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November 12, 2019
Ohio Innovation Fund invests in Windpact
By Jayne Gest
Ohio Innovation Fund, a Columbus venture capital firm, has invested in Windpact. The impact safety technology company is founded and led by Shawn Springs, a 13-year NFL veteran who played collegiately at The Ohio State University.
November 5, 2019
Worthington Industries Engineered Cabs sold
Angeles Equity Partners LLC, a Los Angeles private investment firm, has acquired Worthington Industries Engineered Cabs from Worthington Industries and Crenlo Cab Products LLC, with its Emcor and Siac do Brasil affiliates, from KPS Capital Partners LP.
October 29, 2019
Apeks Supercritical sold to Rough Brothers
Apeks Supercritical, a Johnstown-based CO2 extraction manufacturer, has been acquired by Rough Brothers Inc., a Cincinnati greenhouse design and manufacturing company. The move allows Apeks to join forces with RBI and other companies to create a full-service solution in cannabis cultivation and processing.
October 21, 2019
Nationwide invests in Upstream Security
Upstream Security, an Israel-based company that provides cybersecurity for connected vehicles, raised $30 million in a Series B funding round backed by a prominent syndicate of investors, including some of the world’s largest OEM automotive vehicle manufacturers, insurance and fleet operators.
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 8, 2019
FedEx truck terminal sold to Sealy & Co.
Sealy & Company, a Dallas-headquartered commercial real estate investment and operating company in the industrial real estate market, has acquired a 252-dock door Class A truck terminal in West Jefferson. The facility’s accessible location and rapidly expanding bulk industrial submarket made it attractive to Sealy.
October 8, 2019
Battelle sells DroneDefender assets
Dedrone, a San Francisco company that specializes in counter-small unmanned aircraft systems technology, has purchased all assets and intellectual property associated with DroneDefender from Battelle. Dedrone plans to launch a new consultancy that detects and classifies airspace activity, protects assets from drone threats and defeats adversary drones.
October 7, 2019
Worthington Industries Buys Heidtman Steel Processing Facility
The facility will complement Columbus-based Worthington’s network of facilities in Northeast Ohio, including its cold rolled steel processing facility in Cleveland and Samuel Steel Pickling Co., a joint venture, in Cleveland and Twinsburg.
September 24, 2019
Vail Resorts closes deal for 17 US ski areas
Local Deals Cleveland Columbus PhiladelphiaSeptember 23, 2019
Ohio Transmission Corp buys Tennessee compressed air company
Local Deals Columbus
September 23, 2019
Bold Penguin raises $32M in Series B funding
Insuretech startup Bold Penguin Inc. completed a $32 million Series B funding round. The Columbus company, which has raised $51.8 million to date, will use the funds to accelerate R&D by way of growing its employee roster, which doubled in the past year, and lay runway for firm’s expansion into specialty markets that insure high-risk segments.
September 18, 2019
NextChapter sold to Fastcase
Fastcase, a Washington D.C. legal publisher, has acquired NextChapter, the Columbus startup that creates cloud-based bankruptcy software for attorneys and paralegals. Fastcase plans to invest in NextChapter to create products that integrate legal research, dockets and news, for bankruptcy and beyond.
September 12, 2019
Hyperion to buy German-based AFC
Hyperion Materials & Technologies Inc., a Worthington-headquartered materials science company focused on the hard and superhard materials space for high-precision applications, has agreed to acquire Arno Friedrichs Hartmetall GmbH & Co. KG and its affiliates. The strategic transaction is intended to make Hyperion a leading player in cemented carbide blank production.
September 9, 2019
Root raises $350M in Series E funding; now valued at $3.65B
This latest round, led by DST Global and Coatue, raises Root’s valuation to $3.65 billion and provides additional capital to accelerate growth in existing markets while expanding into new states and developing new product lines.
September 6, 2019
Alpha invests in opportunity zone near Rickenbacker
Local Deals Columbus Pittsburgh
September 4, 2019
SPAGIO restaurant sold
SPAGIO, the Grandview restaurant and wine lounge founded by Chef Hubert Seifert and his wife, Helga, 38 years ago, has been sold to a Central Ohio-based restaurant group. Wine|Dine Holdings and cityBRANDS own and operate several restaurant concepts throughout the area, including The Wine Bistro, NAPA kitchen + bar and Katzinger’s Delicatessen.
September 4, 2019
Boston REIT completes $90.5M of purchases in four markets
Local Deals Chicago Columbus
September 4, 2019
Safelite buys Auto Glass Specialists
Safelite® Group, a vehicle glass services and recalibration company and owner of Safelite® AutoGlass, has acquired the assets of Auto Glass Specialists. The single store location in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, will expand Safelite’s brick-and-mortar footprint in the area.
August 21, 2019
BestTransport purchased by Canadian firm
Descartes Systems Group has acquired Columbus-headquartered BestTransport.com Inc., a cloud-based transportation management system provider focused on flatbed-intensive manufacturers and distributors, for $11.2 million. The deal should strengthen the Ontario company’s transportation management footprint.
August 21, 2019
Courtyard Columbus-Worthington sold
Commonwealth Hotels LLC has bought the Courtyard Columbus-Worthington in order to expand its reach in the Columbus market through the Worthington property. The transaction is the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area company’s fourth Courtyard and 21 Marriott hotel.
August 19, 2019
Installed Building Products buys Therm-Con
Installed Building Products Inc., an installer of insulation and complementary building products, has acquired Therm-Con LLC and Foamtech Inc. With trailing 12-month revenue of $4.7 million, Therm-Con enhances IBP’s presence in markets throughout Tennessee and its surrounding states.
August 19, 2019
Safelite Group to buy TruRoad
Safelite® Group has agreed to acquire the combined businesses of TruRoad, which includes COP TruRoad Parent LLC and COS SCS Parent LLC, from Dallas PE firm CenterOak Partners LLC. With this deal, Safelite will have increased capacity to expand its national footprint, accelerate growth and better serve its customers and clients.
August 1, 2019
ADS buys Infiltrator Water Technologies
Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. has acquired Infiltrator Water Technologies for approximately $1.08 billion, from an affiliate of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and other stockholders. The deal builds on ADS’ existing water management solutions platform and is an opportunity to expand into the on-site septic business.
July 31, 2019
Nationwide invests in pet app VitusVet
Nationwide has made another strategic investment in VitusVet, a provider of mobile solutions for pet owners and veterinary practices. Nationwide will also serve on the VitusVet board of directors.
July 30, 2019
Drive Capital invests in Physna
The early stage technology startup in Cincinnati completed a $6.9 million Series A round of financing led by Columbus-based Capital.
July 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 22, 2019
REIT buys distribution center leased to Pepsi unit
Canada's Granite REIT bought a total of three industrial properties including an 802,390-square-foot distribution center near Rickenbacker International Airport.
July 10, 2019
Green Growth Brands combines with MXY Holdings
Green Growth Brands Inc. has agreed to create a new Ontario limited partnership with MXY Holdings LLC, among others, where GGB will acquire the issued and outstanding units of Moxie in an all-equity interest transaction for around $310 million. The plan is to create the first 360-degree cannabis company.
July 9, 2019
Navigator Management Partners purchased by Avaap
Avaap has acquired Columbus-based Navigator Management Partners, a cross-platform management and technology consulting firm specializing in ERP systems, business intelligence and change management. The strategic acquisition expands the Edison, New Jersey, firm’s capabilities.
July 2, 2019
Alliance Data completes Epsilon sale
Alliance Data plans to use the net sale proceeds to repurchase shares and pay down corporate debt.
June 18, 2019
Ohio Transmission Corp. buys Wisconsin, Minnesota companies
Furey Filter & Pump and PSI Engineering will continue to operate under their current names and with current management, including President George Furey and Vice President Jack Furey.
June 11, 2019
Wolfe family sells four broadcast properties for $535M
The Dispatch Broadcast Group has agreed to sell two television stations — Columbus CBS affiliate WBNS and Indianapolis NBC affiliate WTHR — as well as sports radio station, WBNS Radio, to Virginia-based TEGNA Inc. for $535 million in cash. TEGNA sees the acquisitions as an excellent strategic and financial fit.
June 3, 2019
Prime Equipment Group Acquired In $65M Deal
The manufacturer of turnkey primary and water re-use solutions to the poultry industry was acquired by Chicago-based JBT Corp.
May 29, 2019
Beam Dental raises $55M Series D round
The fast-growing dental benefits provider raised a Series D round led by Toronto PE firm, Georgian Partners. Columbus-based Drive Capital, which was involved in two previous funding rounds, participated in the latest capital raise as well.
May 20, 2019
Nationwide, State Auto Labs Invest In Virtual Claims Firm
Snapsheet, a provider of cloud-based insurance claims services, has closed $29 million in Series E funding led by Seattle-based Tola Capital.
May 17, 2019
Green Growth Brands raises $45M, closes Nevada deal
In addition to raising the general operating funds, the company completed its $13.4 million acquisition of a Pahrump, Nev., cultivation facility, its second in the state.
May 14, 2019
Industrial Commercial Properties buys former Sears distribution center
Cleveland-based Industrial Commercial Properties LLC has acquired a 570,000-square-foot, former Sears distribution center on 42.8 acres, in the Columbus suburb of Groveport. This is ICP's fourth Sears property purchase since 2014.
May 13, 2019
British retailer to buy Certified Oil convenience stores, gas stations
EG Group will acquire Certified Oil and its 69 convenience stores and gas stations. The transaction will be an important step in building out the U.K.-based company's U.S. strategy.
May 6, 2019
Boston company acquires rights to Johnstown cannabis facility
Ohio Grown Therapies is building out its 32,000-square-foot cultivation and processing facility, which includes 15,000 square feet for two-tier cultivation and 7,500 square feet for processing.
May 1, 2019
Competitor Calios buys D.P. Dough, but calzone chain brand remains
The owners of D.P. Dough, the nation’s largest calzone franchise and third largest college-focused restaurant chain, have agreed to sell the Columbus-headquartered company to Calios, a 13-unit competing calzone chain. Each Calios restaurant will convert to D.P. Dough, growing the brand from 26 restaurants to 43 by fall 2019.
May 1, 2019
Drive Capital closes $307M fund, while raising another
Drive Capital has closed its third flagship fund at $307 million and raised nearly $251 million for its first overdrive fund, according to SEC filings.
April 23, 2019
Transwestern Investment buys three industrial buildings in Columbus
Dallas-based Transwestern Investment Group has acquired a 1.5 million-square-foot industrial portfolio in Southeast Columbus.
April 15, 2019
Green Growth Brands abandons hostile takeover bid
Green Growth Brands Inc. has ended its hostile takeover attempt of Aphria, with an agreement to accelerate the expiration of its offer on Aphria shares.
April 10, 2019
Astute lands investment from Boston PE firm
Astute Inc. has received an investment from the Boston’s Audax Private Equity. This will allow the builder of AI-driven customer engagement software to continue to grow organically and through strategic acquisitions.
April 9, 2019
PSI establishes Silicon Valley innovation hub with strategic investment
Proteam Solutions, an IT consulting and staffing firm, has invested in the San Francisco-based startup Akava. PSI will have access to Bay Area talent and resources through the software development studio.
April 1, 2019
ProBilt Services of Ohio acquired by Fontaine Modification
Truck upfitter ProBilt Services of Ohio, along with its 30,000 sq. ft. facility located less than half a mile from the Kenworth assembly plant in Chillicothe, has been acquired by Fontaine Modification.
April 1, 2019
Park National Corp., CAB Financial Corp. merge
Park National Corp. and CAB Financial Corp. have completed their merger, which folds CAB’s banking subsidiary in as a community banking division of The Park National Bank.
March 26, 2019
Investors press change at Bed, Bath & Beyond
Bed, Bath and Beyond is fending off a group of activist investors, concluding Cleveland's Ancora Advisors, demanding significant changes, including replacing both its CEO and its entire board.
March 26, 2019
Crane's Screen Machine acquires Diamond Z
Partnering the two material processing companies will help Screen Machine address the growing need for mobile material processing machines across a variety of industries.
March 20, 2019
Scotts Miracle-Gro dumps its stake in TruGreen for $234M
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has sold its 30 percent stake in TruGreen to the majority owner for approximately $234 million in a move to reduce debt and maximize shareholder value.
March 11, 2019
DLZ grows in Midwest with Johnson & Anderson acquisition
Architecture and engineering firm DLZ Corp. has acquired Johnson & Anderson Engineers, a civil engineering firm that works in the areas of municipal, water and wastewater engineering, survey and construction services.
March 8, 2019
L Brands pressed to spin off Victoria’s Secret
Activist investor Barington Capital is urging L Brands to spin off its struggling Victoria Secret brand, in part to protect its thriving Bath & Body Works brand, which Barington says should be taken
February 27, 2019
Sarepta to buy Myonexus for $165M
Nationwide Children’s Hospital spinoff Myonexus Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company, is being bought by Sarepta Therapeutics for $165 million.
