By Mark Scott
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
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 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 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
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
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.
March 12, 2019
RPM’s Jim Karman: Skip the drama and avoid turnarounds
Retired RPM International COO Jim Karman reflects on the fateful deal that convinced him to steer clear of turnaround acquisitions and shares lessons learned from his dealmaking career.
March 11, 2019
Enesco completes acquisition of Things Remembered
Giftware seller and distributor Enesco LLC has completed its acquisition of Things Remembered Inc., preserving 176 stores and 1,400 jobs while expanding the company's offerings.
March 11, 2019
Preformed Line Products buys Austrian SubCon Electrical Fittings
Preformed Line Products Co., a manufacturer of energy and communications infrastructure, has acquired SubCon Electrical Fittings GmbH, an Austrian manufacturer of substation connector systems and electrical accessory hardware.
March 8, 2019
UH Ventures seeks every opportunity for innovation
Through UH Ventures, University Hospitals Health System hopes it can become a powerful force to enable the next generation of health care.
March 7, 2019
vitalxchange's Charu Ramanathan: survival skills trump MBA thinking
The co-founder and CEO at vitalxchange talks about the value of following your instincts and the real skills entrepreneurs need to succeed.
March 6, 2019
McGowan Cos. acquires, rebrands Edgewater Holdings
The McGowan Cos. has purchased the assets of another insurance underwriter, Edgewater Holdings Ltd., in a move McGowan President and CEO Thomas B. McGowan IV said will further the company’s national growth strategy.
March 5, 2019
Beachwood’s NeverBounce acquired by B2B intelligence platform DiscoverOrg
Beachwood, Ohio-based email verification company NeverBounce is being acquired by DiscoverOrg, a B2B marketing intelligence firm based in Vancouver. The deal will help DiscoverOrg enhance its existing sales and marketing services and solutions for B2B companies.
March 5, 2019
Are you a futurist?
Riverside Co-CEO Stewart Kohl explains why it’s imperative for CEOs to be futurists if they want to ensure the success of their businesses.
March 5, 2019
Resilience Capital Partners sells Thermal Solutions Manufacturing
Private equity firm Resilience Capital Partners has sold Thermal Solutions Manufacturing, a provider of automotive heating and cooling products, to Altus Capital Partners Inc., an investment firm focused on the North American manufacturing sector.
March 5, 2019
MPE Partners acquires Syracuse Plastics of North Carolina
MPE Partners, a Cleveland-based private equity firm, has acquired Syracuse Plastics of North Carolina Inc. for its portfolio company, Plastic Components Inc.
March 4, 2019
Riverside Co. adds ADA Solutions to SureWerx safety portfolio
The Riverside Co. has acquired ADA Solutions, a developer and distributor of safety products and solutions for the visually impaired, as an add-on to its SureWerx portfolio company, a supplier of professional safety products, tools and equipment.
March 1, 2019
Michael Canty: How to navigate the tricky waters of turnaround investing
Turnaround maven Michael Canty offers his tips for investing in troubled companies and shares the strategy that got Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding back on its feet.
March 1, 2019
Eaton to spin off lighting business
Move will create a separate public company with $1.7 billion in sales to commercial, industrial, residential and municipal markets.
February 25, 2019
Understand the risk profile of your target company
Oswald's Jeff Schwab explains how he helps clients identify and forecast risks in their deals — and why it’s worth the effort.
February 20, 2019
M&A Outlook: Making moves in a seller's market
Western Reserve Partners' Dave Dunstan shares key takeaways from Citizens Commercial Banking's eighth-annual Middle Market M&A Outlook.
February 19, 2019
Report: Consolidated Precision Products on the block for $2B
Local Deals Cleveland
February 19, 2019
Compass Self Storage nabs another Florida location
The Alachua site is now the 18th Compass Self Storage location in Florida and the company's 87th location nationwide.
February 19, 2019
Seeking a buyer?
5 metrics that buyers will ask about, and the ways you can leverage them to create a more attractive acquisition target.
February 18, 2019
Riverside invests in 300-year-old rum producer
The PE firm has made a significant investment in E&A Scheer, the largest global blender and vendor of premium rum in bulk.
February 18, 2019
Market Garden's Sam McNulty
Sam McNulty talks about his approach to dealmaking, the value of strong partnerships and his keys to success.
February 15, 2019
How Lincoln Electric picks its deals
Last year, Lincoln earned a 20.7 percent return on invested capital – up 4.5 points from 2017. CFO Vince Petrella shares how the manufacturer approaches acquisitions to drive continued earnings growth.
February 14, 2019
Be decisive with your time, money and expertise
R. Louis Schneeberger and other top dealmakers share their advice for navigating negotiations to a successful outcome.
February 12, 2019
MediQuant agrees to buy HeF Solutions
Brecksville-based MediQuant, a provider of enterprise active archiving solutions to hospitals and health systems, is acquiring Illinois-based HeF Solutions. The deal follows by a day the announcement of MediQuant's acquisition of DataEmerge of Columbus.
February 11, 2019
MediQuant to acquire DataEmerge
MediQuant, a provider of archiving solutions to hospitals and health systems, is acquiring the data extraction company DataEmerge.“This merger is an opportunity for both MediQuant and DataEmerge to
February 8, 2019
Davey Tree buys Houston's Landscape Management Services
The Davey Tree Expert Co. is acquiring assets of LMS Inc. (Landscape Management Services), a Houston-based commercial landscape management company.“LMS brings a talented team of professionals, and we
February 7, 2019
TruWest Cos.: Innovators wanted
Matt Kennedy and Wendy Jarchow explain how TruWest Cos. and River SaaS Capital identify promising investment opportunities and position them for growth. “We’re looking for industries that are ripe for innovation,” Jarchow says.
February 6, 2019
Compass Self Storage adds third location in greater Pittsburgh
Compass Self Storage, a member of the Amsdell family of companies, has acquired a new self-storage center at 5301 N. Pioneer Road in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, just north of Pittsburgh.
February 6, 2019
Things Remembered sells to Enesco, files bankruptcy
Things Remembered is selling most of its business to Enesco, an Illinois-based giftware, home décor and accessories distribution company. To facilitate the sale, the company filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11, seeking bankruptcy court approval for a severance and outplacement program to support impacted employees and incentives for store employees.
February 5, 2019
You can’t fake passion
Passion is an authentic emotion. That’s why it’s the first trait Pete Martin looks for in Votem Corp. employees. Martin talks about building on market opportunities, the role of resilience and going all in on your vision.
February 4, 2019
No business is perfect
Every business has problems, and it is well-nigh impossible to keep them secret. Wise sellers frame how the problems will be disclosed. Managing this disclosure maintains credibility, while not making the problems seem bigger than they really are.
January 31, 2019
Riverside adds Australian firm to Hiway platform
The Riverside Company bought WA Profiling and Stabilising, a Perth, Australia-based provider of road stabilization and profiling services. The company will be iadded to Riverside’s Hiway Group,
January 30, 2019
Sweat the details
Howard L. Lewis isn’t usually a micromanager. But that changed when he prepared to sell his business.“You can’t be a bystander or a passive viewer of this transaction,” says Lewis, founder and
January 30, 2019
Embrace fear and uncertainty
If there’s not something wrong with the business you’re investing in, you’re probably paying too much, says Umberto P. Fedeli.“You take a great company, great quality and great growth, but the value
January 28, 2019
Weiss family selling American Greetings HQ
The Weiss family reportedly has put American Greetings Corp.’s global corporate headquarters in Westlake’s Crocker Park on the market, roughly a year after selling a majority stake in their family business to PE.
January 24, 2019
Adam Kaufman
Last year, Adam Kaufman studied an estimated 500 early-stage companies to assess their long-term viability. Helping startups refine their message and pursue their goals brings the entrepreneur great
January 24, 2019
Elements of an effective M&A strategy
John Ensign doesn’t have much downtime. But that comes with the job at MRI Software.Since he joined the real estate software solutions provider in 2010, MRI has made more than 20 acquisitions,
January 24, 2019
Don’t back down
When Jayne Juvan attended her first board meeting as an M&A lawyer, she was the only woman in the room. Despite the challenging gender dynamics, she stayed the course and pursued her passion for dealmaking. In her insider column, Jayne offers strategies to help break down barriers.
January 24, 2019
FirstEnergy Solutions gets new lease on life
FirstEnergy Solutions has staved off oblivion for now with a restructuring deal that will allow it to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
January 17, 2019
Provariant’s Murad Beg
Provariant's Murad Beg talks about how he stays objective to make the right deals for his clients.
January 17, 2019
JumpStart’s Jerry Frantz
JumpStart’s Jerry Frantz knows he’s in a risky business. “Any way you cut it, deploying capital into young companies is an inherently risky proposition,” he says. Frantz talks about the role of early-stage capital in economic health and managing risk as a startup investor.
January 15, 2019
Business Pulse – January 2019
Add-on acquisitions continue to increase as an overall percentage of M&A buyouts. Strategic buyers remain active and able to pursue add-on acquisitions. Private equity is also making more add-on acquisitions.
January 10, 2019
CVS buys Ritzman Pharmacies, closes all but three sites
Ritzman Pharmacies is selling all of its 20 Northeast Ohio retail pharmacies to CVS Pharmacy, which will close all but three of the stores.
January 10, 2019
MRI Software acquires background screening business
MRI Software LLC has acquired Minnesota-based Rental History Reports and Trusted Employees, a provider of cloud-based applicant screening platforms.
January 9, 2019
Flashstarts' Charles Stack
Entrepreneur and early-stage investor Charles Stack talks with Smart Business Dealmakers about the role of confidence in dealmaking and how changemakers can use it to spark investment in Cleveland.
January 8, 2019
Do you need reps and warranties insurance?
A way to reduce or eliminate deal escrow -- and keep more of the purchase price -- is representation and warranty insurance. BakerHostetler Partner Pete Van Euwen takes a look at the topic in this Insider column.
January 8, 2019
Riverside-backed HSI adds EMS Safety Services
Health and Safety Institute, backed by Riverside Co., has acquired EMS Safety Services Inc, a California-based provider of first aid and CPR training solutions.
January 3, 2019
StartInCLE’s Ed Buchholz
Ed Buchholz about some of the challenges faced by Cleveland’s startup community and how the region can attract and empower quality startups.
December 28, 2018
2019: Feeling the pressure
Private equity firms and public companies have a stash of cash – and it’s time to do something with it. In our Dealmakers Look Ahead, we talk with local dealmaking experts about what to expect in 2019.
December 28, 2018
Next Sparc’s Len Pagon Jr.
Len Pagon talks about his approach to making the right moves at the negotiating table.
December 28, 2018
Congratulations!
You’ve gone where few have gone before you and reached that pot of gold at the end of the entrepreneurial rainbow. What now?
December 19, 2018
2018: Has the market peaked?
In our Dealmakers Year in Review, Mansour, Manna and other M&A experts weigh in on the past year in dealmaking — including lessons learned, trends to watch and the biggest under-the-radar deals of 2018.
December 19, 2018
FALCON's Rob Huxtable
FALCON Managing Partner Rob Huxtable talks about his tips for finding leaders who can thrive under pressure, rise to a challenge and help PE firms maximize their investments.
December 19, 2018
Business Pulse – December 2018
MelCap Partners' Matt Roberts looks at next year: "As we look toward 2019 deal activity, we believe the prepared will win."
December 13, 2018
Ranpak sells for $950M; going public
The Concord Township-based packaging products company is being bought for $950 million by One Madison Corp., a special purpose acquisition company.
December 12, 2018
Legacy Capital’s David St. Pierre
As a 20-year veteran of real estate investing, David St. Pierre knows the best way to sell investors on a new opportunity: Don’t.
December 12, 2018
LeafFilter’s Matt Kaulig
LeafFilter founder Matt Kaulig explains how to show your value to potential investors and position your company for a sale.
December 12, 2018
Bring it home
When you have the right team in place to make a deal, everything else tends to work itself out.
December 7, 2018
Flashstarts launches early-stage blockchain fund
Charles Stack’s Flashstarts business accelerator is creating a $6 million, pre-seed investment fund for blockchain-based startups.
December 7, 2018
TravelCenters sells convenience stores
TravelCenters of America has completed the $330.8 million sale of its convenience store business.
December 7, 2018
Compass Self Storage adds 16th Atlanta center
The acquisition gives Compass Self Storage 16 locations in the greater Atlanta market, and 85 total storage centers nationwide.
December 6, 2018
Kelsheimer, Ferkovic join forces at Medic Management
A look at the approach Jerry Kelsheimer and Tom Ferkovic used to negotiate the purchase of Medic Management Group, and what’s next for the business.
December 6, 2018
North Coast Angel Fund’s Todd Federman
The angel investor talks about common mistakes entrepreneurs need to avoid to beat the odds and monetize their ideas.
November 30, 2018
Radhika Reddy
Radhika Reddy and her partners have worked on more than $2 billion of public-private finance transactions across the United States. We talk with her about the complexity of real estate investing.
November 30, 2018
TownHall’s Bobby George
Bobby George consults his list of dealmaking principles on a weekly basis – and uses them to inform his decisions. He talks with us about how he evaluates acquisitions to seize opportunity when it strikes.
November 30, 2018
Learn from your mistakes
Growing your business through acquisition is a highly complex process. One misstep can cost you everything. Our team recently managed through a significant oversight that almost forced us to shut down operations.
November 20, 2018
Mac Biggar Jr.
Master dealmaker Mac Biggar talks about challenges and opportunities in today’s commercial real estate space.
November 20, 2018
TechGrit’s Anthony Margida
Anthony Margida talks about key differences between business accelerators in Ohio and Silicon Valley and his thoughts on speeding up the flow of funding for startups.
November 20, 2018
Business Pulse – November 2018
Roughly 50 percent of the deals tracked in Northeast Ohio during October involved acquisitions or exits by private equity groups.
November 16, 2018
BGL’s Andrew Petryk
Investment banker Andrew Petryk shares his thoughts and observations about how best to prepare for the M&A process and maximize the result.
November 16, 2018
Lou Schneeberger's advice to first-time buyers
The master dealmaker talks about the best approach to beginning a deal negotiation and key items that experienced dealmakers know to check off their list when making a transaction.
November 16, 2018
Reading people is critical to acquisitions
Greg Skoda examines the risk of not fully exploring the wants and needs of the seller when pursuing an acquisition.
November 16, 2018
Negotiated deals
Resilience Capital Partners' Bassem Mansour offers five reasons why a negotiated deal can make sense for companies looking to sell themselves.
November 9, 2018
Explorys co-founder Charlie Lougheed
Charlie Lougheed looks at the importance of clarity, the value of embracing opportunity and why a great idea alone isn’t enough to capture the excitement of potential investors.
November 8, 2018
Blue Point Capital's Jim Marra
BluePoint's Jim Marra about the challenge of competing in today’s private equity market and the best strategy to minimize risk with your investments.
November 2, 2018
Mark A. Filippell
Mark Filippell talks about important points to consider before you put your company on the market and a pivotal moment for M&A advisory firm Western Reserve Partners.
November 2, 2018
LaunchHouse’s Todd Goldstein
LaunchHouse' s Todd Goldstein talks about the evolution of Cleveland’s entrepreneurial community and the value of looking at a deal from different points of view.
November 2, 2018
Carveout transactions
Scott Becker has been involved with his fair share of acquisitions. And while all come with a level of complexity, a carveout can be the most challenging.
October 26, 2018
Douglas J. Sibila
Peoples Services CEO Doug Sibila talks about his methodical approach to dealmaking and the role networking plays in his company’s M&A strategy.
October 26, 2018
Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs' Michael A. Ellis
Attorney Michael Ellis talks about when noncompete agreements come into play and how to avoid a prolonged legal confrontation.
October 26, 2018
Business Pulse – October 2018
In an optimistic economy that seems to churn out favorable economic indicators on a weekly basis, the continued decline in deal activity on the local and national level may seem startling.
October 19, 2018
Jon J. Pinney
KJK Managing Partner Jon Pinney talks about the need for speed in closing transactions, his passion for learning and the role Blockland can play in facilitating more business activity going forward.
October 19, 2018
Chas Withers: Build a strong, consistent narrative for your deal
The Dix & Eaton CEO talks about how to tell a consistent narrative that ties together everyone's interests and conveys the value being created.
October 19, 2018
Set yourself up to win
Being an entrepreneur is a ballsy endeavor. A deep belief in yourself and what you are doing is required for being successful.
October 12, 2018
Richard R. Hollington III
CapitalWorks CEO Dick Hollington talks about the role preparation plays in developing an effective acquisition strategy and what private equity firms do to make sure they stay on top of their game.
October 12, 2018
MRI's John Ensign on strategy, due diligence and 10,000 rats
John Ensign talks about his acquisition strategy and the importance of making in-person visits to potential acquisition targets.
October 12, 2018
Align Capital Partners’ Chris Jones and Steve Dyke
Jones and Dyke talk about their approach to helping companies maximize their growth potential and their view on the economy heading into 2019.
October 5, 2018
Baiju R. Shah
BioMotiv CEO Baiju Shah talks about his approach to building a team that can get deals done and the opportunity that health care innovation presents to other industries.
October 5, 2018
Thogus' Matt Hlavin: Why I take dealmaking slow and steady
The CEO talks about the drive he had to become more entrepreneurial and factors that have kept him from being more active on the deal scene.
October 5, 2018
The unwritten rules of M&A
Retired RPM President Jim Karman shares the “unwritten rules” that defined the acquisition negotiation and preparation strategy he used for his family-owned furniture manufacturer.
September 28, 2018
Tony Ciepiel
Step2Discovery CEO Tony Ciepiel talks about his strategic approach to dealmaking and the importance of reaching beyond M&A as a means of completing deals that can benefit your business.
September 28, 2018
Tom Chema: Getting Gateway done and the value of taking risks
Tom Chema played a lead role in overseeing the public/private partnership that brought downtown Cleveland a new ballpark for the Indians and an arena for the Cavaliers.
September 28, 2018
Austin Capital Partners' Darrell Austin
Darrell Austin talks about the effect that rising purchase prices have had on M&A players who used to be a lot busier.
September 19, 2018
Paul Smucker Wagstaff
Paul Smucker Wagstaff shares his dealmaking strategy, the role that his team plays in M&A transactions and some key lessons he learned from his time at J.M. Smucker.
September 19, 2018
Steve McHale on flawed deals and knowing when to pivot
Steve McHale shares his thoughts on deals he has made and the approach that leaders take when things don’t go according to plan.
September 19, 2018
Business Pulse – September 2018
For the Northeast Ohio market, August was filled with deal activity by local private equity and corporate buyers.
September 14, 2018
MTD sells 20 percent stake to Black & Decker, leaves door open for more
Cleveland
September 14, 2018
Dan T. Moore III
Dan Moore reflects on his career in business, his skill as an innovator and how dealmaking has helped bring it all together.
September 14, 2018
Team NEO’s Bill Koehler
Bill Koehler talks about one of the most gratifying moments of his dealmaking career and the value that a formal M&A strategy can bring to your business.
September 14, 2018
EY’s Chris Smyth
We catch up with EY's Chris Smyth to talk about his principles of effective dealmaking.
September 7, 2018
Sam Petros
Real estate developer Sam Petros talks about his approach to making deals happen and a pivotal moment when he was 14 that shaped his career.
September 7, 2018
Cascade Partners’ Ken Marblestone
Ken Marblestone explains why he’s always concerned about something and why there are times when you should not take the advice of your financial adviser.
September 7, 2018
Don’t be caught unprepared
4 ways to improve the sale process and achieve the highest possible price in the transaction.
August 31, 2018
Jon W. Park
Westfield Bank's CEO talks about how to build an effective M&A strategy and common pain points that arise when looking to make a deal.
August 31, 2018
Signet's Tony Manna: Why I'm always ready for a deal
Tony Manna talks about his readiness to examine deals and some great advice he got in his youth from Worthington Industries founder John McConnell.
August 31, 2018
Beth Haas
Cyprium Partners' Beth Haas shares her thoughts on how to find the right vehicle to obtain the necessary capital for your business and how to work through any anxiety you may have over working with an outside firm.
August 24, 2018
Ron Weinberg
Ron Weinberg talks about the origins of today’s active private equity market and his hands-on approach to creating opportunities that lead to profitable deals.
August 24, 2018
Independence Excavating's Victor DiGeronimo Jr.
Vic DiGeronimo talks about taking risks and his key to finding happiness when making a deal.
August 24, 2018
Business Pulse – August 2018
July continued many of the M&A trends that we’ve seen over the first half of 2018.
August 17, 2018
Mitchell Schneider
Mitchell Schneider about the role his team has played in transforming Northeast Ohio’s retail culture, his own evolution as a dealmaker and a valuable piece of strategy he uses to close a deal.
August 17, 2018
McCarthy Lebit’s Kenneth B. Liffman
Ken Liffman about the difficulties that often arise when you’re looking to sell your business and three critical questions that can help inform your decision.
August 17, 2018
JPMorgan Chase’s Rudy Bentlage
Rudy Bentlage explains the value of transparency in M&A activity and talks about how to know when it’s the right to time to consider selling your business.
August 10, 2018
SCA has its eye on $300M
Christopher Valerian talks about Sweeping Corp. of America's acquisition strategy and the key steps his team followed to execute on aggressive growth goals.
August 10, 2018
Michael Siegal: How I approach acquisition targets
The Olympic Steel CEO talks about being a chameleon, assessing culture and spending your time well.
August 10, 2018
Create a viable plan
Jeremy Eberlein, managing director of investment banking, offers four steps to creating a viable plan.
August 3, 2018
Fred Nance
The global managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs talks about the craft of dealmaking and shares the lessons he has learned to get things done under difficult circumstances.
August 3, 2018
Flashstarts’ Charles Stack
How poker shaped his approach to dealmaking, the problem with risk in Cleveland’s investor community and the one thing entrepreneurs get totally wrong when making a pitch to potential investors.
August 3, 2018
Evolution Capital Partners’ Jeffrey Kadlic
Jeffrey Kadlic about what could be done to open up private equity investment to more people, the common pain points he sees in the M&A process and one of his most memorable deals.
July 27, 2018
Risk International 'buys' a partner
Chairman Dave O’Brien takes us inside his approach to searching for investors and explains how he was able to execute the process seamlessly.
July 27, 2018
Stewart Kohl
The co-CEO of The Riverside Co. talks about how he got his start and mentors who guided him early in his career.
July 27, 2018
Broken deals can create real hardship
Think twice and understand all the ramifications before you commit to taking a seat at the negotiating table.
July 19, 2018
Citymark Capital’s Daniel Walsh
Dan Walsh talks about his approach to crafting a deal, lessons learned about minimizing mistakes and what Cleveland needs to do to generate more liquidity.
July 19, 2018
Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV
Hoby Hanna talks about what drove two pivotal transactions for his real estate company, the value he places on market share and his perspective on turnarounds.
July 19, 2018
Calfee’s Brent Pietrafese
The dealmaking attorney talks about recent trends in dealmaking and how to avoid legal headaches when involved in M&A activity.
July 13, 2018
XaTek raises $9M in under 90 days
John Zak talks about his work, his team and his ambitious strategy to take this project across the finish line.
July 13, 2018
Ancora’s Fred DiSanto
Fred DiSanto talks about his approach to dealmaking, his willingness to take risk and his partnership with Carl Grassi.
July 13, 2018
Business Pulse – July 2018
Despite lower middle-market deal volume, which is primarily the result of a scarcity of quality assets, the current M&A market is expected to remain favorable to sellers.
July 6, 2018
Len Pagon Jr.
Len Pagon talks about how he recovered and got a deal done to sell Brulant to Rosetta and the many twists and turns that come with being a successful dealmaker.
July 6, 2018
PWC Group’s Ansir Junaid
Ansir Junaid talks about principles of dealmaking strategy and how two trips led to pivotal business deals that made his business what it is today.
July 6, 2018
Mazzella Cos.’ Tony Mazzella
Tony Mazzella talks about the fresh approach he brings to each new deal and the effort he undertook to bring a stronger dealmaking mindset to his family’s business.
June 28, 2018
Mezu: New venture, old friends
How Yuval Brisker leveraged his success and relationships at TOA Technologies to raise $10 million and get Mezu up and running.
June 28, 2018
First National Bank’s Boyd Pethel
Boyd Pethel talks about why companies seek outside capital, the tools banks provide to help in this process and what Cleveland needs to do to take the next step in its own evolution.
June 28, 2018
How to create value when you sell
Each owner typically sells their business only once. The right advisers manage transactions every day. Use them.
June 22, 2018
On the green
Master dealmaker Monte Ahuja talks about his plans to remake his newly acquired golf properties and the role golf has played in his success as a dealmaker.
June 22, 2018
How captive insurance can add value to your deal
Kelly Price about the challenges that business owners face when it comes to negotiating a deal, how captive programs can fit into the mix and what can happen when you sell to a buyer that hasn’t done the proper due diligence.
June 22, 2018
Cyprium Partners’ John Sinnenberg
John Sinnenberg talks about his evolution as a dealmaker and the lessons he’s learned from deals good and bad.
June 15, 2018
Ranpak reportedly on the block
Bloomberg reports that Rhone Capital LLC is considering a sale of the Concord Township company, and it’s working with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to find a buyer.
June 14, 2018
Michael E. Gibbons
Mike Gibbons talks about selling a business, his perspective on the growth of the international M&A market.
June 14, 2018
Transtar’s Neil Sethi
Transfer CEO Neil Sethi talks about what experience has taught him about the flow of deal activity and the important distinction between markets and micromarkets.
June 14, 2018
Business Pulse — June 2018
In 2018, a noticeable shift in corporate divestiture trends has taken place.
June 8, 2018
Behind the scenes of the Fairmount-Unimin merger
CEO Jennifer Deckard discusses the relationship of the two companies, the factors that finally enabled them to merge and the powerful role that external M&A advisers played.
June 8, 2018
Family Heritage Life Insurance’s Howard Lewis
Howard Lewis about his approach to selling his company, the critical importance of tax planning and the opportunity that exists after you sell your business.
June 8, 2018
IMCD’s John Mastrantoni
John Mastrantoni shares his advice on how to maximize results and minimize surprises by preparing — personally and financially — for the sale of your business.
June 1, 2018
Anthony Manna
Anthony Manna talks about his approach to dealmaking and the team he’s built to vet and often take the lead on potential opportunities.
June 1, 2018
Ganley Auto Group’s Ken Ganley
Ken Ganley talks about the value that experience can bring to dealmaking and his fondness for taking on challenges when making an acquisition.
June 1, 2018
5 rules for dealmaking
A few do’s and don’ts from a dealmaker's own experiences (and mistakes) over the years.
May 25, 2018
Victor DiGeronimo Jr.
Vic DiGeronimo talks about how he got his start in the family business and first began to develop the entrepreneurial and dealmaking skills.
May 25, 2018
Kichler Lighting’s Dave Pamer
Dave Pamer discusses how preparation, delegation and communication can facilitate a smooth transaction.
May 18, 2018
Stewart Kohl
The Riverside Co. co-CEO talks about how curiosity fuels his passion for dealmaking, how he judges the success of a transaction and the factors that determine the ideal amount of a capital to provide a young business.
May 18, 2018
Rakuten OverDrive’s Steve Potash
Steve Potash talks about the challenges he faced launching OverDrive in the pre-digital world of the 1980s and the pros and cons of debt vs. equity investors.
May 17, 2018
Target identification
In the follow-up to his popular first column on how culture shapes his M&A strategy, Alliance Solutions Group founder Aaron Grossman explains how he takes the guesswork out of acquisitions by painstakingly finding the right acquisitions prospects
May 11, 2018
J.W. Sean Dorsey
Master dealmaker Sean Dorsey discusses how the dealmaking business has shifted through the decades and the insights he’s learned along the way.
May 11, 2018
Tucker Ellis’ Jayne Juvan
M&A attorney Jayne E. Juvan talks about what’s driving the increased scrutiny on corporate transactions and the points companies should consider before entering into their next deal negotiation.
May 11, 2018
AdCap Management’s Joel Adelman
Joel Adelman talks about the keys to raising capital, taking risks and doing business in the disaster recovery space.
May 11, 2018
Business Pulse — May 2018
M&A activity for the month of April followed the downward trend that was expected to occur during 2018. Total deal volume decreased 13 percent as compared to April 2017, and decreased 9 percent from March 2018.
May 4, 2018
Stephen J. McHale
Steve McHale about the evolution of Explorys, his altruistic approach to dealmaking and what he’s working on now.
May 4, 2018
How M&A strengthens the entrepreneurial economy
JumpStart's Ray Leach is excited about the potential that exists in Cleveland’s entrepreneurial economy to make huge strides in the years ahead.
May 4, 2018
Attorney Margaret W. Wong
Margaret Wong started her firm in 1978 and it’s only since 2000 that she became more active in dealmaking. She talks about the important deal she made with her godchild and her approach to making acquisitions.
April 27, 2018
Raising startup capital
There are a few things that any entrepreneur considering raising capital needs to think about.
April 27, 2018
RPM's Frank Sullivan
RPM CEO Frank Sullivan talks about his approach to making acquisitions and how he balances M&A with his leadership of the business.
April 27, 2018
Gregory J. Skoda
Master dealmaker Greg Skoda talks about the philosophy of dealmaking, lessons learned creating CBIZ and why it’s so important to listen.
April 27, 2018
Fifth Third Bank’s Joe DiRocco
Joe DiRocco talks about what you should know about your business before you pursue your next M&A transaction.
April 20, 2018
Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV
Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV talks about negotiating deals with a key competitor, the value of developing an M&A formula and sticking to it, and how he responds to market pressure to keep pursuing more acquisitions.
April 20, 2018
ShurTech Brands’ John Kahl
ShurTech Brands CEO John Kahl talks about the importance of listening and the effort it takes to zero in on the right company to acquire.
April 20, 2018
Developer Scott Wolstein
Former Developers Diversfied CEO Scott Wolstein talks about how to know when to walk away, how to minimize mistakes and why you need a strong team to be an effective dealmaker.
April 13, 2018
What’s your exit strategy?
The top seven questions you should ask yourself before making the decision.
April 13, 2018
Umberto P. Fedeli
Umberto Fedeli is a prolific investor who has bought stock in hundreds, if not thousands of businesses, banks and other organizations over the years. We talk with him about his approach to dealmaking and investing, his read on the M&A sector today and the value of being really good at something.
April 6, 2018
Partners in growth
UroGPO CEO David Coury talks about his company's growth and why it was time to turn to private equity.
April 6, 2018
Transtar’s Monte Ahuja
Transtar's Monte Ahuja talks about the thrill of negotiating, why it’s important to know every detail and why you can’t be afraid to walk away.
April 6, 2018
Compass Self Storage’s Todd Amsdell
Todd Amsdell has relied largely on “good old-fashioned hard work and reputation” to build Amsdell Cos. into one of the premier operators of self-storage centers in the country. We spoke with Amsdell about his company’s unique approach to dealmaking.
March 29, 2018
PwC’s Mark Ross
When Mark Ross isn’t working with George Lucas or helping the NYSE buy Euronext, he’s leading transactions that range up to $10 billion.
March 29, 2018
LeafFilter’s Matt Kaulig
Matt Kaulig talks about the challenges he overcame to position LeafFilter for sale and the passion he has for making deals.
March 29, 2018
Meritech’s Mary Ann Bednar
Fresh off the acquisition of a competitor, Meritech's Mary Ann Bednar and Ken Vanden Haute talk about the importance of patience in dealmaking and the value of securing market share in a competitive business environment.
March 29, 2018
Business Pulse — April 2018
M&A volume remains strong on a historical basis, and average deal value trends continue to show that buyers are willing to pay full value for healthy assets.
March 23, 2018
Sign of the times
Tim Eippert is a man on a mission. Backed by the deep pockets of Bahrain’s Arcapita, the president and CEO of MC Sign Co. plans to triple revenue to $300 million over the next three to five years.
March 23, 2018
Jay Lucarelli: Don’t take on debt if you’re not ready
Jay Lucarelli talks about factors that must be considered when exploring a potential deal, why buying more space now will save you a lot of stress later and more lessons learned from his father.
March 23, 2018
PartsSource’s Philip Settimi
Dr. Philip Settimi about the approach he took to negotiate the sale and why he is more focused on organic growth right now than acquisitions.
March 16, 2018
Rocco Di Lillo
Rocco Di Lillo talks about his approach to dealmaking, the process he follows to learn about the business he’s looking to acquire and why being overly cautious can make it a lot easier to sleep at night.
March 16, 2018
Real estate broker Rico A. Pietro
Rico Pietro talks about the evolution of real estate dealmaking in Cleveland and the role that the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program has played in revitalizing downtown properties.
March 16, 2018
Ring Beams President David Levine
David Levine and partner Michael Recker worked 10 years to build a $25 million business. But when their aspirations outgrew their capital, they knew it was time for a deal. In this Q&A, David talks about the complexity of selling and his approach to making it a manageable process.
March 9, 2018
R. Louis Schneeberger
Master dealmaker R. Louis Schneeberger talks about the critical first steps to take when looking to make an acquisition, the importance of understanding your industry and why you need to know who’s on your team before you close a deal.
March 9, 2018
Bobby George: The best dealmakers are the quiet ones
Corporate Management Group President Bobby George about what he needs to see in order to buy a business, the discipline to say no and the respect he has for Cleveland’s top dealmakers.
March 9, 2018
Zapis Capital Group's Lee Zapis
Lee Zapis has invested in more than 20 companies since 2003, but he knows it takes more than capital to build an outstanding business. That’s why Zapis Capital Group prefers to take an active role in its portfolio companies, providing strategic advice and resources.
March 2, 2018
JumpStart's Ray Leach
A critical part of Ray Leach’s role at JumpStart is his ability to ID strong business builders. Just as important, however, is his ability to engage with established business leaders who can help his startups.
March 2, 2018
Laudan Properties' Kevin Weidinger
Kevin Weidinger talks about the steps he follows to either make a good deal or gain the knowledge he needs to walk away from the table and get to work on the next opportunity.
March 2, 2018
How I find great deals
Scott Becker often buys businesses that aren't for sale. The key in initiating these discussions with owners is the opportunity it provides to spell out the strategic benefits available through the business combination.
February 23, 2018
RVshare shifts into overdrive
With $50M in capital and new CEO, the Airbnb of RVs is ready to roll. Joel Clark may be the hottest entrepreneur in Northeast Ohio you’ve never heard of.
February 23, 2018
Exodus Capital's Jerry Kelsheimer
Jerry Kelsheimer talks about his approach to making your business attractive to buyers and the value of viewing your company from the perspective of a shareholder.
February 23, 2018
Millcraft's Travis Mlakar
Travis Mlakar, who has led seven acquisitions to expand Millcraft, talks about getting people involved in acquisitions and leveraging their input to shape the success of a deal.
February 16, 2018
Family matters
You need to pay special attention to the personal impact of selling a business.
February 16, 2018
Get well soon?
What’s the right card to buy when your 112-year-old business has just been sold? After more than seven months of due diligence, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice last week agreed to buy a majority interest in American Greetings.
February 16, 2018
Loan Protector's Dennis Swit
Dennis Swit missed out the first two times his employer was up for sale. He wasn’t going to miss the third time. He talks about the challenges he faced buying the company and how he positioned the company to succeed under his ownership.
February 8, 2018
Edward F. Crawford
ParkOhio CEO Edward F. Crawford offers his thoughts on losing his first business, the value he places on people and dealing with rejection.
February 8, 2018
Stuart Kline on how to get the good real estate deals
The Chase Properties chairman talks about how he identifies lucrative real estate opportunities that others miss and the key metrics that can lead to a profitable deal.
February 8, 2018
KeyBank's Kip Clarke
Sharing lessons from decades of dealmaking experience, KeyBank's Kip Clarke talks about his strategies for mastering the M&A game.
February 2, 2018
Gregory J. Skoda
Greg Skoda talks about what he learned from more than 200 of his own acquisitions (and hundreds more for clients), how he approaches risk taking and why business owners need to be thoughtful when they head down the M&A path.
February 2, 2018
Chris Quinn: What I learned selling Step2
For InterDesign CEO Chris Quinn, dealmaking is all about trust. “Trust begins the very minute you decide to engage and go through the sale process."
February 2, 2018
RSM's Ron DeGrandis
RSM's Ron DeGrandis shares some of his vast expertise on real estate dealmaking in the context of the recent sale of downtown’s Key Center to Frank Sinito and Millennia Cos.
February 2, 2018
How culture shapes our M&A strategy
Aaron Grossman shares how he focused on the culture he wants for Alliance Solutions Group, before finding companies to buy.
February 2, 2018
Directional Aviation Capital’s Kenn Ricci
Directional Aviation Chairman Kenn Ricci shares his company’s 16.6 Rule and why discipline and rigor — a commitment to a plan — are so important.
January 26, 2018
David vs Goliaths
When you compete with the likes of Eaton and Parker Hannifin, you better have a good growth strategy. David Carr, president of fittings manufacturer Brennan Industries, makes M&A a core part of his plan, like last November’s acquisition of Versa Fittings.
January 26, 2018
All Pro Freight's Chris Haas
Chris Haas spent a decade growing All Pro Freight Systems at a “grinding” pace until he realized that growth by acquisition could multiply his capacity more quickly.
January 19, 2018
A deal with heart
Who: Cleveland HeartLabWhat: Acquired by Quest Diagnostics to catapult CHL’s groundbreaking efforts to reduce heart attacks and strokesWhy it matters: At scale, CHL’s inflammation testing could
January 19, 2018
Resilience Capital’s Bassem Mansour
Resilience Capital Partners' co-CEO Bassem Mansour talks about the shifting entrepreneurial mindset, the value of an unbiased professional opinion and the state of today’s capital market.
January 19, 2018
ASW Global’s André Thornton
ASW Global CEO André Thornton speaks about how he lays the groundwork for acquisitions and then takes steps to ensure there is a fit before closing any deal.
January 19, 2018
Corporate deals under scrutiny
Board directors need to be diligent about structuring deals to avoid potential litigation. Attorney Jayne Juvan shares four key steps a board can take to protect itself from legal liability and reputational damage.
January 19, 2018
Next Sparc's Len Pagon Jr.
Next Sparc CEO Len Pagon Jr. shares how he’s learned to be discerning and the importance of Warren Buffett’s rules for investing.
January 12, 2018
Ready to pop
We take a deeper look at how Paul Smucker Wagstaff used his experience at The J.M. Smucker Co. to guide his approach to dealmaking and what it all means for the continued growth of Eagle Foods.
January 12, 2018
Chris Adams: How to create a great M&A team
Park Place President Chris Adams shares the details of creating an M&A team and how it has helped drive the company’s push to continue growing.
January 12, 2018
Lubrizol’s Eric R. Schnur
Lubrizol CEO Eric R. Schnur talks about his approach to M&A and how his range of experiences at Lubrizol has made him a better dealmaker.
January 5, 2018
Cohen & Co. fills a void
A look at how Cohen's acquisition of Arthur Bell brings the firm closer to being a $100 million business, strengthens its position in the fund manager market and opens the door to future growth in the space.
January 5, 2018
Michael Feuer: How egos killed an OfficeMax/Staples merger
OfficeMax founder Michael Feuer talks about the times he let ego get in the way of a deal and how his approach to dealmaking has changed over the years.
January 5, 2018
BNY Mellon’s Ron Ambrogio
Ron Ambrogio explores the conversations that need to take place before a company goes on the market and common oversights that can make it harder to close a deal.
January 5, 2018
Why do you want to sell?
While some business owners put a lot of thought into the decision to put their company up for sale, others do not. In either case, there are a number of threshold questions that should be considered before discussing the actual sale process.
December 28, 2017
2017: The Year of the Seller
Much like the M&A climate nationally, Greater Cleveland had a strong year for dealmaking in 2017, as evidenced by the number and value of the transactions completed. We spoke with some of Cleveland’s M&A experts and gathered their perspective on the year that was in dealmaking.
December 28, 2017
2018: Let the good times roll
The corporate tax reform signed into law by President Donald Trump could spawn a new wave of dealmaking activity in the new year. Here’s a look at what local M&A experts had to say when asked what to expect in 2018.
December 15, 2017
Stark seeks $4 billion portfolio
We take a deeper look at Stark Enterprises’ growth strategy and the thoughtful approach the company takes to acquiring new properties.
December 15, 2017
BDO’s Bob Littman
Bob Littman talks about being ready to act, finding the right partner and how options have changed for dealmakers over the years.
December 15, 2017
Chris Hyland: Assume nothing
Hyland Software CFO Chris Hyland talks about the importance of asking the tough questions and why you can’t always trust sellers to paint a true picture of the culture at your new acquisition.
December 15, 2017
Stewart Kohl on the art of the deal
Stewart Kohl talks about how the art of the deal has changed over the last 30 years.
December 8, 2017
MRI: New tech growth star
How Patrick Ghilani crafted his plan to complete five rapid-fire deals to solidify MRI Software’s position as a leader in real estate technology.
December 8, 2017
Greg Muzzillo: Time makes sellers realistic
The Proforma founder shares his experience negotiating with sellers and the risk of veering away from your area of expertise in business.
December 8, 2017
Tony Mercurio: Bring more leaders
Tony Mercurio shares his thoughts on how to avoid falling victim to the ticking clock when making a deal and why becoming a regular dealmaker could be deadly to your business.
November 30, 2017
1 team, 6 deals, 12 months
An in-depth look at how Park Place Technologies' Chris Adams provided his M&A SWAT team with the tools it needed to complete six acquisitions in 12 months.
November 30, 2017
Bob Campana: 'We have a lot of upside'
Bob Campana talks about the state of the current capital market, some tips that guide his approach to dealmaking and one of his most memorable deals.
November 22, 2017
Catching the PE wave
An inside look at how Mark Goldfarb and his SS&G partners sold to BDO USA, giving the firm a long-sought foothold in Ohio and Goldfarb the resources to drive his team forward into a new way of doing business.
November 22, 2017
Trems sell majority stake in Arc Drilling to DC-area PE firm
Local Deals Cleveland
November 22, 2017
Aaron Grossman: Study the data and match the core values
Aaron Grossman talks about how he looks at acquisition targets and why you can't neglect your core business.
November 22, 2017
Mutual Capital Partners’ Wayne Wallace
What sellers need to know to get top dollar for their companies when they go on the market.
November 17, 2017
Ken Ganley drives toward $2 billion
An inside look at how Ken Ganley finally bought Central Cadillac, an extraordinary dealership he had sought for years.
November 16, 2017
Sotera Health's Michael Petras
Michael B. Petras knows how to grow a business and he spoke with Smart Business Dealmakers about the best approach to take when negotiating deals with other companies.
November 9, 2017
How MacroPoint’s Bennett Adelson got two bites at the apple
An inside look at how Macropoint CEO Bennett Adelson crafted a strategy that earned him a second bite at the apple – and even a chance at a third – and his advice for other CEOs.
November 9, 2017
Monte Ahuja on coming back to Transtar
After Transtar filed for bankruptcy, founder Monte Ahuja reinvested in the company and returned as CEO. We sat down with him to learn why he was willing to take back the helm at Transtar and what he experienced on his return
November 9, 2017
UH’s Tom Zenty
University Hospitals CEO Tom Zenty III talks about his approach to dealmaking and explains why culture can make or break any transaction.
November 9, 2017
10 tips to sell your business the right way
10 lessons learned from more than 60 years of confidential family experience in acquiring and operating businesses.
November 9, 2017
Steve Demetriou's 3 rules of dealmaking
Jacobs CEO Steve Demetriou shares his three rules of dealmaking with the Aspire 2017 audience during a question and answer session with Smart Business CEO Fred Koury.
November 3, 2017
Hyland’s game-changing deal
It was the largest acquisition Hyland Software Inc. has ever made — by far, says President and CEO Bill Priemer. The deal to buy Perceptive Software and bring a key competitor under the same roof after more than two decades of battling for business is a game changer for Hyland.
November 3, 2017
Ed Crawford's 3 keys to success
A major part of ParkOhio's growth can be attributed to an eye-popping 86 acquisitions. We sat down with CEO Ed Crawford to talk about three keys to his dealmaking success.
November 3, 2017
Riverside Co.'s Stewart Kohl
Stewart Kohl leads a global private equity firm with more than $6 billion in assets under management and nearly 500 acquisitions under its belt. None of that would have been possible if Kohl had not taken the time to prepare for each negotiation.
