Cleveland - Smart Business Dealmakers
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April 8, 2020
Coronavirus has disrupted, but not extinguished, M&A options
What was arguably the best M&A market ever for sellers of closely held companies has taken a dramatic pause, forcing business owners who were considering a sale of their business to re-think their options. But buyers who balked at the high prices and substantial competition may find increasingly attractive opportunities....
By Ken Marblestone
April 2, 2020
Synthomer Completes Purchase of OMNOVA Solutions
Synthomer said the acquisition makes it a major world-wide player in water-based polymer solutions....
By Michael Marzec
March 31, 2020
Snip Internet Lands $7.75M Series B Round
Cleveland-based Snip Internet closed a $7.75 million Series B venture round led by Peppertree Capital Management, according to PitchBook....
By Michael Marzec
March 24, 2020
Riverside Acquires Red Nucleus For Training And Education Platform
The Riverside Company has acquired Red Nucleus Enterprises, LLC to add to its life sciences training and education platform. Terms were not disclosed....
By Michael Marzec
March 23, 2020
Resilience Capital Partners Announces JV With MicroShield
The deal is intended to help meet the increased demand for an EPA-registered, FDA-approved antimicrobial shield that kills 99.99 percent of pathogens and ensures that treated surfaces are protected with a self-disinfecting barrier for up to one year....
By Mark Scott
March 21, 2020
Sherwin-Williams Reaffirms Financial Guidance, Pays $49.4M For HQ Land
Sherwin-Williams has reached a deal to pay $49.4M for nearly 7 acres of property downtown to be used for the company’s new Cleveland headquarters, according to a story on Cleveland.com....
By Mark Scott
March 19, 2020
Cyprium Partners’ John Sinnenberg: Noncontrol Capital Market Provides A Wide Range Of Dealmaking Options
Cyprium Partners’ John Sinnenberg works with business owners who need capital but don't want to give up control. It’s a unique market that leads to a variety of deal types....
By Mark Scott
March 19, 2020
MPE Partners Completes Recap Deal With Teel Plastics
The transaction proceeds are expected to be utilized to accelerate the growth of the Baraboo, Wisconsin-based company....
By Mark Scott
March 18, 2020
JumpStart leads $5.5M Series A investment in ReadySet
ReadySet Surgical, a Cincinnati health care IT company, has raised $5.5 million in a Series A financing round led by Cleveland-based JumpStart Inc.’s NEXT Fund. Also participating in the round are all of ReadySet’s seed-round investors and new investor North Coast Ventures....
By Jayne Gest
March 18, 2020
Rob Huxtable: Co-Investment Can Be A Powerful Litmus Test For C-Suite Leaders
There are three significant benefits to C-suite level co-investment in a PE-backed company, says FALCON’s Rob Huxtable....
By Mark Scott
March 18, 2020
LSI Completes $7.6M Sale Of North Canton Manufacturing Facility
The company, based near Cincinnati, is in the process of relocating its existing operations to a smaller, leased facility in the North Canton area while retaining its existing workforce....
By Mark Scott
March 16, 2020
Boston-Based Crow Point Partners Buys Oak Park Wealth Management
Oak Park Wealth Management is a $20 million wealth management firm headquartered in Cleveland that focuses on providing innovative investment strategies designed to improve the characteristics of traditional portfolio management....
By Mark Scott
March 13, 2020
Cleveland-Cliffs Completes AK Steel Deal
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has completed the acquisition of AK Steel Holding Corp., integrating North America’s largest producer of iron ore pellets downstream into the production of value-added steel and specialty manufactured parts for the automotive industry....
By Mark Scott
March 12, 2020
Jill Arena: Struggling To Find The Right Deal Partner? Take A Deeper Look At Your Process
If you can’t make a good case for an acquisition, it’s going to be difficult to make the right deal, says Jill Arena....
By Mark Scott
March 11, 2020
Ownum-Backed Vital Chain Enters Strategic Agreement with Medici Ventures
Under the terms of the agreement, Medici Ventures will provide development and design services to Vital Chain in exchange for a minority equity stake in the company. Vital Chain is majority owned by Ownum LLC....
By Mark Scott
March 11, 2020
Riverside Invests In Kalamazoo-Based National Flavors
National Flavors creates and produces flavors for use in beverages, frozen desserts, baked goods, confections and processed fruits....
By Mark Scott
March 9, 2020
Invacare Completes Deal To Sell Dynamic Controls Subsidiary
As part of Invacare’s strategy to enhance its products, the transaction is expected to open the door to relationships which can provide access to technological innovations to further differentiate the company’s powered mobility products....
By Mark Scott
March 9, 2020
Atlanta-Based Novelis Moves Step Closer To Buying Aleris
Novelis must divest Aleris’ Lewisport, Kentucky plant as part of its agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The $2.6 billion acquisition of Aleris, a global supplier of rolled aluminum products, was first announced in July 2018....
By Mark Scott
March 6, 2020
Ancora, NY-Based Macellum Takes 11 Percent Stake In Big Lots, Calls For New Board
Citing a number of strategic mistakes, an investor group has issued an open letter to shareholders of Columbus-based retailer Big Lots Inc. calling for a new board that it believes can maximize and return shareholder value....
By Mark Scott
March 5, 2020
Lake Health Exploring Strategic Opportunities For Growth
The Lake Health board of trustees announced plans to launch a partnership exploration process and has engaged Chicago-based Kaufman Hall to work with trustees, medical staff and hospital leadership to evaluate opportunities....
By Mark Scott
March 5, 2020
Robert Levin Makes Deal To Save Levin Furniture From Closing
Levin has reached an agreement to acquire the Pennsylvania and Ohio assets of Levin Furniture and Wolf Furniture through a court restructuring of the parent company Art Van Furniture LLC....
By Mark Scott
March 5, 2020
Resilience Capital Partners-Backed LUX Global Label Buys Labelworx
This strategic acquisition is expected to broaden the operational capabilities of LUX Global Label, formerly known as National Label, into the high-growth area of digital printing while further diversifying its customer base and markets....
By Mark Scott
March 4, 2020
Mark A. Filippell: Noncash Considerations In A Sale Create An Added Level Of Complexity
Every seller must understand that selling a company for multiple forms of consideration is quite different from receiving all cash and walking away clean, says Mark A. Filippell....
By Mark A. Filippell
March 4, 2020
Randy Markey: Integrity, Character Matter More Than Just About Anything in Dealmaking
Randy Markey's No. 1 tip for an effective investment strategy: Make sure it's an opportunity you can explain to your grandmother....
By Mark Scott
March 4, 2020
Menorah Park, Montefiore Announce Affiliation Agreement
The affiliation was approved by both boards of directors on March 3 with plans for the affiliation to become effective June 30. The Montefiore name will remain on its facility on the campus....
By Mark Scott
March 4, 2020
Resilience Capital Partners-Backed DG3 Buys Ryan Edwards Communications
Founded in 2013, Ryan Edwards Communications is a global supplier of outsourced graphic communications and print solutions to the cruise industry....
By Mark Scott
March 3, 2020
Riverside Co. Adds To Fire And Life Safety Platform
The Riverside Co. has invested in fire protection service provider Advance Fire & Safety as an add-on to its fire and life safety platform, Performance Systems Integration....
By Mark Scott
March 3, 2020
BGL Announces Sale Of FireKing Division To Champlain Capital Partners
FireKing OCP is a designer and manufacturer of fireproof, impact-resistant, and secure document and data storage systems....
By Mark Scott
March 3, 2020
NAS Recruitment Innovation Sold By Stone-Goff To M3 USA
In December 2011, Stone-Goff Partners acquired NAS from Interpublic Group....
By Mark Scott
March 3, 2020
Evolution Capital Partners-Backed Empire Dental Arts Buys Papich-Forsyth Practice
This is the first investment Empire has made since being acquired by ECP in January. The deal increases Empire's affiliated offices to six in Northeast Ohio....
By Mark Scott
March 2, 2020
Watervale Equity Partners Recapitalizes Willoughby-Based Duke Manufacturing
Duke Co-Owner and CEO Jeff Newmark has invested alongside Watervale in the transaction and will continue to lead the company....
By Mark Scott
March 2, 2020
B’laster Corp. Buys MI-Based Armor Protective Packaging
As a result of this acquisition, B’laster is now the manufacturer and retail distributor of Metal Rescue products. The company began manufacturing the product line in its Valley View plant in late February....
By Mark Scott
February 28, 2020
Akron-Based Flex Team Staffing Sold To Virginia Firm
Lingo Staffing has acquired Flex Team Staffing, an Akron-based staffing agency specializing in light industrial staffing with two offices in Northeast Ohio....
By Mark Scott
February 28, 2020
Stark Enterprises, Campus Advantage Buy UF Student Housing Properties
This is the third joint project between Campus Advantage and Stark Enterprises....
By Mark Scott
February 27, 2020
Oswald’s Robert J. Klonk: Culture, Employee-Owners Drive Firm’s Opportunistic Approach To Dealmaking
Acquisitions create opportunity for Oswald Cos., as well as the companies the business pursues for a deal, says Robert J. Klonk....
By Mark Scott
February 27, 2020
FirstEnergy Solutions Emerges From Chapter 11 Restructuring As Energy Harbor
The company serves nearly one million residential, commercial and industrial customers and has 2,600 employees....
By Mark Scott
February 26, 2020
Everstream To Buy Detroit-Based Rocket Fiber
The acquisition completes Everstream’s coverage in all major Michigan markets and gives Everstream the largest fiber footprint in greater downtown Detroit, according to a news release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed....
By Mark Scott
February 26, 2020
Retail Value Sells Tucson Spectrum For $84M
Net proceeds equal to 105% of the property’s allocated loan amount were used to repay mortgage debt associated with Beachwood-based RVI with the remaining proceeds retained as cash....
By Mark Scott
February 25, 2020
Cleveland-Cliffs, AK Steel Deal Gets Favorable Recommendations
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and AK Steel Holding Corp. announced that they have received recommendations to vote in favor of their proposed merger transaction....
By Mark Scott
February 25, 2020
Eaton Completes Deal To Buy Virginia-Based PDI
PDI is considered a leading supplier of mission critical power distribution, static switching and power monitoring equipment and services for data centers and industrial and commercial customers....
By Mark Scott
February 25, 2020
Align Capital Partners Makes Another Deal
ACP has had a busy February, closing its second private equity investment fund at a $450 million hard cap, and making two platform acquisitions....
By Mark Scott
February 25, 2020
Hyland Completes Deal To Buy Streamline Health’s ECM Business
The deal bolsters Hyland's efforts to become the world's leading content services provider and is intended to further Hyland Healthcare's mission of helping health care organizations improve the lives of patients and enhance the experiences of health care consumers....
By Mark Scott
February 20, 2020
Compass Self Storage Buys Eustis, Florida Location
This transaction marks the 23rd Compass Self Storage location in Florida and the 92nd location nationwide....
By Mark Scott
February 20, 2020
MRI Software’s John Ensign: Strong Outlook For M&A — If The Deals Meet The Right Criteria
Investing in the right acquisition — rather than just making the first deal that comes along — will be critical to surviving, and even thriving, in a downturn, says MRI Software’s John Ensign....
By John Ensign
February 20, 2020
Signet’s Anthony Manna: U.S. Deal Activity Remains Steady As China Responds To Coronavirus
As the Chinese government continues to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus within its borders, the disease’s impact on the U.S. economy has been negligible....
By Mark Scott
February 19, 2020
Eaton, Abunayyan Holding Form Joint Venture
The joint venture is expected to do business as Eaton Arabia and have locations in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates....
By Mark Scott
February 19, 2020
Align Capital Partners Closes Fund At $450M Hard Cap
With the closing of ACP II, Align Capital Partners has raised more than $775 million since the firm’s founding in 2016....
By Mark Scott
February 19, 2020
Retail Value Closes $60M Sale Of Hamilton Commons
Net proceeds equal to 105% of the property’s allocated loan amount were used to repay mortgage debt associated with RVI with the remaining proceeds retained as cash....
By Mark Scott
February 18, 2020
Leppo Rents Buys Valco Equipment
Valco Equipment has been providing sales, rentals, parts and service to its customers in Akron, Canton, Cleveland and nationwide since 1987. Equipment lines include JLG, Genie, SkyTrak, Lull, Skyjack, Pettibone, Gehl and Manitou....
By Mark Scott
February 14, 2020
Investing in Ohio’s medical marijuana industry
The cannabis space is an interesting investment opportunity that comes with a variety of risks, but as Ohio’s medical marijuana cultivators and dispensaries slowly gain ground, the nascent industry should pick up speed in 2020....
By Jayne Gest
