now. Just be sure you’re ready when that time comes, say PwC’s Fentress Seagroves and Shari Forman.
November 13, 2019
Huron Capital’s Brian Demkowicz Shares His Secrets To Good Dealmaking
Brian Demkowicz has a process for everything, enabling Huron Capital to continually make the right call on dealmaking opportunities.
November 13, 2019
Tom Lombardo: Invest in your exit strategy upfront
Prior to a sale, it’s critical to professionalize your company, whether that means planning, education or just a better understanding of its value. And as with any strategy, that may require an investment to bear fruit, says Adams Manufacturing President and CEO Tombardo.
November 12, 2019
Longaberger intellectual property sold
Xcel Brands Inc. and Chicago-based Hilco Global have acquired the intellectual property of Longaberger. Xcel Brands, a media and consumer products company, will manage the American heritage home and collectibles brand out of its New York City headquarters going forward.
November 12, 2019
BioEnterprise’s Aram Nerpouni: Talent Is Vital To Creating Deal Opportunities In Cleveland’s Health Care Sector
Cool ideas are great. Investors want to see the leadership and the team behind the idea before they invest, says the nonprofit's president and CEO.
November 12, 2019
Falls’ Rob Falls: Merger With Wyse Provides Tools To Continue Growing, Evolving
Rob Falls needed to make an acquisition. When he found a peer in the Cleveland marketing industry who was looking to sell, he got to work negotiating a deal.
November 12, 2019
Threekit Closes $20M Series A Round
The funding round was led by Shasta Ventures. Additional investors include Salesforce Ventures, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Hall of Famer Steve Young, Marketo Co-Founder Phil Fernandez and serial SaaS entrepreneur Godard Abel.
November 12, 2019
Aon’s Vipul Patel explains the role of reps and warranties insurance
The use of reps and warranty insurance is on the rise, as it helps sellers walk away after a deal closes and gives buyers risk protection. Aon's Vipul Patel goes over the nuts and bolts of this M&A tool.
November 12, 2019
Ohio Innovation Fund invests in Windpact
Ohio Innovation Fund, a Columbus venture capital firm, has invested in Windpact. The impact safety technology company is founded and led by Shawn Springs, a 13-year NFL veteran who played collegiately at The Ohio State University.
November 7, 2019
Robots, automation and AI, oh my!
Last month, participants in Columbus VC firm Drive Capital’s second robotics and automation summit — Devol’s Dance — spent the day exploring the future. While automation is critical to many of Drive Capital’s portfolio companies, two researchers shared how robots, overall, are changing the way we think and how we do our jobs.
November 7, 2019
Atkins Cos buys West Mifflin medical office building
Atkins Companies has acquired a 26,174-square-foot medical office building in West Mifflin. The outpatient facility is fully leased by Allegheny Health Network and bolsters the New Jersey firm's portfolio in the rapidly growing Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
November 7, 2019
1315 Capital’s Adele Oliva talks big (and little) picture on the state of health care M&A
Finding investment success isn’t necessarily about being granularly focused on a super-niche sector or subsector. In fact, for Adele Oliva and 1315 Capital, success can be a product of being able to see the bigger picture.
November 7, 2019
MedPilot Co-Founders Bring A Methodical Approach To Scaling Their Business
Matt Buder Shapiro and Nathan Spoden have taken a humble yet confident approach to building MedPilot.
November 7, 2019
BGL Sells Warnock Food Products To Calbee
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November 6, 2019
Clearcover’s Kyle Nakatsuji: Talk To As Many Investors As You Can
Pitching investors works best when you connect with as many as possible, says the auto insurer's CEO.
November 5, 2019
O2’s Jay Hansen: M&A Works Best When Both Sides Are Ready To Deal
Dealmaking works better when there is M&A expertise on both sides of the table, says the private equity firm's managing partner.
November 5, 2019
Confluence’s Mark Evans builds trust to gain backing to take over a larger company
Mark Evans has found transparency to be his most powerful tool when working with private equity owners. That's how he was able to convince his new PE firm to help Confluence buy the larger, publicly traded StatPro.
November 5, 2019
Worthington Industries Engineered Cabs sold
Angeles Equity Partners LLC, a Los Angeles private investment firm, has acquired Worthington Industries Engineered Cabs from Worthington Industries and Crenlo Cab Products LLC, with its Emcor and Siac do Brasil affiliates, from KPS Capital Partners LP.
November 1, 2019
GT Entrepreneurs closes deal for Service-Tech Corp.
Pittsburgh’s GT Entrepreneurs has closed its third deal, as Gabriel Chick, a GTE operator-in-residence, has completed the final paperwork to acquire Service-Tech Corp., a Cleveland-based HVAC and industrial cleaning company.
November 1, 2019
It took some hard lessons for Bob Grote to learn the best way to acquire companies
Bob Grote has been CEO of Grote Co. for more than a decade, but even after five acquisitions, he has to guard against deal fever. Grote discusses deal challenges and lessons learned.
October 31, 2019
Thar Process’ Lalit Chordia: How to find the right investors or buyer
With growth comes the need for funding, says Lalit Chordia. The CEO of Thar Process, who sold two of his other companies in 2009 and 2016, shares his philosophies for raising capital and exiting a business.
October 31, 2019
U of M’s David Brophy: Michigan Needs To Retain More Talent, Secure More Investment Dollars
The Michigan Private Equity Conference is part of an effort to spur private equity investment and activity in the state.
October 31, 2019
Dr. Ellen Stang unlocks growth with a little PE help
Progeny Health, founded by Dr. Ellen Stang, has been profitable and debt-free since the beginning. But when her business hit a wall about eight years in, some friendly advice helped her unlock the company's growth.
October 30, 2019
Staffing Solutions’ SueAnn Naso: When Buying A Business, Take The Time To Do It Right
SueAnn Naso and Carmella Calta are good friends. But they still had to follow the proper steps when Calta sold her business, Staffing Solutions, to Naso.
October 30, 2019
Shore Capital Partners’ Justin Ishbia: Shared Vision Often Leads To Great Deal Opportunities
Shore Capital Partners's Justin Ishbia sees tremendous potential for growth at Akron, Ohio-based Main Street Gourmet.
October 30, 2019
Winbridge’s Chris MacLaren: Due Diligence Should Always Rate High On Your M&A Priority List
Chris MacLaren crunches the numbers at Winbridge, enabling PE/VC firms time to raise capital and source new deals.
October 30, 2019
Rock The House Announces Ownership Change
Rock The House Entertainment Group Inc. has new ownership with COO Ryan Konikoff acquiring the majority share of the business. Rock The House Founder and CEO Matt Radicelli will remain at the helm of the company.
October 30, 2019
Domino’s Pizza Announces Recapitalization Transaction
Domino's had global retail sales of over $13.5 billion in 2018, with nearly $6.6 billion in the U.S. and more than $6.9 billion internationally.
October 29, 2019
Apeks Supercritical sold to Rough Brothers
Apeks Supercritical, a Johnstown-based CO2 extraction manufacturer, has been acquired by Rough Brothers Inc., a Cincinnati greenhouse design and manufacturing company. The move allows Apeks to join forces with RBI and other companies to create a full-service solution in cannabis cultivation and processing.
October 29, 2019
Proper Rate Is New Joint Venture For Guaranteed Rate, @properties
The new company, which plans to launch early in 2020, intends to deliver a high-end, customer-focused retail mortgage lending experience and drive growth in select markets around the country.
October 28, 2019
Target Freight Management Buys NTS
Target Freight Management has acquired National Traffic Service Inc., a freight auditing and payment service. The strategic acquisition will better serve the end-to-end logistical needs of TFM’s less-than-truckload, full truckload and parcel freight customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.
October 24, 2019
Gabriel Performance Products Buy Deltech Portfolio
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October 24, 2019
Falls Buys Wyse In Deal That Combines Two Cleveland Firms
Wyse, which was founded in Cleveland in 1951, will be retaining its name, but will be co-branded a Falls company. A location or locations for the new company has yet to be decided.
October 24, 2019
Denise Devine’s tips and traps for capital-raising entrepreneurs
RTM Vital Signs' co-founder Denise Devine explores the stages of capital raising and what entrepreneurs should look for, and look out for, at each.
October 23, 2019
Randy Carver: There Is Much To Think About As You Prepare To Sell
The first question you need to ask yourself if you’re thinking about selling your business, says Randy Carver, is what do you want to do next?
October 22, 2019
Fifth Season expands its vertical farming, stays focused on capital efficiency
Vertical farming is capital intensive, which is why Fifth Season co-founder and CEO Austin Webb relies on his financial analyst and investment banking background to help manage the funding for the startup, which has raised over $35 million to date.
October 22, 2019
The preparation with Myonexus pays off for Michael Triplett
Selling can be emotionally exhausting, but Michael Triplett knows extensive preparation was critical for the successful sale of Myonexus Therapeutics to Sarepta Therapeutics earlier this year. He looks back on the $165 million deal.
October 21, 2019
Harry Cendrowski: Take Steps To Ensure You Have A Comprehensive M&A Strategy
Any time you rush into M&A activity, the likelihood is that you’re not going to do very well, says Harry Cendrowski.
October 21, 2019
Nationwide invests in Upstream Security
Upstream Security, an Israel-based company that provides cybersecurity for connected vehicles, raised $30 million in a Series B funding round backed by a prominent syndicate of investors, including some of the world’s largest OEM automotive vehicle manufacturers, insurance and fleet operators.
October 21, 2019
Huron Capital’s Gretchen Perkins: You Don’t Have To Walk Away After You Sell
Business owners have numerous options as they explore the sale of their business, explains Gretchen Perkins.
October 21, 2019
LyGenesis Closes $4M Convertible Debt Financing
LyGenesis Inc., a Pittsburgh biotechnology company focused on organ regeneration, has completed a $4 million in private financing of convertible notes from Juvenescence Ltd. and Longevity Vision Fund. This will enable LyGenesis’s lead program in liver regeneration to transition into clinical development.
October 21, 2019
Cleveland Clinic, American Well Partner On Digital Health Joint Venture
The Clinic expects to offer online access to expert care across a wide array of specialties without requiring individuals to leave their homes.
October 18, 2019
Always on the lookout for opportunities, Rhett Ricart sees talent as key
Rhett Ricart, who has bought and sold a number of dealerships over the years for Ricart Automotive, shares his M&A strategies and how the family business is tackling succession planning.
October 18, 2019
Buddy Flerl on today’s hectic and fatiguing deal market
Veteran dealmaker Buddy Flerl talks about what he’s seeing in the market and his approach to dealmaking.
October 18, 2019
VoIP Innovations purchased by Sangoma
Ontario-headquartered Sangoma Technologies Corp. has acquired VoIP Innovations LLC for $42 million, if certain conditions are reached. The acquisition, Sangoma’s eighth in eight years, should provide the combined company with increased scale, more recurring revenue, a new product category, robust EBITDA margins, and a new sales channel within Sangoma’s broader portfolio.
October 17, 2019
Piston Group buys Marion Industries
Piston Automotive, a subsidiary of the Piston Group formed by Detroit businessman and NBA legend Vinnie Johnson, has acquired Ohio-based Marion Industries, a Tier 1 assembler of brake modules for Honda of America. The deal expands Piston Automotive’s footprint into the Central Ohio region and further diversifies the company’s growing list of OEM customers.
October 17, 2019
Acquisitions Drive Opportunity As MAI Nears $7B
Acquisitions have MAI Capital poised to top $7 billion in assets under management, says Rick Buoncore, with more deals and more growth to come.
October 17, 2019
Martyn Babitz offers owners tips on personally maximizing their returns post-liquidity
BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Martyn Babitz offers tips for business owners on how to get their post-deal finances in order well before a transaction begins to maximize their post-liquidity returns.
October 16, 2019
Tecum Equity buys Pinnacle Cranes
Pinnacle Cranes, a Link-Belt and Manitex dealer in North Carolina and South Carolina, has been purchased by Western Allegheny Capital LLC, and Tecum Equity, a Pittsburgh-based family office investment partnership.
October 16, 2019
Savorfull’s Stacy Goldberg: Don’t Make A Deal If It Doesn’t Serve Your Needs
Dealmaking can be exciting, but it can also be a pathway to uncertainty if you’re not prepared, says Savorfull CEO Stacy Goldberg.
October 16, 2019
Perfect Home Services To Buy Able Heating & Cooling
Able Heating & Cooling owners Pete and Sherry Manthe will remain with the business for the next couple of years to ensure a smooth transition for their customers.
October 16, 2019
Sphera’s Paul Marushka: A Little Conversation Can Go A Long Way In Dealmaking
One M&A transaction can lead to another, if you take the right approach. Paul Marushka explains how dealmaking is driving his vision at Sphera.
October 15, 2019
MC Group’s Tim Eippert: Lack Of Customer Overlap Facilitates MC Group/Icon Merger
In dealmaking, you don’t grow just to double, says Tim Eippert. You want more. The CEO of MC Group explains how integration will play a key role in maximizing the benefits of its merger with Icon.
October 10, 2019
Fyllo’s Chad Bronstein: Pitch Investors With Confidence, Not Arrogance
Chad Bronstein shares tips on how he engaged investors and helped Fyllo raise $18 million in seed funding.
October 10, 2019
Jeremy Falendysz: Sellers Are Often Their Own Worst Enemy In Maximizing Deal Value
Sellers who want to boost value ahead of a potential sale often do more harm than good, says UHY Corporate Finance’s Jeremy Falendysz.
October 10, 2019
Jeremy Flack: Dealmaking Isn’t Supposed To Be Painless
You'll never get a deal done if you’re unwilling to compromise at the negotiating table, says Flack Global Metals CEO Jeremy Flack.
October 10, 2019
Ted Lentz talks transaction preparedness when selling Lentz Milling
Ted Lentz, now CFO and Chief Analytics Officer at JM Swank, reveals the steps he took to prepare his family’s business, Lentz Milling, for the auction block.
October 10, 2019
These sisters roll up their sleeves for the nitty gritty hard work of growing The W Nail Bar
Manda Mason and Lauren Hunter share the story behind their rapidly growing nail salon business, which includes a unique store-within-a-store partnership deal with DSW.
October 10, 2019
Tecum Capital’s Matt Harnett: Investors should work on the business, not in it
The PE firm’s founding partner shares his insights into how Tecum Capital manages the investments in makes in its more than 40 portfolio companies.
October 8, 2019
FedEx truck terminal sold to Sealy & Co.
Sealy & Company, a Dallas-headquartered commercial real estate investment and operating company in the industrial real estate market, has acquired a 252-dock door Class A truck terminal in West Jefferson. The facility’s accessible location and rapidly expanding bulk industrial submarket made it attractive to Sealy.
October 8, 2019
Battelle sells DroneDefender assets
Dedrone, a San Francisco company that specializes in counter-small unmanned aircraft systems technology, has purchased all assets and intellectual property associated with DroneDefender from Battelle. Dedrone plans to launch a new consultancy that detects and classifies airspace activity, protects assets from drone threats and defeats adversary drones.
October 7, 2019
Worthington Industries Buys Heidtman Steel Processing Facility
The facility will complement Columbus-based Worthington’s network of facilities in Northeast Ohio, including its cold rolled steel processing facility in Cleveland and Samuel Steel Pickling Co., a joint venture, in Cleveland and Twinsburg.
October 4, 2019
How TPC Training's Ty Field Sizes Up Acquisitions
Ty Field, brought in by Frontenac to build up TPC Training, talks about his approach to making acquisitions.
October 4, 2019
Key Deals Propel Gent Machine To Steady Growth
Rich Gent talks about two pivotal deals in Gent Machine Co.’s history that have set the business up for a bright future.
October 3, 2019
Serial Entrepreneur Dan Pries On Financial Vs Strategic Buyers
Serial entrepreneur Dan Pries, who is currently running OptivityX, talks about selling businesses and what he’s learned about the differences in strategic and financial buyers.
October 3, 2019
TriPower Capital's Robert Sharpe: Capitalizing on Underserved Markets
The TriPower founding partner talks about his eye for making deals in the food and beverage space and one of the most common problems with today’s business landscape.
October 3, 2019
Evoqua to divest Memcor product line
Evoqua Water Technologies has agreed to divest its Memcor® membrane product line to DuPont Safety & Construction. The transaction, which includes the product line’s global workforce, its manufacturing site in Windsor, Australia, associated operations and intellectual property, is expected to close by the end of 2019. The sale allows Evoqua to focus on core products and solutions.
October 3, 2019
Safelite's Tom Feeney: Speed, Focus Are Keys To Integration
After 100 deals during his time at Safelite, the CEO says he may have slowed the number of acquisitions, but he won't slow the pace of integrating the companies he does buy.
October 2, 2019
Ohio Basement Systems Finds Growth Foundation In Sale To Groundworks
Mike Rusk talks about how the sale of his Ohio Basement Systems to Groundworks will give the company an even stronger support structure for the future growth of the business he and his wife Gayle started in 1998.
October 2, 2019
Angel Investing: The Power Of Group Intelligence
Former American Eagle President Don Morrison, who now mentors entrepreneurs as chairman of deal flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, talks about angel investing, scaling startups and what entrepreneurs should be looking for when it comes to investors.
October 1, 2019
U.S. Steel takes stake in Big River Steel
Under joint venture partnership agreement, United States Steel Corp. has taken first step toward acquiring Big River Steel, purchasing a 49.9 percent ownership interest for approximately $700 million in cash, with a call option to acquire the remaining interest within the next four years. Acquiring Big River, which operates the most advanced, state-of-the-art and sustainable mill in North America, will strengthen the Pittsburgh-headquartered company’s competitive positioning.
October 1, 2019
Golub & Co. Buys Chicago Loop Office Tower Burnham Center
Golub & Co. plans to refresh the tenant amenities, which include a fitness center, private tenant lounge, and conferencing facilities. Ground-floor retail includes a mix of national and regional tenants.
September 30, 2019
Autokiniton Completes Acquisition Of Tower International
AGG's Autokiniton US Holdings, Inc. subsidiary paid $31 a share in cash, or about $900 million after accounting for debt and pension liabilities. The deal was announced in July.
September 27, 2019
ExpressCells completes Series A round with $1.2M total raise
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September 27, 2019
How DNS Capital Finds The Right Deals
DNS Capital's Elizabeth Browne talks about the importance of good management and the challenges of finding the right company in which to invest.
September 27, 2019
Studio B’s Bonnie Smith: Think Before You Bootstrap
Brand agency founder Bonnie Smith talks about the key questions you need to ask before you try to bootstrap your business and her role as a pioneer for other African-American female entrepreneurs.
September 27, 2019
Deal Outlook: Corporate Divestitures Offer Opportunity, Risks
Tom Zucker of M&A advisory firm EdgePoint Capital talks about the effect interest rates typically have on M&A activity and the continued rise of corporate divestitures in the dealmaking space.
September 27, 2019
Seasoned Operator Gerry Giudici On How To Achieve Synergies Through Acquisitions
Seasoned operating partner Gerry Giudici shares some of the key factors to consider when looking to achieve synergies through M&A.
September 27, 2019
2019 Columbus Dealmaker Of The Year Awards
The Smart Business Dealmakers Conference brought together hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors and advisers at the Hilton Columbus Downtown on Sept. 25. During the conference, Smart Business
September 27, 2019
Pitfalls And Best Practices For A Successful Acquisition
S&T Bank's Brian Dobis shares his perspective on three pitfalls and best practices when acquiring companies.
September 26, 2019
Project Management Institute buys FLEX from Net Objectives
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September 26, 2019
How Ted Karkus sold Cold-EEZE for $50 million
ProPhase Labs CEO Ted Karkus shares the strategy behind the 2017 sale of Cold-EEZE to Mylan for $50 million.
September 24, 2019
Family Offices Are On The Rise in Pittsburgh
Ann Dugan, who founded and led the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh for 30 years says more Pittsburgh-area families putting together a family office.
September 24, 2019
Deal Veteran Mike Sayre Pulls Back Curtain With Lessons Learned
Innovative Leadership Institute President Mike Sayre shares lessons learned from decades of dealmaking.
September 24, 2019
Vail Resorts closes deal for 17 US ski areas
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September 24, 2019
II-VI completes Finisar purchase
II‐VI Inc., a global provider of engineered materials and optoelectronic devices, has completed its acquisition of Finisar Corp. The acquisition was first announced Nov. 9, 2018. II-VI, which is headquartered in Saxonburg, expects to achieve $150 million in run rate synergies over the next three years.
September 23, 2019
Ohio Transmission Corp buys Tennessee compressed air company
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September 23, 2019
Bold Penguin raises $32M in Series B funding
Insuretech startup Bold Penguin Inc. completed a $32 million Series B funding round. The Columbus company, which has raised $51.8 million to date, will use the funds to accelerate R&D by way of growing its employee roster, which doubled in the past year, and lay runway for firm’s expansion into specialty markets that insure high-risk segments.
September 20, 2019
Selling A Business Is All About Focus
Sun Acquisitions President Domenic Rinaldi talks about a seller whose lack of focus killed a deal, tips on identifying the right buyer and the problem with selling to a competitor.
September 20, 2019
ScaleCo Strives To Change The PE Model
Brendan Anderson launched ScaleCo to be more of a partner in scaling lower-middle-market businesses, using a permanent capital investment model to develop sustainable growth platform companies.
September 20, 2019
Gregory Cessna On Why Due Diligence Drives Post-Deal Synergies
The CEO of Consumer Fresh Produce says the work that’s done before the deal paperwork is signed is often the most critical to long-term success.
September 20, 2019
Hugh Cathey: Smart Fundraising Requires Monitoring Market
Serial entrepreneur Hugh Cathey, now on his ninth startup with genetic testing company ChromoCare, shares his best practices for raising capital.
September 19, 2019
How Blockchain Could Impact Commercial Real Estate Investing
The future of dealmaking, specifically in the commercial real estate market, is in blockchain technology, says Inveniam Capital Partners’ Patrick O’Meara.
September 19, 2019
Horizon Global Closes $233M Sale Of Asia-Pacific Business Segment
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September 19, 2019
Taubman Centers Completes $300M Sale Of South Korean Shopping Center
Starfield Hanam is the largest Western-style shopping center in South Korea at nearly 1.7 million square feet.
September 19, 2019
Frank Lordi On The Ins And Outs Of Selling His Consulting Firm
Founder Frank Lordi discusses the factors that drove him to sell AC Lordi, and offers an inside look at the firm’s acquisition by BDO last May.
September 19, 2019
Shore Capital Partners Completes Recap Of Main Street Gourmet
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September 19, 2019
Foundation’s David Wood On Management Transitions
Foundation Investment Partners founder David Wood talks about his approach to minimizing trouble when making acquisitions.
September 19, 2019
As Gus Gear grows, Sarah Palya eyes taking on investors
Sarah Palya had limited business experience when she started Gus Gear. She’s had to learn as she goes, and now she feels her medical device startup is ready to jump to the next level, including possibly taking on investors.
September 18, 2019
AAM Sells Grede U.S. Casting Operations To Gamut Capital Management
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings will sell the U.S. operations in the U.S. to funds managed by Gamut for $245 million.
September 18, 2019
NextChapter sold to Fastcase
Fastcase, a Washington D.C. legal publisher, has acquired NextChapter, the Columbus startup that creates cloud-based bankruptcy software for attorneys and paralegals. Fastcase plans to invest in NextChapter to create products that integrate legal research, dockets and news, for bankruptcy and beyond.
September 18, 2019
Idelic raises $8M Series A round
Idelic, a Pittsburgh-based data and analytics startup, closed an $8 million Series A financing round, led by Chicago’s Origin Ventures with participation from TDF Ventures, Birchmere Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures and SaaS Venture Capital. Idelic will use the funds to grow its engineering and sales teams, and pave the way to release a mobile application.
September 16, 2019
Gordon Pointe to merge with Hall of Fame Village in $390M transaction
The merger is expected to produce a sports, entertainment and media enterprise surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
September 13, 2019
VillageMD’s Tim Barry: Investors Want To Give You Money
The co-founder and CEO of the healthcare management services company talks about his strategy when raising capital and the importance of establishing an ongoing dialogue with potential investors.
September 13, 2019
John McInerney On Finding The Right Deal Partners
M&A veteran John McInerney talks about his experience selling Keystone Printed Specialties and what it taught him about the value of good advisors.
September 13, 2019
Ikove Takes High Risks For Big Returns In Tech Commercialization
Ikove Capital Partners keeps a low profile, investing at the founder level in companies that commercialize technologies in partnership with Midwest research institutions like Ohio State. By the end of next year, it expects to have 20-plus companies in a portfolio that already includes Nikola Labs, ParaGen Technologies and Cognovi Labs.
September 12, 2019
Hyperion to buy German-based AFC
Hyperion Materials & Technologies Inc., a Worthington-headquartered materials science company focused on the hard and superhard materials space for high-precision applications, has agreed to acquire Arno Friedrichs Hartmetall GmbH & Co. KG and its affiliates. The strategic transaction is intended to make Hyperion a leading player in cemented carbide blank production.
September 12, 2019
TPA Stream's Jacob Sheridan: Find A Problem, Then Start A Business
Don’t try to start a business, advises TPA Stream CEO Jacob Sheridan. Try to find a big problem and come up with a creative way to solve it. That's your business.
September 12, 2019
Three keys to an effective recapitalization strategy
Greenwich Capital Group's Andrew Dickow shares what you need to consider when building an effective recapitalization strategy.
September 12, 2019
Fair Buys Canvas From Ford Credit
Ford Motor Credit Co. The agreement furthers Fair’s leadership position in the vehicle subscription category, enabling the company to continue to accelerate consumer adoption and expansion throughout the U.S.
September 11, 2019
Mill 19 Opens As Manufacturing Innovation Hub
Mill 19 recently celebrated its grand opening as the new home to key leaders in Pittsburgh’s manufacturing industry, including Carnegie Mellon University’s Manufacturing Futures Initiative, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute and Catalyst Connection.
September 11, 2019
How Chuck Mattera Transformed II-VI With Acquisitions
Since Chuck Mattera joined II-VI Inc. in 2004, the manufacturer has completed more than 20 acquisitions. And he’s embarking on the largest deal yet as he works to close the acquisition of Finisar Corp. — a similar-sized company with annual revenues of $1.3 billion.
September 10, 2019
Kraft Heinz venture fund invests in cheese startup
New Culture, the San Francisco startup making animal-free dairy cheese, closed $3.5 million in seed round funding. The round was led by Evolv Ventures, the $100 million venture fund backed by Kraft Heinz investing in emerging tech companies transforming the food industry.
September 10, 2019
How MCM Capital Looks At Acquisitions
Senior Managing Partner Mark Mansour takes us inside his approach for evaluating investment opportunities at MCM Capital.
September 10, 2019
Southfield-Based e2View Inc. Raises $600,000 In Angel Funding
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September 10, 2019
McDonald’s Invests In Voice Technology, Buys Apprente
The Apprente team will be the founding members of a new, integrated, internal group within McDonald's Global Technology team called McD Tech Labs.
September 9, 2019
NEP Group to buy Aerial Video Systems
NEP Group, a Pittsburgh-headquartered outsourced technical production partner supporting content producers of live sports and entertainment, has agreed to acquire Aerial Video Systems. The addition of AVS will complement and build upon NEP’s Broadcast Services, especially its wireless AV capabilities.
September 9, 2019
Root raises $350M in Series E funding; now valued at $3.65B
This latest round, led by DST Global and Coatue, raises Root’s valuation to $3.65 billion and provides additional capital to accelerate growth in existing markets while expanding into new states and developing new product lines.
September 6, 2019
Alpha invests in opportunity zone near Rickenbacker
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September 6, 2019
Svoboda Capital's Jeff Piper: Culture, Leadership Are Keys
Managing Director Jeff Piper about Svoboda Capital Partners' formula for identifying good investment opportunities and what entrepreneurs can do to capture the eye of investors.
September 6, 2019
How to prep for a recapitalization
iPipeline's Kevin Kemmerer talks about how to prepare for a recapitalization — what to do and what to avoid when gearing up for an investment.
September 6, 2019
Wind Point to buy Callery from Edgewater Capital
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September 6, 2019
Mark Kovacevich: Culture Is King In Acquisitions
For Improving's Mark Kovacevich, the critical component to acquisitions has always been culture. “If the culture doesn’t work, the transaction is just not [going to work],” he says.
September 6, 2019
Dawn Fuchs Coleman On Selling The Family Business
Former Weavertown Environment Group CEO Dawn Fuchs Coleman talks about selling the family business and her journey from executive to coach and investor.
September 6, 2019
Before Buying, Consider Challenges As Well As Opportunities
Chris Gabrelcik always sees potential opportunities when looking to buy a company. But the CEO of Lubrication Specialties has to remind himself to bring a critical eye to the deal.
September 5, 2019
MC Group Merges With Icon
Mentor-based MC Group, which is owned by Bahrain's Arcapita, has merged with Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based Icon to form one of the largest companies in the sign industry.
September 5, 2019
Warren Anderson: Early McDonald's Deal Built Distribution Powerhouse
Warren Anderson admits his approach to dealmaking is less refined than that of many entrepreneurs. “I'm kind of like a cowboy,” the founder of The Anderson-DuBose Co. says.
September 4, 2019
SPAGIO restaurant sold
SPAGIO, the Grandview restaurant and wine lounge founded by Chef Hubert Seifert and his wife, Helga, 38 years ago, has been sold to a Central Ohio-based restaurant group. Wine|Dine Holdings and cityBRANDS own and operate several restaurant concepts throughout the area, including The Wine Bistro, NAPA kitchen + bar and Katzinger’s Delicatessen.
September 4, 2019
Boston REIT completes $90.5M of purchases in four markets
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September 4, 2019
Safelite buys Auto Glass Specialists
Safelite® Group, a vehicle glass services and recalibration company and owner of Safelite® AutoGlass, has acquired the assets of Auto Glass Specialists. The single store location in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, will expand Safelite’s brick-and-mortar footprint in the area.
September 4, 2019
Novelis, Aleris deal faces challenge by U.S. Justice Department
Novelis Inc.’s deal to buy Aleris Corp. could be derailed by a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department, which is suing in order to preserve competition in the North American market for aluminum auto body sheet.
September 4, 2019
Why You Should Prepare To Sell, Even If You Don't
You never know when an opportunity is going to come along that you just can’t afford to pass up, says Vistage Michigan’s David Alden.
September 3, 2019
Inland Private Capital Sells Multifamily Property In $15M Deal
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September 2, 2019
MJR Digital Cinemas Sells To European Group in $152M Deal
MJR Digital Cinemas is privately held and operates 10 movie theater complexes with a total of 164 screens, all located in Michigan. In 2018, the company drew 6.2 million visitors with total revenue of $81.2 million.
August 30, 2019
MBF Therapeutics’ Tom Tillett On Raising Capital And Keeping Control
The animal health biotech company's founder and CEO talks about raising capital to fuel your organization’s growth and how to plan to pay back your investors. Here are some of the lessons he shared.
August 30, 2019
Debt Advisor Tom Lesch On Financing Riskier Deals
Livingstone Partners' Tom Lesch talks about his approach helping companies get the capital they need, as well as a recent trend that has seen borrowers become less willing to take risks.
August 29, 2019
Innkeeper Ellen Grinsfelder Finds The Right Buyer Second Time Around
The first time Ellen Grinsfelder tried to sell the Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls was a bust. Three years later, she sold it without ever having to list it. Here's how she did it.
August 29, 2019
Peninsula Capital's Ty Clutterbuck
Peninsula Capital Partners' Ty Clutterbuck talks about his approach to making and assessing acquisition opportunities.
August 28, 2019
First Midwest To Buy Park Bank In $195M Deal
Park Bank is one of the largest independent commercial banks in Milwaukee with approximately $1 billion of total assets, $815 million of deposits — of which approximately 85% are core deposits — and $700 million of loans.
August 28, 2019
True North Energy buys Schmuckal Oil
Brecksville, Ohio-based True North Energy LLC has closed on the purchase of 25 convenience retailing and petroleum marketing assets from Schmuckal Oil Co. and its affiliates in the Traverse City, Mich., market.
August 28, 2019
Winding River Consulting's Gary Shamis
Gary Shamis, who has spent a lifetime in business making deals and growing companies, talks about his skills as a deal negotiator and lessons he’s learned as an investor.