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By Mark Scott
The company offers the largest place to buy and sell parking in North America and has helped digitize nearly 7,000 parking facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
Local Deals Chicago
August 22, 2019
How To Optimize Capital To Support Growth
Veteran deal adviser Joseph Valentic walks through the process of determining your capital needs and how to find the best source to fund your growth.
August 22, 2019
For Startups, Value Attracts Funding
Focusing all your attention on fundraising can actually make it harder to close your next funding round if it distracts you from creating the value investors want, writes JumpStart's Jerry Frantz.
August 21, 2019
BestTransport purchased by Canadian firm
Descartes Systems Group has acquired Columbus-headquartered BestTransport.com Inc., a cloud-based transportation management system provider focused on flatbed-intensive manufacturers and distributors, for $11.2 million. The deal should strengthen the Ontario company’s transportation management footprint.
August 21, 2019
Pitt's Big Idea Center guides first-time entrepreneurs
Babs Carryer, director of Pitt's Big Idea Center talks about Pittsburgh’s startup ecosystem, raising capital and the Big Idea Center.
August 21, 2019
How Advanced Drainage Systems Fast-Tracked Infiltrator Acquisition
CEO Scott Barbour grabbed the pole position, and never let his foot off the gas in his bid to close the $1 billion deal.
August 20, 2019
Avalon Precision Casting bought by Sigma Electric
Avalon Precision Casting is being acquired by Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corp., a manufacturer of ferrous and non-ferrous castings.
August 20, 2019
Bayer to sell Animal Health unit
Indiana-based Elanco Animal Health has agreed to buy Bayer AG’s animal health business in a cash and stock deal valued at $7.6 billion. The transaction creates the second largest maker of medicines for pets and livestock and falls in line with Bayer's strategy to slash debt.
August 20, 2019
PNC Mezzanine Capital recapitalizes Mountainside Fitness
PNC Mezzanine Capital recently completed a minority recapitalization of a $15 million preferred stock investment with Mountainside Fitness. PNC Mezzanine Capital and the Mountainside management team plan to continue to expand the company’s leadership position in the Arizona fitness community and beyond.
August 19, 2019
Grove City Medical Center to join AHN
Grove City Medical Center, Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health have signed an affiliation agreement. Pending government approval of the merger, the organizations expect to close on the affiliation in the next few months, establishing Grove City as AHN’s ninth owned hospital.
August 19, 2019
Installed Building Products buys Therm-Con
Installed Building Products Inc., an installer of insulation and complementary building products, has acquired Therm-Con LLC and Foamtech Inc. With trailing 12-month revenue of $4.7 million, Therm-Con enhances IBP’s presence in markets throughout Tennessee and its surrounding states.
August 19, 2019
Safelite Group to buy TruRoad
Safelite® Group has agreed to acquire the combined businesses of TruRoad, which includes COP TruRoad Parent LLC and COS SCS Parent LLC, from Dallas PE firm CenterOak Partners LLC. With this deal, Safelite will have increased capacity to expand its national footprint, accelerate growth and better serve its customers and clients.
August 16, 2019
Buying a business? Better have a plan
Companies preparing themselves for their first acquisition might appreciate Don Caldwell’s advice: “The plan comes first.”
August 16, 2019
Cinderella Story: How Michael Blair Built Deka Lash
When Michael Blair and his wife Jennifer founded Deka Lash in 2011, the reaction from Pittsburgh was raised eyebrows and roadblocks. Today, he has 60 franchise locations across the country.
August 16, 2019
VentureOhio’s Tabs Top 50 Startups To Watch
Columbus’ startup culture is bustling, with 24 Central Ohio companies called out by VentureOhio in its 2019 list of Ohio’s top 50 most promising startups. Northeast Ohio has 10 startups on the list.
August 16, 2019
Communication Planning Is A Must When Making A Deal
Shannon Stucky Pritchett of FTI Consulting discusses the importance of a solid communications strategy upon the close of a transaction.
August 16, 2019
Investors Seek Startup CEOs Who Are Willing To Take Risks
Early-stage entrepreneurs who are willing to put it all on the line to build a business are held in high regard by investors — even if they ultimately fail, says StartInCLE founder Ed Buchholz.
August 15, 2019
GhostWave's Dean Zody pinpoints route to commercialization
GhostWave founder Dean Zody discusses his company, which grew out of research at The Ohio State University, and its progress toward scale and commercialization.
August 14, 2019
Exit Strategy: Planning Now Avoids Headaches Later
Not all exits are quick. And when a business owner needs time to make an exit from their company, it adds another layer to the negotiation.
August 13, 2019
Level One Bancorp To Merge With Ann Arbor Bancorp In $67.8M Deal
Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will operate under the Level One name and have over $1.8 billion in assets, $1.4 billion in loans and $1.5 billion in deposits, based upon financials as of June 30.
August 12, 2019
Motus Integrated Technologies To Buy Janesville Fiber Solutions
Janesville produces high-performance engineered acoustical and thermal fiber solutions for a variety of automotive applications
August 12, 2019
Selling Your Business Can Be An Exhausting Process
For founder Howard Lewis, the act of selling Family Heritage Life was ultimately positive as it gave him the opportunity to pursue other passions in his life. But it was also exhausting.
August 9, 2019
Joy Taylor On The Keys To Good Deal Prep
TayganPoint Consulting co-founder Joy Taylor talks about how she prepared to sell her business to Grant Thornton, and what she would do differently if she had it to do all over again.
August 8, 2019
How Andrew Lefkowitz Ferments Deals
Andy Lefkowitz is an experienced dealmaker, having two major exits from one business. He also knows what he doesn’t know. That's his formula for success at his latest business, Locus Fermentation Solutions.
August 8, 2019
GovQA's Growth Equity Deal: It's About Insight, Not Money
John Dilenschneider didn’t need money. He wanted a partner that could help GovQA capitalize on its leadership position in the growing market of enterprise workflow software.
August 8, 2019
Structuring Your Own Deal: 'They Thought We Were Nuts'
When the co-owners of Two Men and A Truck – Columbus came up with a unique plan to sell their franchise to an employee, their lawyers were skeptical. Very skeptical. But after two false starts, Gail and John Kelley sold the moving company's No. 2 franchise.
August 7, 2019
Mobility Startups Ride Wave Of Momentum
Ann Arbor SPARK’s Komal Doshi is working to create more mobility deal opportunities for companies like May Mobility, which has raised more than $33 million for its autonomous shuttles.
August 7, 2019
How To Walk Away, But Leave The Door Open
When a deal falls apart, it’s natural to be frustrated. In his latest Dealmaker Insider column, Michael Feuer explores why it’s always wise to temper your response in these situations.
August 7, 2019
Dominic DiPuccio: Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
Deal attorney Dominic DiPuccio talks about prioritizing what's important and what's not when buying or selling a company.
August 7, 2019
Anheuser-Busch Buys Platform Beer
Anheuser-Busch InBev has acquired Cleveland-based craft brewer Platform Beer Co. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Platform, founded by Paul Benner and Justin Carson in 2014 as a homebrew-inspired
August 7, 2019
CMU’s Farnam Jahanian on talent development and regional investment
Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian is a glass half full kind of guy. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t see challenges ahead for those who want to leverage entrepreneurship and innovation to create wealth in the Pittsburgh region.
August 6, 2019
Collaboration, corporates draw Heartland Ventures to Columbus
South Bend, Ind.-based Heartland Ventures, which focuses on connecting startups to corporations, picked Columbus out of 15 Midwest cities for expansion because of the corporate involvement in the city's collaborative early-stage community.
August 5, 2019
Coeo raises angel round
Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based Coeo, which brings people and spaces together, has raised $100,100 of angel funding in the form of SAFE notes from undisclosed investors. Additionally, the company raised $30,000 of angel funding from undisclosed investors on Feb. 22, 2019.
August 2, 2019
Navigant to be bought by Guidehouse for $1.1B
Chicago-based consulting firm Navigant Consulting Inc. is set to be acquired by Guidehouse, a Washington D.C.-based management consulting firm for $1.1 billion.
August 2, 2019
Stuart Sorkin: No Secret Equation For Right Time To Exit
Stuart Sorkin talks about his journey rejuvenating Affy Tapple and the difficulty he faced making the decision to exit the business.
August 2, 2019
Thaddeus Bartkowski Took Control To Make Deals Work For Catalyst Outdoor
Thaddeus Bartkowski shares how taking deal matters into his own hands ultimately paid off for Catalyst Outdoor Advertising.
August 1, 2019
Family Offices: Education And Focus Are Critical To Success
As family offices take an increased interest in direct investing, focus and education are keys to success, says Ann Dugan of the Family Office Exchange.
August 1, 2019
ADS buys Infiltrator Water Technologies
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. has acquired Infiltrator Water Technologies for approximately $1.08 billion, from an affiliate of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and other stockholders. The deal builds on ADS’ existing water management solutions platform and is an opportunity to expand into the on-site septic business.
August 1, 2019
COHatch's Matt Davis Seeks To Connect Startups To Investors
The founder of COhatch discusses how it fits — or doesn’t — into the coworking space, and how he hopes to leverage the business to strengthen startup communities.
July 31, 2019
Nationwide invests in pet app VitusVet
Nationwide has made another strategic investment in VitusVet, a provider of mobile solutions for pet owners and veterinary practices. Nationwide will also serve on the VitusVet board of directors.
July 30, 2019
The Behavioral Side Of Investing
AdCap Management Chief Investment Officer Chaya Slain explores the human side of investing and shares what she has learned to minimize mistakes.
July 30, 2019
Parker Hannifin set to buy Exotic Metals Forming for $1.7B
Parker Hannifin Corp. is set to acquire Exotic Metals Forming Company LLC for $1.725 billion in cash.
July 30, 2019
Ford buys robotics company Quantum Signal
Ford has acquired Quantum Signal, a Saline, Michigan, mobile robotics company, which helped the military develop software that allowed it to remotely control robotic vehicles from thousands of miles away. The transaction should help advance Ford’s goal of launching a self-driving vehicle business, including software development and hardware prototyping.
July 30, 2019
Selling Your Business: Are You Really Ready To Fly Solo?
While you are successful and have negotiated and closed hundreds of deals to build your business, selling your company is a completely different transaction that involves unique dynamics, approaches and details, writes says Cascade Partners Managing Director Ken Marblestone.
July 30, 2019
Drive Capital invests in Physna
The early stage technology startup in Cincinnati completed a $6.9 million Series A round of financing led by Columbus-based Capital.
July 30, 2019
Windsor Industrial's David Costa: Buyers Should Always Be Closing
David Costa prefers to move fast when making acquisitions, moving form LOI to purchase agreement within 10 days. It’s an approach built out of hard lessons learned putting in the time and effort and walking away without a deal.
July 30, 2019
Tom Ferkovic: Assessing Deal Opportunities In Health Care
Thomas Ferkovic, CEO of Medic Management Group, talks about dealmaking in health care, both from the perspective of the physician and the potential investor.
July 29, 2019
Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division to combine
Mylan N.V. and Pfizer Inc. have agreed to combine Mylan with Upjohn, Pfizer’s off-patent branded and generic established medicines business, creating a new global pharmaceutical company. The strategic deal puts together Mylan’s pipeline and supply chain and Upjohn’s commercial and medical infrastructure and expertise, in order to serve more than 165 markets.
July 26, 2019
What Tom Bonney Learned From Selling Two Businesses
After selling his first consulting business, Tom Bonney built CMF Associates from the ground up with a clear goal of selling to the right buyer. Here's what he learned.
July 26, 2019
Campbell reportedly selling Australian biscuit maker Arnott’s
New York private equity firm KKR & Co is reportedly closing in on a deal to acquire Australian biscuit maker Arnott's, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
July 26, 2019
Harry Cendrowski: Due Diligence Critical To Successful Acquisitions
Harry Cendrowski, founding member and managing director at Cendrowski Corporate Advisors, discusses the evolving approach to due diligence in dealmaking.
July 26, 2019
Collaboration Drives Momentum In Cleveland’s Startup Community
JumpStart CEO Ray Leach has been focused on urgency of late in his assessment of Northeast Ohio’s startup community.
July 25, 2019
Kassel Equity Shifts Buying From Properties To Businesses
After cutting his teeth on real estate investing, Kassel Equity found it could create more value in buying businesses than properties, says Managing Partner Brett Motherwell.
July 24, 2019
Gemphire Therapeutics merges with NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals
The merged company will take on the NeuroBo name and focus on the company’s clinical-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
July 24, 2019
Stephen Polk On Buying, Selling And The Power Of Data
Former R.L. Polk CEO Stephen Polk talks about the sale of the business, his Highgate family office investing platform and his continuing love for data-driven processes.
July 23, 2019
Vail Resorts buys 17 U.S. ski areas for $264 million
The acquisition includes Alpine Valley, Boston Mills, Brandywine and Mad River Mountain in Ohio; and Liberty Mountain Resort, Roundtop Mountain Resort, Whitetail Resort, Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Pennsylvania.
July 23, 2019
Mark DeSantis steers RoadBotics through rapid growth
RoadBotics CEO Mark DeSantis shares his experience building RoadBotics from the ground up, including rapid two-year growth since it got its first customers.
July 23, 2019
Selling Your Business: Take Time To Do It Right
Spectrum Diversified Designs founder Sheldon Goodman talks about the process he followed to find the right buyer and the importance of having industry experts in your corner who can guide you to a more informed decision.
July 22, 2019
Huron Capital-Backed Sciens Building Solutions Buys Firm
The transaction represents the latest acquisition for Sciens since Huron Capital formed the platform in 2016 to pursue a buy-and-build investment strategy in the fire service and integrated solutions sector.
July 22, 2019
Etsy To Buy Reverb In $275M Deal
Acquiring the leading online marketplace for new, used and vintage musical instruments will enable Etsy to expand into a new vertical with a company that has a similar strategy and business model.
July 22, 2019
Westinghouse buys Canada’s NA Engineering Associates
The Canadian provider of engineering solutions has significant nuclear expertise, which will help diversify the Cranberry Township company’s engineering capabilities.
July 22, 2019
REIT buys distribution center leased to Pepsi unit
Canada's Granite REIT bought a total of three industrial properties including an 802,390-square-foot distribution center near Rickenbacker International Airport.
July 19, 2019
How To Leverage Your Banker, Even Without Using Debt
Wes Gillespie, ErieBank’s regional president for the Cleveland market, talks about the bank’s role in the acquisitions process and how lenders can be a valuable M&A partner, even if you’re not using debt to finance your acquisition.
July 18, 2019
Gabriela Rodil: Best Practices For Selling Your Business
The experienced dealmaker talks about best practices when putting your company on the market and the keys to optimizing its value.
July 18, 2019
BioAdvance’s Rick Jones: Look Beyond The Dollars When Investing In Biotech
Rick Jones, an internist-turned-entrepreneur who is now a partner at the VC firm BioAdvance, offers cautionary advice to investors who would let dollar signs block a more practical insight into biotech investing.
July 18, 2019
Look Good Brands buys Legends Boxing
The subsidiary of Canonsburg-based Deka Lash is attempting to bring together a range of beauty, health and fitness brands.
July 18, 2019
Dave Zilko On Selling Garden Fresh Gourmet
Dave Zilko talks about how the Garden Fresh Gourmet deal got done, the emotional toll that dealmaking can take and the move Campbell’s made earlier this year to sell the business.
July 17, 2019
Ice Miller’s Michael Jordan: Investor Appetite For Alternatives Remains High
Michael Jordan didn’t expect to become an expert in investor-side representation for alternative investments. He stumbled into the niche 22 years ago. Here's what he's seeing in the marketplace.
July 17, 2019
IPEG Industrial: Lessons from a strategic mid-market buyer
John Erkert has helped IPEG Industrial Group buy three industrial companies and sell another over the course of six years to build a global business in the plastics-processing, waste recycling and industrial heat-transfer markets.
July 16, 2019
MPD Chemicals bought by Entegris Inc.
The acquisition is expected to help Entegris continue to grow and diversify its engineered materials portfolio, which was recently expanded with the acquisition of Digital Specialty Chemicals.
July 16, 2019
Lubrizol buys Bavaria Medizin Technologie
This acquisition is intended to build on Lubrizol’s expertise in precision thermoplastic extrusion and product development.
July 16, 2019
Chemical, TCF Deal Receives Regulatory Approval
The combined company is expected to have over $46 billion in total assets and be a top 10 bank in the Midwest based on deposit market share.
July 16, 2019
Michael Canty: Quit Whining And Go Make Some Money
Turnaround CEO Michael Canty talks about his approach to making deals in tough situations and the value of staying true to your convictions.
July 16, 2019
RoadBotics raises $7.5M Series A round
The Pittsburgh-based company, which grew out of Carnegie Mellon University research into standardizing road assessment using artificial intelligence, has raised $11.4 million over five rounds.
July 16, 2019
Built In Closes $22M Series C Funding
This is the second-largest round of funding in Chicago raised by a woman CEO leading a digital technology company, according to Pitchbook.
July 16, 2019
Middleby Buys Packaging Progressions Inc.
Packaging Progressions is a $30 million Pennsylvania-based provider of automated packaging technologies for customers in the protein and bakery segments.
July 12, 2019
Analytics, Not Your Gut, Are Best Judge Of Management
To figure out who’s the right fit for post-acquisition management, Tim Kardish relies not on gut instinct, but contemporary tools designed to assess the skillset, expertise and adaptability of the leadership team.
July 11, 2019
Kennametal to close Westmoreland County facility with restructuring
Kennametal Inc. plans to close its manufacturing facility in Irwin, Pennsylvania, as well as two manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Germany. The restructuring actions should facilitate a simplified and leaner structure, while further positioning the company for long-term profitable growth.
July 10, 2019
At DNS Capital, Management Talent Drives Investment
The family office for Gigi Pritzker and Michael Pucker follow Jay Pritzker's mantra of investing in exceptional management teams to drive success, says Elizabeth Browne, the firm's head of business development.
July 10, 2019
Will Culture Eat Your M&A Strategy For Lunch?
To get the most out of any deal, leaders must be on the same page, must deliver consistent messages that are repeated, writes Dix & Eaton CEO Chas Withers in his latest Insider column. They then must be willing to shape strategy around the organic element of culture — not vice versa.
July 10, 2019
Rachel Angel Preps Peerro For Growth
Founder Rachel Angel discusses how she wants to grow Peerro by helping create stronger employment connections between companies and young adults.
July 10, 2019
Green Growth Brands combines with MXY Holdings
Green Growth Brands Inc. has agreed to create a new Ontario limited partnership with MXY Holdings LLC, among others, where GGB will acquire the issued and outstanding units of Moxie in an all-equity interest transaction for around $310 million. The plan is to create the first 360-degree cannabis company.
July 9, 2019
Navigator Management Partners purchased by Avaap
Avaap has acquired Columbus-based Navigator Management Partners, a cross-platform management and technology consulting firm specializing in ERP systems, business intelligence and change management. The strategic acquisition expands the Edison, New Jersey, firm’s capabilities.
July 9, 2019
Planning Is Timeless; So Is Change
Sequoia Financial Group's Tom Haught and Cohen & Co.'s Randy Myeroff talk about the value provided and the risks that need to be considered when planning for M&A activity.
July 9, 2019
Don Nystrom On Dealmaking Pitfalls
Don Nystrom, CEO of Dynamic Aerospace and Defense, shares his insights into the common mistakes to avoid in the dealmaking process.
July 8, 2019
Get your house in order long before a sale
Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani partner Craig Heryford discusses what business owners need to do to have their company ready to sell — before an offer comes in the door.
July 8, 2019
Find Investors Who Fit Your Startup's Business Model
It often takes some time for early-stage entrepreneurs to learn the value of authenticity in their pitches to investors. That has certainly been the case for Laura Adiletta and Cullen Naumoff, co-founders of Farm Fare.
July 3, 2019
Carl Grassi: Keys To Better Dealmaking
McDonald Hopkins Chairman Carl Grassi shares some of the key issues he thinks business owners need to factor into their approach to dealmaking.
July 3, 2019
Zebra Technologies Keeps $4 Billion Business Growing With M&A
Dealmaking has played a key role in Zebra Technologies becoming a $4.2 billion company and will continue to be critical to the company’s growth, says CFO Olivier Leonetti.
July 2, 2019
Buying in a frenzied market
PNC Mezzanine Capital's Doug Brosius Brosius shares his insights into what is driving these high valuations and how they are impacting his approach to deals.
July 2, 2019
Alliance Data completes Epsilon sale
Alliance Data plans to use the net sale proceeds to repurchase shares and pay down corporate debt.
July 2, 2019
Fairmount's Charles Robins: The algorithm and alchemy of tech startups
Tech company valuations are based on wholly different ideas, a collection of measurements and assessments that are as much alchemy as they are algorithm.
July 2, 2019
Finance Fund plays vital investment role in local communities
Finance Fund connects underserved communities in Ohio with public and private sources of capital to improve access to healthy food, health care service, education and affordable housing.
July 1, 2019
Century Therapeutics gets $250M in funding
The funding from Bayer, Versant and Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics will allow Century to move multiple programs into clinical development for hematologic and solid malignancies.
July 1, 2019
Fisher Building Owners Close On $36M Refi Loan
The deal provides New York-based HFZ Capital and The Platform, a private development firm in Detroit, with money to knock out prior debt on the building, according to a statement on the UC Funds website, clearing the way for preservation work.
July 1, 2019
Machine Learning startup LifeWhere purchased by Resideo
The Austin, Texas-based company plans to use the startup to expand its remote monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities.
July 1, 2019
Huron Capital Leverages Growing Number Of Independent Sponsors
Independent sponsors are a growing part of the M&A landscape, and Detroit’s Huron Capitalis taking advantage of the deal opportunities they provide, says Gretchen Perkins, business development partner.
July 1, 2019
H. Jack’s Plumbing’s John Langer: Culture Is Key In Service Acquisitions
H. Jack’s Plumbing President John Langer talks about the role acquisitions can play in helping companies in the service industry maintain their reputation for top-notch customer satisfaction.
June 28, 2019
Livongo Health files for IPO
The startup — co-founded by Chicago entrepreneur Glenn Tullman, former CEO of AllScripts — is expected to attain a valuation of more than $1 billion.
June 28, 2019
Michael Araten: When PE backing isn’t about the money
How former K'NEX CEO Michael Araten chose the best private equity partner to back his international expansion — before his business became collateral damage in the Toys 'R' Us bankruptcy and was sold.
June 28, 2019
Guaranteed Rate’s Victor Ciardelli: Don't Panic When A Deal Goes Bad
Guaranteed Rate founder Victor Ciardelli talks about the steps he takes to avoid difficult acquisitions and the important role culture plays in determining the success of a deal.
June 28, 2019
Raising Capital: Three Things Every Investor Wants To Know
When you’re an investor being asked to provide millions of dollars in capital to a growing business, you want a lot of details about how that money will be used.“I would bet 90 percent of the
June 27, 2019
Highmark to sell Visionworks to VSP
VSP Global has agreed to acquire San Antonio-based Visionworks, which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Highmark.
June 27, 2019
Be Sure You Can Manage Your Capital Before You Take It
Competition is strong among financial institutions engaged in M&A activity, which creates risk for companies looking to make a deal, says says Richard C. Hampson, state president and head of commercial banking at Citizens Bank, Michigan.
June 26, 2019
StockX Attains Unicorn Status After Record Michigan VC Raise
The company also hired eBay executive Scott Cutler as its new CEO, succeeding co-founder Josh Luber, who will continue to serve on the executive leadership team and board.
June 26, 2019
Aggressive buyers fast-track due diligence in seller’s market
It’s a seller’s market, and large strategic buyers are being very aggressive — in some cases, short-cutting due diligence processes, says Wade Kozich, senior advisor with boutique investment bank Footprint Capital and senior director at GBQ Partners.
June 25, 2019
Cameo Closes $50M Series B Round
Funds from the new round, led by Kleiner Perkins, will be used for platform enhancements and an expansion of the company's U.S. and international footprint.
June 25, 2019
For Stonewood's Kenn Moritz, patience, flexibility drive success
The PE firm's president talks about the importance of staying flexible during dealmaking and why the fewer owners in a deal, the better.
June 24, 2019
Gores Forms JV To Redevelop Palace Of Auburn Hills Land
Schostak Brothers will serve as the lead partner and manage the future mixed-use development, which is expected to include corporate office, research & development and technology companies. The Palace was the home of Detroit’s NBA franchise from 1988 to 2017.
June 24, 2019
Focus M&A Negotiations On The Critical Issues
Without clear priorities, M&A professionals often flounder by attempting to maximize results along every dimension, writes Mark A. Filippell. This bogs down purchase agreement negotiations as every issue becomes a deal-breaker and reasonable trade-offs cannot be made.
June 21, 2019
Philadelphia ASPIRE Dealmakers Event Photos
The Philadelphia 201 Hotel was the site of Philadelphia's biggest CEO-focused M&A conference on June 12. Check out the event photos.
June 21, 2019
Marc Kramer: What early-stage CEOs need from their angels
Marc Kramer, whose Angel Venture Fair has helped 2,000 companies around the world connect to U.S. angel investors, discusses a few issues that can cause partnerships to get lost in translation.
June 21, 2019
Selling an ESOP: How Remington Products Sold To Private Equity
We take an inside look at how CEO Rhonda Newman worked with investment bank Cascade Partners to sell the ESOP company to Gridiron Capital.
June 20, 2019
Compass Self Storage adds to Florida presence with Largo deal
The newest Compass self-storage center has more than 98,000 net rentable square feet and offers a mix of climate and non-climate drive-up units.
June 20, 2019
Former Westinghouse Nuclear headquarters campus purchased
Next Tier Connect has acquired a 505,000 square-foot mixed-use campus in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, which served as the former Westinghouse Nuclear headquarters. The property is the first acquisition of a national portfolio that should include select real estate and mission critical properties.
June 20, 2019
UPMC Enterprises invests in its own disruption
Officially created five years ago to create health care innovations that improve the lives of patients in meaningful ways, UPMC Enterprises encompasses the $130 million a year that UPMC lays out for corporate venture investments and R&D.
June 20, 2019
James Tolston’s handshake deal pays off big
How the Detroit entrepreneur took a handshake deal to build North American Assemblies and then buy it from 14 stockholders — 13 of whom didn't want to sell.
June 20, 2019
2019 Chicago Dealmaker Of The Year Awards
The ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference brought together hundreds of dealmakers, investors and entrepreneurs at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago on June 19. During the conference, Smart Business Dealmakers recognized a few top deals and dealmakers in the Chicago region.
June 19, 2019
Capital One buys Detroit online luxury retailer Jewel
The bank holding company says the acquisition of the online luxury retailer will add to its efforts to develop tools that help customers make smarter financial decisions.
June 19, 2019
Axalta Coating System considers sale to maximize shareholder value
The supplier of liquid and powder coatings says its board has initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.
June 19, 2019
Non-control Capital Offers Liquidity Option For Family-Held Companies
Many family-held businesses don't realize there are minority investors out there, says Nicholas Stone, managing director at Cyprium Partners.
June 19, 2019
For Allison Finkelstein, cap tables play critical role in investing
Startup founders should focus on how to achieve reasonable growth to get the next round of funding, the experience angel investor says.
June 18, 2019
Ohio Transmission Corp. buys Wisconsin, Minnesota companies
Furey Filter & Pump and PSI Engineering will continue to operate under their current names and with current management, including President George Furey and Vice President Jack Furey.
June 18, 2019
Crate and Barrel Buys Hudson Grace
Founded in 2012 by veteran retailers Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton, Hudson Grace is known for modern tabletop and entertaining products evoking the coastal California lifestyle.
June 18, 2019
Keys to developing a strong capital structure
Candlewood Partners founder Glenn Pollack discusses restructuring transactions, building strong capital structures and the risk of selling to private equity.
June 14, 2019
Brett Lindsey: Inside Everstream's Sale to AMP Capital
After receiving 16 bids, Everstream CEO Brett Lindsey completed a deal in September 2018 to sell the fiber network for more than $330 million to a surprising buyer: Australia’s AMP Capital. Here’s an inside look at how the deal got done and Lindsey’s takeaways from the process.
June 14, 2019
2019 Dealmaker of the Year Awards
During the ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference on June 12, Smart Business Dealmakers recognized some of the top deals and dealmakers in the Philadelphia region.
June 14, 2019
Balfour Beatty buys second Memphis multifamily community
The 300-unit community, which is in the Memphis suburb of Bartlett, consists of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes.
June 13, 2019
Cedar Fair buys Texas water parks, resort for $261 million
Cedar Point's owner is set to acquire two Schlitterbahn water parks in Texas in an all-cash transaction, and has reserved the right to acquire a shuttered Kansas City water park.
June 13, 2019
Accel Entertainment Bought By PE Firm TPG
TPG Pace Holdings Corp., the acquiring entity, will retain the Accel Entertainment name and will be a publicly listed company focusing on gaming-as-a-service.
June 13, 2019
Liberty Steel Buys Johnstown Wire Technologies
The transaction expands Liberty’s footprint in the U.S. steel downstream products market and adds to its ability to meet the Made in America specifications required for public infrastructure and utility contracts.
June 13, 2019
Bain Sells Impact Fitness to Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
Impact Fitness operates 29 Planet Fitness clubs across Michigan, Indiana, British Columbia and Ontario. It was founded by Chris Klebba in 2006 with the opening of the first Planet Fitness club in the Greater Detroit market.
June 13, 2019
Cellar Tech's Jim Rose: Selling is a painful process
The founder of the oil and gas industry business knew he needed help moving his company forward. But nothing prepared him for what's involved in selling a business.
June 13, 2019
Hickory Farms CEO Diane Pearse's keys to successful dealmaking
Hickory Farms CEO Diane Pearse talks about gaining dealmaking expertise and the best strategies to follow when your company is being targeted by potential buyers and/or investors.
June 13, 2019
Hyundai invests in Aurora as part of $600M+ Series B Round
Aurora’s existing partner Hyundai Motor Group has invested in Aurora as part of its Series B financing round. The self-driving technology startup now raised more than $700 million to develop Aurora Driver, strengthen its team and acquire cutting-edge technology.
June 13, 2019
Woodward Angels Ready To Spark Entrepreneurial Growth
Lauren Hoffman of Woodward Angels and Tim Parker of Grand Angels talk about their effort to make connections and spark more early-stage entrepreneurial growth in Southeast Michigan.
June 12, 2019
Spring Labs Raises $23M in Series A Funding for Auto Loan Blockchain Work
The round was led by GreatPoint Ventures out of San Francisco with significant participation from existing investors, including August Capital, as well as GM Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Detroit’s General Motors.
June 12, 2019
Family offices grow in number and sophistication
Private banker Reese Fields discusses how family offices operate, including balancing privacy with connecting to potential investments.
June 11, 2019
Dale Buckwalter on buying and selling companies with high valuations
3 Rivers Capital co-founder Dale Buckwalter shares his thoughts on how to make returns in the current market of high valuations.
June 11, 2019
Wolfe family sells four broadcast properties for $535M
The Dispatch Broadcast Group has agreed to sell two television stations — Columbus CBS affiliate WBNS and Indianapolis NBC affiliate WTHR — as well as sports radio station, WBNS Radio, to Virginia-based TEGNA Inc. for $535 million in cash. TEGNA sees the acquisitions as an excellent strategic and financial fit.
June 10, 2019
Aptar acquires Nanopharm and Gateway Analytical
AptarGroup has acquired two pharmaceutical services companies for a combined value of approximately $50 million. The acquisitions are part of the Crystal Lake company’s strategy to broaden its portfolio of services.
June 10, 2019
How To Get Multiple Bites of the Apple
R. Louis Schneeberger, who has played a lead role in more than 100 acquisitions and the sale of more than 30 companies, looks at key considerations for how to sell your company multiple times.
June 10, 2019
TPC Wire & Cable buys EZ Form Cable
The acquisition is intended to strengthen TPC’s position as a diversified supplier of high-performance wire and cable solutions to specialized, high-cost-of-failure environments.
June 10, 2019
SeventySix Capital’s Wayne Kimmel leverages social capital of athletes to rise above noise
SeventySix Capital Managing Partner Wayne Kimmel discusses how celebrity can help investors and startups stand out in a noisy media landscape to create opportunities for all parties involved.
June 7, 2019
Cars.com Keeps An Open Mind When It Comes To M&A
Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Gold talks about the company’s M&A strategy and some of the challenges that come up in the effort to get deals done.
June 7, 2019
Trevco Acquires California Print-on-demand Company
Trevco works with licensors such as Warner Bros., Hasbro and Paramount Pictures to manufacture consumer products and create digital e-commerce campaigns.
June 7, 2019
John Paul DeJoria buys Former McDonald’s HQ Site
The entrepreneur will assume ownership of the 80-acre site that includes the McDonald’s former campus office building, Hamburger University training facility and The Hyatt Lodge.
June 7, 2019
Drips Ponders Best Path To Continued Growth, Liquidity
Co-founder and CEO A.C. Evans talks about lessons learned building a business without outside investors, and why it may be time to change that approach.
June 6, 2019
Braxton Miller learns the Xs and Os of investing
Braxton Miller isn’t just putting time in on a football field these days. He’s turned to business — investing in and endorsing several brands.
June 6, 2019
Industrial Scientific to buy Intelex for $570M
The acquisition of Intelex is the largest in the history of EHSQ pureplay vendors and one of the top five largest Canadian technology company exits in the last decade.
June 6, 2019
Arsenal’s Maria Thompson: Investors Want Businesses That Solve Problems
Investors aren’t looking for unique business opportunities, says Arsenal venture partner Maria Thompson. They want business models that solve problems, preferably big ones.
June 5, 2019
Quantum Health’s Kara Trott on raising capital without losing control
How the CEO of the health care company brought on three rounds of investors, while keeping control of the business she founded.
June 4, 2019
Boeing HorizonX Ventures invests in drone servicer Robotic Skies
This deal builds on a previously announced collaboration with Robotic Skies, Boeing Global Services and its subsidiaries to provide enhanced commercial unmanned aircraft system services.
June 4, 2019
Revolution Enterprises Completes HempVet Acquisition
HempVet is a national brand in the pet product market with more than 35 years of product development experience and an online and national retail distribution footprint.
June 4, 2019
Federated’s Chris Donahue expects active investing to only grow stronger
After buying the smaller Hermes Investment Management, the Federated Investors CEO quickly moved to adopt Hermes' investment strategy of factoring in environment, social and governance criteria.
June 4, 2019
Multifamily Real Estate Assets Prove Lucrative for Citymark Capital
The real estate investor is realizing healthy returns for investors from its platform that invests in value-add apartments with operating partners.
June 3, 2019
Aramark reportedly leveraged buyout target
Aramark is reportedly the target of a leveraged buyout by New York’s Mantle Ridge LP, which is rumored to be exploring the creation of a consortium with private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds to make an offer for the food services giant.
June 3, 2019
Frontage Holdings IPO debuts on Hong Kong exchange
Exton-based Frontage Holdings Corp., the parent company of Frontage Laboratories, a contract research organization specializing in R&D product development services, had its initial public offering on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
June 3, 2019
Quench acquires Aguaman
Quench has acquired substantially all of the assets of Aguaman, a point-of-use water filtration company based in Miami.
June 3, 2019
Prime Equipment Group Acquired In $65M Deal
The manufacturer of turnkey primary and water re-use solutions to the poultry industry was acquired by Chicago-based JBT Corp.
May 31, 2019
Hyland's acquisition strategy fuels march to $1B in sales
CEO Bill Priemer and M&A chief Justin Torkelson talk about the software company’s acquisition strategy and the role dealmaking has played in putting Hyland on the cusp of being a $1 billion business.
May 31, 2019
Dan Silberberg: Pick an M&A strategy and plan your exit
The founder at DIGINTEL taps his 45 years of experience of M&A experience to discuss M&A strategy and building a business architecture that's sellable.
May 30, 2019
RSM'S Mike Dingwall: Why You Need Professional Sell-Side Due Diligence
RSM's Mike Dingwall discusses sell-side strategies that can set you up for positive outcome in the sale of your business.
May 29, 2019
CapitalWorks takes majority stake in Libra Industries
As a leading EMS contract manufacturer serving the medical, aerospace and defense and industrial markets, Libra will complement fellow contract manufacturer GEMCITY Engineering and Manufacturing, a 2017 CapitalWorks investment.
May 29, 2019
Beam Dental raises $55M Series D round
The fast-growing dental benefits provider raised a Series D round led by Toronto PE firm, Georgian Partners. Columbus-based Drive Capital, which was involved in two previous funding rounds, participated in the latest capital raise as well.
May 29, 2019
Medical device maker EPIC Extremity bought by Exactech
The deal continues the relationship between the designer of screw and plating systems for the foot and ankle and Exactech, which had been distributing EPIC's products for the last year.
May 29, 2019
Super C Group buys 190 salons from Regis
The salons being sold and refranchised are currently branded as Famous Hair, Best Cuts, Fiesta Salons, First Choice Haircutters and BoRics Hair Care. They will be converted to Supercuts and Cost Cutters over the next several months.
May 29, 2019
PEAK6 Acquires Seattle-based Evil Geniuses
New acquisition maintains a roster of popular gaming titles including “Dota 2,” “Call of Duty,” “Rocket League,” “Fortnite” and “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.”
May 29, 2019
Ryan and Hoa McManus go full throttle with microtransit startup SHARE
After quietly raising $5 million, the microtransit business is expanding into Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis and Dallas, with more cities on the way.
May 28, 2019
Chicago: The Food Industry Hub of America
Four of Chicago’s top food industry players will take center stage at the ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference on June 19th to take a deep dive into how the region’s F&B companies continue to attract capital, grow at lightning speed, and feast on the competition.
May 28, 2019
How to set up the right capital structure for each acquisition
Andrew Wiechkoske has never had the unfortunate experience of having a deal fall apart at or near the finish line, even though he’s worked at PNC since 2008 and completed more than $1 billion
May 28, 2019
In Business It’s Hard To Keep A Secret — A Complete Secret
When exploring the sale of your company, is it better to “deny, deny, deny” or employ a “don’t tell, don’t ask” policy?
May 24, 2019
Gilbert completes sale of Greektown Casino for $1B
VICI Properties bought the land and real estate assets of the property for about $700 million, while Penn National Gaming bought the operating assets for about $300 million.
May 24, 2019
Aurora acquires lidar company Blackmore
The Pittsburgh-based startup picked up a company with valuable expertise in light detection and ranging radar, or lidar, that its self-driving car technology.
May 24, 2019
Chris McKenna: How to get the most value from selling your business
The Carleton McKenna managing partner talks about pre-transaction strategy and how it can lead to a more lucrative exit for the seller.
May 23, 2019
Phil Alexander: Give Potential Investors A Reason To Believe
The founder of ConceptDrop and Nexus A.I. talks about the role personality can play in making better connections with potential investors.
May 23, 2019
Pittsburgh deal activity hit new high in 2018
The 340 publicly announced deals in 2018 upends the previous record of 308 back in 2007, which was the first year the Allegheny Conference began tracking the 10-county region’s economic data.
May 23, 2019
A good M&A strategy starts with a compelling story
M&A advisor Joseph Valentic explains why a good M&A strategy starts with a good story, but also needs a solid team and attention to detail.
May 22, 2019
NASCAR Buying ISC, Michigan International Speedway In $2B Deal
Acquisition will give the auto racing sanctioning and operating company control of more than a dozen raceways, including Michigan International Speedway.
May 22, 2019
Stonehenge's Peter Davies: How to buy in a peak market
The managing partner of Stonehenge Partners shares his approach to buying with multiples approaching a peak, and how buying strategies have changed in the current environment.
May 21, 2019
Diamond Kinetics swings for the fences with sensor technology
CEO C.J. Handron talks about how he brought Diamond Kinetics from the lab to the ball diamond with the help of Pittsburgh’s early-stage community.
May 21, 2019
Five Mistakes To Avoid When Preparing To Sell
Going through the M&A process can prove time-consuming and difficult. Achieving success requires a timeline and strategic planning while making sure that key advisers are part of the process.
May 21, 2019
Ancora’s Brian Hopkins: Relationships Fuel Dealmaking Activity
The Ancora managing director talks about the role relationship-building plays in his dealmaking activity and the value of maintaining discipline.
May 20, 2019
Nationwide, State Auto Labs Invest In Virtual Claims Firm
Snapsheet, a provider of cloud-based insurance claims services, has closed $29 million in Series E funding led by Seattle-based Tola Capital.
May 20, 2019
Snapsheet Closes $29M in Series E Funding
The round was led by Seattle-based Tola Capital with participation from new investors Nationwide and State Auto Labs in Columbus and Memphis-based Sedgwick.
May 20, 2019
Clinc raises $52 million Series B round to scale AI platform
Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Clinc, which is developing a conversational AI platform, has raised a $52 million Series B, with investments from Drive Capital, Insight Partners, DFJ Growth, Hyde Park Venture
May 20, 2019
RE2 Robotics gets $3M from Office of Naval Research
RE2 Robotics, a developer of humanlike robotic manipulator arms in Pittsburgh, has received $3 million in funding from the Office of Naval Research to develop a dexterous, underwater robotic hand with tactile feedback.
May 20, 2019
Huron-backed Pueblo Makes Fourth Add-On Acquisition
Huron Capital acquired Pueblo in December 2017 to pursue a buy-and-build strategy in the commercial HVAC market in the southwestern U.S.
May 19, 2019
Meet Chicago's Middle-Market M&A Experts
The ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference is headed to the Palmer House Hilton on June 19. This daylong event brings together hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors and advisers to take part in dynamic panel discussions and one-on-one networking.
May 17, 2019
Green Growth Brands raises $45M, closes Nevada deal
In addition to raising the general operating funds, the company completed its $13.4 million acquisition of a Pahrump, Nev., cultivation facility, its second in the state.
May 17, 2019
Signal's Marc Kiven: An entrepreneur's approach to dealmaking
The founder of the groundbreaking digital marketing company talks about what he looks for in an investment opportunity and how he sets the stage for the company’s future.
May 17, 2019
Blue Olive’s Ed Weinfurtner takes hands-on approach to investing
Ed Weinfurtner is a dealmaker who likes to get his hands dirty. If the company is being marketed for sale or has a book that pitches the acquisition opportunity, he’s not interested. “I’m trying to find a diamond in the rough,” he says.
May 16, 2019
Ed Wethli: Kiva Han-Crazy Mocha deal took time to brew
A year into the Crazy Mocha acquisition, the benefits of the deal are finally falling into place for the coffee roaster that wanted a growing retail empire.
May 16, 2019
PlanetM Awards More Than $440K In Grants To Five Mobility Startups
PlanetM Mobility Grants also provide aid to mobility startups and corporations to test, validate and prove out new technologies on Michigan roadways
May 15, 2019
How to plan a successful recapitalization strategy
Recapitalization — the process of changing a company’s capital structure through the issuance of new debt or equity securities — is a popular way to fund acquisitions, growth strategies, partner
May 15, 2019
Ohio State builds momentum for innovation district development
For years, the future of The Ohio State University west campus has been up in the air. That’s changing with the first three buildings planned for an eventual innovation district.
May 14, 2019
Industrial Commercial Properties buys former Sears distribution center
Cleveland-based Industrial Commercial Properties LLC has acquired a 570,000-square-foot, former Sears distribution center on 42.8 acres, in the Columbus suburb of Groveport. This is ICP's fourth Sears property purchase since 2014.
May 14, 2019
Three Rivers Packaging purchased by The Cary Company
The McKees Rocks company, which initially focused on the sale of new and reconditioned steel drums, has evolved to become the area’s leading IBC re-bottler/reconditioner.
May 14, 2019
Pipeline Angels: Driving change in Detroit’s angel investor community
Kerry Ann Rockquemore and Pipeline Angels bring needed guidance to help young entrepreneurs shape their vision and target markets that offer a better chance for success.
May 14, 2019
M&A Outlook: Transactions Can Prepare You For Future Change
The speed of change is relentless, and M&A has proved to be an effective means to move quickly to gain competitive advantage or defend against future disrupters.
May 13, 2019
British retailer to buy Certified Oil convenience stores, gas stations
EG Group will acquire Certified Oil and its 69 convenience stores and gas stations. The transaction will be an important step in building out the U.K.-based company's U.S. strategy.
May 13, 2019
M&A Outlook: Steel Service Centers
Industry players are looking for acquisitive growth, targeting value-added processing as a way to enhance margin and better navigate demand volatility, investment bank Brown Gibbons Lang reports.
May 10, 2019
Wisr's Kate Volzer: Networking Makes Anything Possible For Your Startup
Kate Volzer, co-founder and CEO at Wisr, talks about her entrepreneurial journey that began as a student at the University of Chicago.
May 9, 2019
Compass Self Storage acquires 17th unit in Atlanta
Compass Self Storage, a member of the Amsdell family of companies, has acquired a self storage center in Buford, Georgia, which represents the 17th Compass Self Storage location in the Greater Atlanta area and its 89th location nationwide.
May 9, 2019
ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference Photos
The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel was the site of Northeast Ohio biggest CEO-focused dealmakers event on May 2. Check out 100+ photos from the event.
May 9, 2019
Charles Huebner Digs Deep To Make Investments Deals Work For Clients
The founder of Pointe Capital Management talks about the forces that drove the launch of his investment management firm and the value of being a dealmaking sleuth.
May 8, 2019
Delta Energy’s Sheri Tackett: A tale of Two Sales
Sheri Tackett wasn’t prepared when she sold Delta Energy in 2012. When it came time to sell Delta Energy Services three years later, she didn’t make the same mistake twice.
May 8, 2019
GM In Talks To Sell Ohio Assembly Plant
Once closed, work could begin immediately to prepare the facility for production of electric vehicles developed by Cincinnati-based Workhorse Group.
May 7, 2019
GM Cruise Lands $1.15B In Funding From New, Existing Backers
The funding comes from a group comprised of institutional investors — including funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. — and existing partners General Motors, SoftBank Vision Fund and Honda.
May 7, 2019
ASX Launches Seed Equity Round to Fund Air Travel Revolution
Proceeds will be used to help the aviation technology startup acquire key automotive EV technology, build a series of full-scale prototypes and initiate Federal Aviation Administration certification.
May 7, 2019
Yvonne Campos' Next Act Fund gives women seat at dealmaking table
Yvonne Campos is an accomplished businesswoman who built and sold a successful market research and strategy firm. In all her experiences, though, she was never asked to participate in a deal or invest
May 7, 2019
Federated Investors buying $14B in assets from PNC Financial Services
The proposed deal includes the reorganization of PNC’s family of liquidity, equity and fixed-income mutual funds into Federated funds; the acquisition of part of PNC’s separate account and separately managed account business; and the transition of a six-person international equity management team.
May 7, 2019
MCM's Mark Mansour: Stick To What You Know To Come Out Ahead
Mark Mansour was young, hungry and eager to establish his dealmaking credentials. Mal Mixon was an established entrepreneur who had already built a billion-dollar business at Invacare, but was always
May 6, 2019
Boston company acquires rights to Johnstown cannabis facility
Ohio Grown Therapies is building out its 32,000-square-foot cultivation and processing facility, which includes 15,000 square feet for two-tier cultivation and 7,500 square feet for processing.
May 3, 2019
Steven Santamaria: Getting To 'No' And Other Startup Secrets
The serial entrepreneur and CEO of Folio Photonics shares lessons learned from the business deals he’s made and explains why starting a business is a lot like going on vacation.
May 3, 2019
Cleveland Must Support Innovators To Drive Growth
If this region’s anchor institutions and large corporations are serious about economic development, they must partner with qualified entrepreneurs that can enable them to create, export and profit from locally developed innovation.
May 3, 2019
Mobility and technology are driving automotive M&A
EY's Brad Hehl assesses the dealmaking landscape in the automotive space and what lies ahead for M&A activity in 2019.
May 2, 2019
ANSYS acquires assets of Maryland software company DfR Solutions
ANSYS has acquired the assets of DfR Solutions, the Maryland developer of Sherlock, the industry’s only automated design reliability analysis software.
May 1, 2019
Competitor Calios buys D.P. Dough, but calzone chain brand remains
The owners of D.P. Dough, the nation’s largest calzone franchise and third largest college-focused restaurant chain, have agreed to sell the Columbus-headquartered company to Calios, a 13-unit competing calzone chain. Each Calios restaurant will convert to D.P. Dough, growing the brand from 26 restaurants to 43 by fall 2019.
May 1, 2019
Automated Packaging Systems bought for $510 million
The Streetsboro-based manufacturer of flexible bag packaging systems is being acquired by Sealed Air for $510 million on a cash and debt free basis.
May 1, 2019
Drive Capital closes $307M fund, while raising another
Drive Capital has closed its third flagship fund at $307 million and raised nearly $251 million for its first overdrive fund, according to SEC filings.
May 1, 2019
Denso leads $20M Series A funding round for micromobility startup
The world’s second-largest mobility supplier has taken a stake in Bond Mobility to help the world’s only speed eBike sharing company develop an urban transportation strategy.
May 1, 2019
Joe DeLoss nearly got burned before making Hot Chicken Takeover a success
From nearly missing payroll to expanding too quick, the founder survived missteps on the way to building one of the area's hottest fast-casual restaurant chains.
April 30, 2019
Life after selling your business will never be the same
Michael Krol, head of wealth advisory at Waldron Private Wealth, discusses post-sale changes that catch many business owners off guard.
April 30, 2019
TriMas buys Taplast, second Italian acquisition in 6 months
The move is the second Italian acquisition in the past six months for the Bloomfield Hills-based company as it seeks to accelerate the growth of its packaging platform.
April 30, 2019
In Raising Capital, Who Invests Is As Important As How Big The Check Is
The serial entrepreneur and CEO of SPR Therapeutics talks about her process for raising capital, as well as the role non-dilutive capital has played in her fundraising formula.
April 29, 2019
Three Michigan health systems combine to build, operate $48M laundry facility
Henry Ford Health System, Michigan Medicine and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System are collaborating in a major economic investment in the Northwest Goldberg neighborhood.
April 25, 2019
How Don Nystrom Builds Dynamic Aerospace Through Acquisitions
The CEO explains how he found a company that wasn’t even on the market — and turned it into a great acquisition.
April 25, 2019
JumpStart's Cathy Belk: Plan Your Exit Before You Start Your Business
You can’t start a business these days without planning your way out.For early-stage entrepreneurs, thinking about a potential exit from the business starts before the company is even launched.“Many of
April 24, 2019
Kraft Heinz reportedly seeking buyer for Ore-Ida
CNBC says that the food giant is looking to sell off its Ore-Ida brand as it works to pay down debt and restructure its business.
April 24, 2019
Ford invests $500M in EV Truck Startup Rivian
Ford Motor Co. has made a $500 million equity investment in Plymouth-based Rivian and plans to use the company’s platform to develop an all-new, next-generation battery electric vehicle for Ford’s growing EV portfolio.
April 24, 2019
OTC's Philip Derrow: On ESOPs, culture and getting good advice
Ohio Transmission CEO Phil Derrow, talks about the challenges of ESOPs, openness during transactions and two important rules when making deals.
April 24, 2019
Maitri gets a partner, property in Innovative Industrial Properties deal
IIP agreed to provide the Southwestern PA medical marijuana company reimbursement of up to $10 million to complete tenant improvements for the building.
April 23, 2019
Transwestern Investment buys three industrial buildings in Columbus
Dallas-based Transwestern Investment Group has acquired a 1.5 million-square-foot industrial portfolio in Southeast Columbus.
April 23, 2019
Honeycomb Credit expands crowd financing model beyond Pittsburgh
How CEO George Cook is blending crowd funding and community banking to change the way small businesses get loans.
April 23, 2019
TalentLaunch's Aaron Grossman eyes $1B business via acquisitions
The CEO talks about the role process and discipline will play in reaching the ambitious goal he has set for his growing stable of staffing firms.
April 19, 2019
Foundation’s David Wood: Understanding Seller’s Needs Drives Better Deals
Foundation Investment Partners' David Wood talks about making smart acquisitions and the discerning approach he takes to dealmaking.
April 19, 2019
Chris Rizik: Honesty Is The Best Policy When Pitching VCs
Chris Rizik shares his insight on how to make a better pitch to investors, as well as the growth opportunities that exist in Detroit’s VC community.
April 18, 2019
Ancora's DiSanto will keep pushing for change at J. Alexander’s
Ancora will continue pushing for change at J. Alexander's after the restaurant chain rejected the investor's takeover bid.
April 18, 2019
ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference Photo Gallery
The Westin Book Cadillac was the site of Detroit's biggest CEO-focused dealmakers event on April 11. The ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference featured panel discussions with some of Detroit's top dealmakers, as well as extensive networking opportunities to meet with entrepreneurs, investors and advisers who make deals happen in metro Detroit.
April 18, 2019
How valuation plays a critical role in dealmaking
Valuation work is never a one-size-fits-all proposition. It can be both quite varied and necessary for different business procedures.
April 18, 2019
Female founders on rise, as women-focused angel group disbands
Although X-Squared Angels disbanded at the end of last year as membership fizzled, early-stage and startup female founders appear to be on the rise. We talk to Cindi Englefield and Mary McCarthy of the Women’s Small Business Accelerator.
April 17, 2019
Leon Rubinov on Incline Equity’s M&A strategy and value creation
Leon Rubinov doesn’t like to play favorites with Incline Equity Partners investments. “All our kids are cute,” the senior partner says. “We don’t love one any more than the other. They’re all special."
April 17, 2019
PPG completes Hemmelrath acquisition
PPG has completed its acquisition of German-based Hemmelrath, a manufacturer of coatings for automotive OEMs.
April 16, 2019
Capital-raising tips from a CEO who bagged $9 million in 90 days
XaTek CEO John Zak shares his approach to raising capital and the advantage of doing it all at once.
April 15, 2019
Green Growth Brands abandons hostile takeover bid
Green Growth Brands Inc. has ended its hostile takeover attempt of Aphria, with an agreement to accelerate the expiration of its offer on Aphria shares.
April 15, 2019
Aurora Plastics acquires Elastocon
Aurora Plastics has acquired compounder Elastocon TPE Technologies, expanding its product line and bringing broader TPE compounding capabilities to its portfolio.
April 15, 2019
Magic Plus acquires Michigan State Fairgrounds
Magic Johnson and Joel Ferguson's Magic Plus has closed its acquisition of the former Michigan State Fairgrounds property on Detroit's Woodward Avenue.
April 12, 2019
How to manage a portfolio after selling your business
Investing is a good way to stay in the game after you’ve sold your business. But the transition from business owner to ‘investor’ can be jarring if you don’t adjust your expectations.
April 12, 2019
NEO bioscience companies landed $294M in 2018
Dealmaking is hot in Northeast Ohio’s biomedical community, with 71 regional companies receiving $294 million in funding in 2018. BioEnterprise’s Aram Nerpouni explains how this dealmaking trend could become the “new normal.”
April 12, 2019
Nuspire to merge with Denver-based GBprotect
Nuspire is acquiring Denver’s GBprotect in a move intended to help both managed security services companies better respond to today’s evolving threat landscape.
April 12, 2019
Moreno all in on blockchain after selling 7 more dealerships
Bernie Moreno sold seven car dealership franchises last week, reinforcing his commitment to make Cleveland a central hub for blockchain technology.
April 11, 2019
Good Night Medical’s Alan Rudy beats the drum for integration
Before he closes any deal, Alan Rudy gets to work on his ‘integration checklist’ — a list of the hundreds of tasks his team will execute to ensure a smooth transition. Learn how the CEO puts integration front and center in every deal.
April 10, 2019
Astute lands investment from Boston PE firm
Astute Inc. has received an investment from the Boston’s Audax Private Equity. This will allow the builder of AI-driven customer engagement software to continue to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions.
April 10, 2019
Acquisition strategy: Have discipline, retain talent and avoid dishonest negotiators
Investor Lee Zapis shares tips for making better acquisitions, lessons learned from mistakes and the evolving role of culture in the dealmaking process.
April 9, 2019
Corporates join VCs to fill pipeline for Pittsburgh tech investment
Pittsburgh’s tech startups attract the lion’s share of funding and attention, says Innovation Works’ Gary Glausser. We spoke with him about trends in tech investing, including highlights from Investment in Pittsburgh’s technology sector report, and the upcoming the AI & Robotics Venture Fair.
April 9, 2019
PSI establishes Silicon Valley innovation hub with strategic investment
Proteam Solutions, an IT consulting and staffing firm, has invested in the San Francisco-based startup Akava. PSI will have access to Bay Area talent and resources through the software development studio.
April 5, 2019
Ray Dalton: Good opportunity doesn’t always mean good fit
Focus drives results and results attract buyers, says A. Ray Dalton. This week, Ray discusses his approach to identifying the right investment opportunity and the importance of finding ways for your team to win in the dealmaking process.
April 5, 2019
Huron Capital’s Brian Demkowicz: Dealmaking is back in Detroit
The PE firm's co-founder explores the method that fuels his dealmaking productivity and the role Midwestern values play in the firm’s success.
April 5, 2019
Dan Gilbert's JACK Entertainment to sell Cincinnati casino, track
Hard Rock International will handle operations at both properties. VICI will own the land and will enter into triple-net leased fee agreement with Hard Rock International.
April 5, 2019
Rev1 Ventures hits $2B in economic impact in 6 years
In 2018 alone, Rev1 clients generated more than $123 million in revenue and attracted more than $157 million in capital to the region.
April 4, 2019
Kraft Heinz fund makes first investment
Evolv Ventures was part of a $25 million Series C round investment in GrubMarket, a farm-to-delivery food service.
April 3, 2019
MentorcliQ’s Phil George
CEO Phil George shares MentorcliQ’s growth story – which includes raising $5 million in capital — and offers his advice for other founders.
April 3, 2019
FNB’s Boyd Pethel: How to invest with a flat yield curve, low interest rates
The economy may be slowing, but there’s good news for investors who are worried about rising interest rates, says First National Bank’s Boyd Pethel.
April 2, 2019
Park Place now largest TPM in Europe with MCSA buy
Park Place Technologies has acquired MCSA Group Limited, a UK-based business-critical IT services and solutions provider, snagging all of MCSA's business to become the largest third-party maintenance provider in Europe.
April 2, 2019
Lear to buy Xevo in $320M deal
The $320 million deal will combine Seattle-based Xevo's e-commerce vehicle platform technology with Southfield-based Lear's expertise in electronic systems.
April 2, 2019
Norton Industries acquired by CertainTeed
This acquisition of the maker of wood ceiling and wall designs is intended to add to Malvern, Pa.-based CertainTeed's innovation capabilities and increase its presence in the high-growth architectural specialties ceilings market.
April 2, 2019
Preformed Line Products to acquire MICOS TELCOM
Preformed Line Products is set to acquire MICOS TELCOM s.r.o., as it positions itself to support emerging industry technologies like 5G, network densification, and metro fiber rings.
April 2, 2019
CertainTeed buys wood ceiling maker Norton Industries
This acquisition is intended to improve CertainTeed's presence in the high-growth architectural specialties ceilings market.
April 2, 2019
When selling a business, take talent development seriously
Sellers who pay lip service to talent development could be leaving millions of dollars on the table, says Solutions21’s Buddy Hobart. This week, Buddy explains why it’s past time for buyers and sellers to take talent development seriously.
April 1, 2019
Lincoln Electric buys Baker Industries
Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. has acquired Baker Industries Inc., a privately held provider of custom tooling, parts and fixtures primarily serving automotive and aerospace markets.
April 1, 2019
Fifth Eye raises $11.5M Series A round
The Ann Arbor-based medical device software company will used the funds to secure FDA clearance of of its first product, support clinical studies and enable commercial launch of the product.
April 1, 2019
Kellogg to sell Keebler, Famous Amos brands for $1.3B
Kellogg Co. is selling selected cookies, fruit and fruit-flavored snacks, pie crusts, and ice cream cones businesses to the global confectionary company Ferrero Group and its related companies for $1.3 billion in cash as it continues to refocus its brand portfolio.
April 1, 2019
ProBilt Services of Ohio acquired by Fontaine Modification
Truck upfitter ProBilt Services of Ohio, along with its 30,000 sq. ft. facility located less than half a mile from the Kenworth assembly plant in Chillicothe, has been acquired by Fontaine Modification.
April 1, 2019
Timken acquires Diamond Chain Co.
The Timken Co. has acquired The Diamond Chain Co. from Amsted Industries. With the acquisition, Timken's power transmission portfolio now accounts for roughly one-third of its revenues.
April 1, 2019
Strength Capital sells ARCH Global to NYC PE firm
CEO Eli Crotzer and the rest of the ARCH senior management team will continue operating the manufacturer of precision cutting tools, precision machined industrial components and medical implants and instruments.
April 1, 2019
Park National Corp., CAB Financial Corp. merge
Park National Corp. and CAB Financial Corp. have completed their merger, which folds CAB’s banking subsidiary in as a community banking division of The Park National Bank.
April 1, 2019
MGM completes Northfield Park acquisition
Following the $275 million transaction, MGM Resorts has rebranded the property as MGM Northfield Park.
April 1, 2019
First impressions matter when studying acquisition opportunities
The key to a successful acquisition is a well-planned, successful transition, achieved by working with the key customers, employees and suppliers to ensure that sales and operations continue smoothly.
March 29, 2019
How to value organizations in the wake of technology disruption
A look at the challenge of finding skilled workers for today’s highly automated environment, what investors should look for when evaluating companies and how involved investors should be in new technologies.
March 29, 2019
Chip McClure finds deals in unloved world of Tier 2, Tier 3 suppliers
By founding Michigan Capital Advisors, he has created a private equity firm that addresses the lack of access to capital that prevents suppliers from keeping up with customer demand and diversifying beyond the auto sector.
March 29, 2019
Nordson's Anne Pombier: Creating value through acquisitions
Before joining Nordson, Anne Pombier led or participated in more than 100 transactions ranging from $500,000 to more than $1 billion in size. Now she helps identify and pursue M&A targets that can create value for Nordson on a global basis.
March 28, 2019
BrewDog USA’s crowdfunding model raises awareness along with money
Former CEO Tanisha Robinson explains how crowdfunding payed a key role in the beer maker's whirlwind growth in the U.S.
March 28, 2019
4 reasons you need an M&A lawyer
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, dealmaking involves sharing some of your company’s most confidential information with the other side. Ulmer & Berne’s Howard Groedel explains how experienced legal counsel can guide you through the M&A process.
March 28, 2019
EmployStream gets $3.5 Series A bump
EmployStream has closed a $3.5 million Series A funding round that it will use to expand its product development, marketing and sales efforts as it looks to increase its footprint in the staffing industry.
March 27, 2019
Quick Med Claims' Michael J. Lewis: A CEO's approach to M&A
In four years, the CEO of Quick Med Claims has gone through two sales and initiated five acquisitions. Now, he’s interested in passing along that knowledge.
March 26, 2019
Investors press change at Bed, Bath & Beyond
Bed, Bath and Beyond is fending off a group of activist investors, concluding Cleveland's Ancora Advisors, demanding significant changes, including replacing both its CEO and its entire board.
March 26, 2019
Crane's Screen Machine acquires Diamond Z
Partnering the two material processing companies will help Screen Machine address the growing need for mobile material processing machines across a variety of industries.
March 26, 2019
'Merger of equals' will create $1.3B banking institution
ChoiceOne Financial Services, the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank, and County Bank, the parent company of Lakestone Bank & Trust, are merging to form the 12th-largest bank holding company in Michigan.
March 26, 2019
University Lending Group buys assets of Huron Valley Financial
University Bancorp Inc. subsidiary University Lending Group has acquired certain assets of Huron Valley Financial Inc., a privately held mortgage banking firm also based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
March 22, 2019
M&A due diligence: Understanding cost, risk and liability
There are no mergers of equals, says Howard & Howard’s Joseph DeVito, Esq. But effective due diligence can help your business get the best possible deal. Here’s what you need to know about cost, risk and liability when preparing for a merger.
March 22, 2019
BlueTree's big 2018: A unicorn, strong exits and new investors
It’s been an exciting and unprecedented year for Catherine Mott and BlueTree Capital, including her venture fund's first unicorn holding.
March 22, 2019
Driving foreign investment in Northeast Ohio: What’s next for EB-5?
The immigration/investment program that brought more than $250 million to Northeast Ohio to finance real estate projects faces an uncertain future,
March 21, 2019
BGL oversees Miller Environmental Group sale to PE firm
Brown Gibbons Lang & Co.'s Environmental & Industrial Services team served as the exclusive financial adviser in the sale of Miller Environmental Group Inc. to GenNx360 Capital Partners.
March 21, 2019
Huntington Tower is on the block
Akron’s tallest building is officially for sale. Huntington Tower, the home of Huntington Bank and 1,200 of its employees, has no asking price yet.
March 21, 2019
3-D startup Kaarta raises $6.5M
The developer of real-time mobile 3D reality capture raised the funds to accelerate the growth of its mobile mapping and localization technology.
March 21, 2019
In deal communications, play offense
The smoothest deals have one common denominator. They are driven by a thoughtful, reasoned approach to cohesive communication that will resonate with all those touched by the transaction.
March 21, 2019
2019 Dealmaker of the Year Awards
Recognizing the top deals and dealmakers in the Pittsburgh region.
March 20, 2019
Lubrizol expands natural, botanical offerings with acquisition of French supplier
The Lubrizol Corp. has acquired Laboratoire Phenobio, a French supplier of naturally-derived extracts and botanical active ingredients.
March 20, 2019
Horizon Global Corp. gets liquidity injection with $51M loan
Horizon Global Corp. has closed a new financing agreement to provide additional liquidity and has amended its existing term debt agreement to relax financial covenants.
March 20, 2019
Scotts Miracle-Gro dumps its stake in TruGreen for $234M
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has sold its 30 percent stake in TruGreen to the majority owner for approximately $234 million in a move to reduce debt and maximize shareholder value.
March 20, 2019
Budd Dairy Food Hall: Finding the next Cameron Mitchell
The new venture, backed by Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, will help chefs grow their concepts and build their businesses.
March 19, 2019
Continental Services nabs Sterling Services for 5th acquisition in 18 months
Continental Services, Michigan’s largest food management company, has acquired Canton-based Sterling Services, creating Michigan’s largest founder-owned contract dining management company.
March 19, 2019
ACP-backed Pleatco buys APEL, Milton to expand air filtration services
Align Capital Partners portfolio company Pleatco Filtration has expanded into the industrial air filtration market with the acquisitions of APEL International and Milton Manufacturing.
March 19, 2019
MC Group continues aggressive growth strategy, acquires Coastal Signage + Wayfinding
MC Group has closed its second acquisition in just over year, announcing it has purchased Coastal Signage + Wayfinding, a full-service solutions provider based in Oceanside, California.
March 15, 2019
There is no ‘exit’ for restaurant investors
Investing in a restaurant sounds glamorous, doesn’t it? And that’s become truer as TV depicts chefs as rock stars. Veteran restauranteur Craig Barnum, who raised capital for his first restaurants more than 20 years ago, paints a different picture — one where there are no clear assets or exit timelines.
March 15, 2019
How to plan for a liquidity event
Whether you’re thinking about a liquidity event before you’ve launched your company, or the thought comes much later, there’s a lot to consider before you cash out.
March 15, 2019
Venture for America taps Cleveland for accelerator
Venture for America has selected Cleveland to host its national business accelerator targeting entrepreneurs that are recent college graduates, netting out competing proposals from Columbus and
March 15, 2019
Case licensee NervGen Pharma raises $7.5M in IPO
The Vancouver-based company, which has licensed regenerative medicine technology from Case Western Reserve University, said it plans to raise another $500,000 in a private placement.
March 14, 2019
Irwin Car’s Bill Baker: Find synergies in your acquisition strategy
After doing nearly 60 deals throughout his career, Bill Baker knows himself. He’s a niche strategist who looks to buy companies where one-and-one makes three.
March 14, 2019
TransDigm wraps up $4B Esterline deal
TransDigm Group Inc. has completed the acquisition of Esterline Technologies Corp., a specialized manufacturer serving the global aerospace and defense industries.