Subscribe to Smart Business Dealmakers
November 13, 2019
Huron Capital’s Brian Demkowicz Shares His Secrets To Good Dealmaking
By Mark Scott
Brian Demkowicz has a process for everything, enabling Huron Capital to continually make the right call on dealmaking opportunities.
November 5, 2019
O2’s Jay Hansen: M&A Works Best When Both Sides Are Ready To Deal
Dealmaking works better when there is M&A expertise on both sides of the table, says the private equity firm's managing partner.
October 31, 2019
U of M’s David Brophy: Michigan Needs To Retain More Talent, Secure More Investment Dollars
The Michigan Private Equity Conference is part of an effort to spur private equity investment and activity in the state.
October 30, 2019
Domino’s Pizza Announces Recapitalization Transaction
Domino's had global retail sales of over $13.5 billion in 2018, with nearly $6.6 billion in the U.S. and more than $6.9 billion internationally.
October 21, 2019
Huron Capital’s Gretchen Perkins: You Don’t Have To Walk Away After You Sell
Business owners have numerous options as they explore the sale of their business, explains Gretchen Perkins.
October 17, 2019
Piston Group buys Marion Industries
Piston Automotive, a subsidiary of the Piston Group formed by Detroit businessman and NBA legend Vinnie Johnson, has acquired Ohio-based Marion Industries, a Tier 1 assembler of brake modules for Honda of America. The deal expands Piston Automotive’s footprint into the Central Ohio region and further diversifies the company’s growing list of OEM customers.
October 16, 2019
Savorfull’s Stacy Goldberg: Don’t Make A Deal If It Doesn’t Serve Your Needs
Dealmaking can be exciting, but it can also be a pathway to uncertainty if you’re not prepared, says Savorfull CEO Stacy Goldberg.
October 10, 2019
Jeremy Falendysz: Sellers Are Often Their Own Worst Enemy In Maximizing Deal Value
Sellers who want to boost value ahead of a potential sale often do more harm than good, says UHY Corporate Finance’s Jeremy Falendysz.
October 3, 2019
TriPower Capital's Robert Sharpe: Capitalizing on Underserved Markets
The TriPower founding partner talks about his eye for making deals in the food and beverage space and one of the most common problems with today’s business landscape.
September 30, 2019
Autokiniton Completes Acquisition Of Tower International
AGG's Autokiniton US Holdings, Inc. subsidiary paid $31 a share in cash, or about $900 million after accounting for debt and pension liabilities. The deal was announced in July.
September 27, 2019
Seasoned Operator Gerry Giudici On How To Achieve Synergies Through Acquisitions
Seasoned operating partner Gerry Giudici shares some of the key factors to consider when looking to achieve synergies through M&A.
September 19, 2019
How Blockchain Could Impact Commercial Real Estate Investing
The future of dealmaking, specifically in the commercial real estate market, is in blockchain technology, says Inveniam Capital Partners’ Patrick O’Meara.
September 19, 2019
Horizon Global Closes $233M Sale Of Asia-Pacific Business Segment
Local Deals Detroit
September 19, 2019
Taubman Centers Completes $300M Sale Of South Korean Shopping Center
Starfield Hanam is the largest Western-style shopping center in South Korea at nearly 1.7 million square feet.
September 18, 2019
AAM Sells Grede U.S. Casting Operations To Gamut Capital Management
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings will sell the U.S. operations in the U.S. to funds managed by Gamut for $245 million.
September 12, 2019
Three keys to an effective recapitalization strategy
Greenwich Capital Group's Andrew Dickow shares what you need to consider when building an effective recapitalization strategy.
September 12, 2019
Fair Buys Canvas From Ford Credit
Ford Motor Credit Co. The agreement furthers Fair’s leadership position in the vehicle subscription category, enabling the company to continue to accelerate consumer adoption and expansion throughout the U.S.
September 10, 2019
Southfield-Based e2View Inc. Raises $600,000 In Angel Funding
Local Deals Detroit
September 4, 2019
Why You Should Prepare To Sell, Even If You Don't
You never know when an opportunity is going to come along that you just can’t afford to pass up, says Vistage Michigan’s David Alden.
September 2, 2019
MJR Digital Cinemas Sells To European Group in $152M Deal
MJR Digital Cinemas is privately held and operates 10 movie theater complexes with a total of 164 screens, all located in Michigan. In 2018, the company drew 6.2 million visitors with total revenue of $81.2 million.
August 29, 2019
Peninsula Capital's Ty Clutterbuck
Peninsula Capital Partners' Ty Clutterbuck talks about his approach to making and assessing acquisition opportunities.
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 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 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.
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
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 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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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.
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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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.
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
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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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
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 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
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 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 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 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
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.
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 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 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 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 14, 2019
Is a dividend recap right for you?
Greenwich Capital Group's Andrew Dickow shares his thoughts on dividend recapitalization strategy and how to find the right path to meet your needs.
March 12, 2019
Huron-backed Ronnoco Coffee gulps down add-on
Huron Capital’s platform company Ronnoco Coffee has acquired Beverage Solutions Group, expanding its national footprint from 35 to 43 states and provides additional distributor relationships.The deal
March 11, 2019
Aspire dealmakers conference coming to Detroit April 11
The Aspire middle-market dealmakers conference will be at the Westin Book Cadillac on April 11. This conference features an all-star lineup of entrepreneurs, investors and adviser.
March 8, 2019
Atlas Oil founder Sam Simon: How to maximize your deals
The master dealmaker talks about his humble beginnings, his approach to investment opportunities and the importance of being a disciplined dealmaker.
March 6, 2019
Gilbert part of Detroit's first angel investor group
Membership in Woodward Angels requires a minimum investment of $25,000 per calendar year in Detroit-area startups.
March 6, 2019
Cancer support organizations merge
Two cancer support organizations, Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit and The Lake House, are merging to continue, broaden and strengthen support for families facing cancer throughout metro Detroit.The Lake
March 5, 2019
RHP pays $170M for 17 manufactured home sites
Farmington Hills-based RHP Properties, an owner and operator of manufactured home communities, has acquired 17 communities in five states.The $170 million acquisition includes 3,177 sites in five
March 1, 2019
Forward-thinking investors are monetizing the movement of people, products
As self-driving cars become a force on American roadways, Blue Victor Capital's Sherwin Prior is already looking ahead at new ways to leverage autonomous vehicle technology.
March 1, 2019
Masco may shed cabinetry and window businesses
The units account for 20 percent of the company's sales and 10 percent of operating profit.
March 1, 2019
Diversified to buy 9 Chicago-area Buffalo Wild Wings
The units being acquired generated $32.7 million in revenue and $4.5 million of EBITDA in 2018,
February 26, 2019
Campbell's selling Garden Fresh, but not to Aronson
Campbell Soup says it will sell the Ferndale-Based salsa maker to an affiliate of Fountain of Health USA, a maker of hummus, dips, salads and other products.
February 25, 2019
Lineage Logistics buying rival for a reported $1B+
The deal to buy Preferred Freezer Services unites two of the industry's largest companies.
