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March 16, 2020
Peoples acquisition completed by Essential Utilities
By Jayne Gest
Essential Utilities Inc. has successfully completed the acquisition of Peoples, a Pittsburgh-based natural gas distribution company, in an all-cash transaction that reflects an enterprise value of $4.275 billion, including the assumption of approximately $1.1 billion of debt.
Local Deals Pittsburgh Philadelphia
March 5, 2020
PeopleShare co-founder Ryan Clark on acquisitions, lessons learned
When PeopleShare, through organic growth, hit a comfortable revenue number, CEO Ryan Clark began to wonder how big the staffing firm could get. That’s when acquisition, and a private equity recapitalization, became real and viable options.
February 27, 2020
Minnotte Contracting purchased by Day & Zimmermann
Local Deals Pittsburgh Philadelphia
February 19, 2020
Kevin McPhillips: Taking an interest in employee ownership
While there's a level of unawareness of how employee stock ownership plans truly work, grassroots efforts and education are starting to pay off with business owners. Kevin McPhillips of the Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership explains how.
February 6, 2020
Richard Weaver on choosing the right recapitalization partner
AB Bernstein's Richard L.N. Weaver offers his perspective on what business owners should consider when pursuing recapitalization, including the importance of defining goals and choosing the right private equity partner.
January 23, 2020
Charles Robins on the importance of deal prep
When selling a business, everything starts with the fundamentals — preparing historical financials, readying a data room, etc. But, according to Fairmount Partners Managing Director Charles M. Robins, it takes more than just the basics for a company to maximize its valuation.
January 17, 2020
Michael Mufson on determining value, finding investors in recapitalization
Recaps, a liquidity play, represent an estimated 75 percent of the private equity transactions taking place in the market today. Michael Mufson offers a closer look at recapitalization so owners can better understand the process.
January 9, 2020
Baker Tilly’s Fred Massanova on not getting derailed by deal pace
Faster deal pace has led to shorter diligence processes at a time when that process has become more demanding. Baker Tilly's Fred Massanova offers a some advice for staying on track when buying a business.
January 3, 2020
2020 shaping up to be a great deal year, with some caveats
Following 2019's strong dealmaking year, the expectation is an even stronger M&A market in 2020. However, as Griffin Financial Group’s John Lee notes, there may be uncertainties ahead that could prove disruptive.
December 27, 2019
Philadelphia 2019 Dealmaking Year In Review
With 2019 just about over, we’re taking a look back at some of what we learned this year.
December 19, 2019
Equity funding up in Detroit, Pittsburgh
Local Deals Detroit Pittsburgh Philadelphia
December 18, 2019
Edward Chan on how to achieve just the right level of transaction preparedness
1315 Capital's Edward Chan talks deal prep — who to hire, when not to hire, how to prepare and how not to prepare your company for a sale.
December 11, 2019
Jonathan Meltzer on leadership as a deal cornerstone
Here's some of what Jonathan Meltzer looks for in a buy-side opportunity to assure him he’s making the right investment.
December 5, 2019
PWP Growth Equity’s John McKee on seeing the other side when selling a business
Selling a business is, for many, ultimately about the transaction — a value-and-price equation based on data scrutinized through the diligence process. However, PWP Growth Equity Managing Director John McKee sees something more than that.
November 26, 2019
Hildred Capital Partners’ Andrew Goldman on creating connections and culture’s effect on deal price
Hildred Capital Partners' Andrew Goldman says investors and operators bring different experiences and perspectives to a relationship. And when the two come together and share their experiences through a productive dialogue, everyone benefits.
November 21, 2019
Pepper Hamilton’s Daniel McDonough highlights transaction preparedness pitfalls
Lawyers, LOIs, unrecognized risks and setting up for your next professional chapter ... there's lots to consider, and plan for, when preparing your business for a sale. Pepper Hamilton Partner Daniel McDonough identifies a few traps to avoid during the process.
November 15, 2019
Philadelphia's Instem buys Columbus firm, Leadscope
Local Deals Philadelphia Columbus
November 14, 2019
Joseph D. Culley Jr. says post transaction, the clock is ticking on culture
Janney Montgomery Scott’s Joseph D. Culley Jr. says after a merger, companies need to quickly win on culture, otherwise your returns will suffer as people start to walk.
November 7, 2019
1315 Capital’s Adele Oliva talks big (and little) picture on the state of health care M&A
Finding investment success isn’t necessarily about being granularly focused on a super-niche sector or subsector. In fact, for Adele Oliva and 1315 Capital, success can be a product of being able to see the bigger picture.
November 7, 2019
BGL Sells Warnock Food Products To Calbee
Local Deals Chicago Cleveland Philadelphia
October 31, 2019
Dr. Ellen Stang unlocks growth with a little PE help
Progeny Health, founded by Dr. Ellen Stang, has been profitable and debt-free since the beginning. But when her business hit a wall about eight years in, some friendly advice helped her unlock the company's growth.
October 24, 2019
Denise Devine’s tips and traps for capital-raising entrepreneurs
RTM Vital Signs' co-founder Denise Devine explores the stages of capital raising and what entrepreneurs should look for, and look out for, at each.
October 17, 2019
Martyn Babitz offers owners tips on personally maximizing their returns post-liquidity
BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Martyn Babitz offers tips for business owners on how to get their post-deal finances in order well before a transaction begins to maximize their post-liquidity returns.
October 10, 2019
Ted Lentz talks transaction preparedness when selling Lentz Milling
Ted Lentz, now CFO and Chief Analytics Officer at JM Swank, reveals the steps he took to prepare his family’s business, Lentz Milling, for the auction block.
October 3, 2019
Serial Entrepreneur Dan Pries On Financial Vs Strategic Buyers
Serial entrepreneur Dan Pries, who is currently running OptivityX, talks about selling businesses and what he’s learned about the differences in strategic and financial buyers.
September 27, 2019
ExpressCells completes Series A round with $1.2M total raise
Local Deals PhiladelphiaSeptember 26, 2019
Project Management Institute buys FLEX from Net Objectives
Local Deals Philadelphia
September 26, 2019
How Ted Karkus sold Cold-EEZE for $50 million
ProPhase Labs CEO Ted Karkus shares the strategy behind the 2017 sale of Cold-EEZE to Mylan for $50 million.
September 24, 2019
Vail Resorts closes deal for 17 US ski areas
Local Deals Cleveland Columbus Philadelphia
September 19, 2019
Frank Lordi On The Ins And Outs Of Selling His Consulting Firm
Founder Frank Lordi discusses the factors that drove him to sell AC Lordi, and offers an inside look at the firm’s acquisition by BDO last May.
September 13, 2019
John McInerney On Finding The Right Deal Partners
M&A veteran John McInerney talks about his experience selling Keystone Printed Specialties and what it taught him about the value of good advisors.
September 6, 2019
How to prep for a recapitalization
iPipeline's Kevin Kemmerer talks about how to prepare for a recapitalization — what to do and what to avoid when gearing up for an investment.
August 30, 2019
MBF Therapeutics’ Tom Tillett On Raising Capital And Keeping Control
The animal health biotech company's founder and CEO talks about raising capital to fuel your organization’s growth and how to plan to pay back your investors. Here are some of the lessons he shared.
August 27, 2019
Rubenstein Partners buys Chesterbrook Corporate Center
Philadelphia-based fund manager Rubenstein Partners has closed on its acquisition of Chesterbrook Corporate Center, a 1.1- million-square-foot, 14-building Class A office park in the Philadelphia suburb of Chesterbrook.
August 23, 2019
Circonus’ Bob Moul: How to reduce the pain of due diligence
Serial tech CEO Bob Moul talks about how to prepare — and protect — yourself before and during the due diligence process.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
