Add-on Acquisitions in 2016

Access Control Related Enterprises (ACRE), a portfolio company of LLR Partners, has acquired Communication Networks, LLC (ComNet), a Danbury, Connecticut-based manufacturer and distributor of fiber optic, copper and wireless video and data transmission equipment for security, transportation, utility and industrial markets. The acquisition is an add-on to the ACRE family intended to expand its communication technology offerings and create product synergies across access control, intrusion, video and cloud-based solutions; terms were not disclosed.

aden + anais, a portfolio company of Swander Pace Capital, has acquired HALO Innovations, a maker of award‑winning wearable blankets and infant sleep products. The acquisition combines complementary juvenile soft‑goods brands to expand product offerings and distribution across major U.S. and international retailers.

ParkerGale portfolio company Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) has acquired CaseBank Technologies, Inc., a developer of integrated diagnostic, troubleshooting and fault-detection solutions for the aviation, aerospace and defense markets. The deal expands ATP’s diagnostic and proactive fault-detection capabilities, enabling a more integrated suite of maintenance tools and services for MROs and operators.

Bellevue-based 110 Consulting has merged with fellow TA Group portfolio company Launch Consulting, combining their teams under the Launch brand to deliver expanded business intelligence, cloud operations, custom application development and digital transformation services. The merger, supported by TA Group Holdings (TAG) and parent Direct Technology, formalizes an integration that the companies said had effectively already occurred and aims to accelerate growth and client delivery.

Niteo Products, a portfolio company of Highlander Partners, acquired certain assets of AP Formulators (APF), a South Houston-based formulator of car wash chemicals, effective September 30. APF operations will continue at the South Houston facility, with founder Alan Palermo joining Niteo and remaining a significant equity holder; the deal is Niteo's first add-on under Highlander to expand its automotive appearance and car wash product offerings.

LongWater Opportunities, a Dallas-based private equity firm, has acquired Fox River Mills, a 116-year-old sock and handwear manufacturer in Osage, Iowa, from the Lessard family. Fox River will become a division of Standard Merchandising Company (a LongWater portfolio company), expanding the platform's U.S. manufacturing and private-label capabilities.

Aterian Investment Partners, through an affiliate, has acquired Step2, a branded designer and manufacturer of large-format plastic toys headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio. The deal combines Step2 with Aterian's existing platform Backyard Discovery to create the largest outdoor toy company in North America and expand market share across playsets, playhouses, ride-ons and home & garden products.

Ignite Marketing Analytics, an affiliate of Ignite Technologies and part of the ESW Capital family, has acquired ThinkVine, a provider of cross-channel marketing attribution and optimization technology and services. The deal brings ThinkVine's analytics and advisory capabilities into Ignite's MarTech portfolio to expand capabilities and scale the product and customer-success programs under Ignite's platform.

Data Intensity, an Audax Group portfolio company and leader in application managed and cloud services for enterprise Oracle environments, has acquired Red Stack Tech, a UK-based Oracle solutions and managed services provider. The deal expands Data Intensity's global footprint and capabilities across the Oracle technology stack, adding teams in the UK, Poland and Australia and strengthening database, engineered systems, BI and analytics offerings.

Young Innovations, a portfolio company of Linden Capital Partners, has acquired The Orthodontic Store, Inc., a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based provider of orthodontic appliances, supplies and instruments. The Ortho Store CEO Steve Sanders will remain on a consulting basis; the deal expands Young Innovations' specialty distribution platform in the orthodontics segment.

Dexter, a subsidiary of DexKo Global, Inc., has acquired Quality / Century Holdings Corporation (doing business as Rockwell American), a manufacturer and distributor of trailer components based in Azle, Texas. The deal brings Rockwell American’s ~400 employees, five manufacturing sites and 16 distribution branches into the Dexter/DexKo platform, expanding product breadth and aftermarket distribution for trailer components.

Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company, part of the APi Group family, announced it has welcomed Olsen Fire and Total Life Security into the Viking/APi Group family effective September 1, 2016. The Minneapolis-based businesses provide fire sprinkler design, installation and fire alarm monitoring/services and will expand Viking’s customer base and service capabilities in the Twin Cities market as an add-on to Viking/APi’s platform.

Tampa-based Valet Waste, a portfolio company of Ares Management and Harvest Partners, has acquired Denver-based turn service provider Simple Turns. SDR Ventures served as exclusive sell-side advisor; the acquisition expands Valet Waste's make-ready and turn service capabilities for the multifamily housing market nationwide.

Valentus Specialty Chemicals Inc., a holding company owned by Huron Capital, completed its acquisition of Absolute Coatings Inc., the wood floor finishes business of Paint-Over-Rust Products. The deal adds the ABSCO, Last-n-Last and TREK-Plus brands to the Valentus platform and expands the group's distribution footprint in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic; David Sherman, CEO of Paint-Over-Rust, will join Valentus' board.

Cirtec Medical, a portfolio company of Century Park Capital Partners, has acquired Stellar Technologies, Inc., a Brooklyn Park, Minnesota-based precision machining and medical component manufacturer. The acquisition expands Cirtec's manufacturing capabilities—particularly in neuromodulation lead wire assemblies, electro-mechanical devices and delivery systems—and establishes a presence in Minnesota's "Medical Alley."

The Colibri Group has closed an investment in Securities Training Corporation (STC), the market leader in securities exam and regulatory training. STC will remain led by CEO Paul Weisman and its existing management team; Colibri — a Redwood City, California-based learning solutions provider backed by Quad‑C Management — plans to leverage its technology and product capabilities to expand STC's offerings.

Clarion Brands, a portfolio company of Swander Pace Capital, has acquired American Lifeline, Inc., the maker of the Florajen probiotic supplement brand. Cleary Gull acted as exclusive financial advisor to American Lifeline; the acquisition adds a leading pharmacist-recommended probiotic brand to Clarion's consumer health portfolio.

American Fast Freight, a portfolio company owned by The Resolute Fund II (managed by The Jordan Company), has acquired Global Transportation Services, Inc., a Kent, Washington–based freight forwarding and 3PL provider. GTS will operate as a subsidiary of AFF with Jason Totah remaining as President and reinvesting in AFF; the deal expands AFF’s geographic footprint and creates a broader global logistics platform.

Prime Risk Partners Inc., a Thomas H. Lee Partners portfolio company, has completed its acquisition of Old National Insurance (ONI) including subsidiaries JWF Specialty Co. and Employee Plans, LLC. ONI will operate as ONI Risk Partners and maintain its local presence across Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois; the business has over 270 employees and will continue operating from current locations.

Confie, a national insurance distribution company and portfolio company of ABRY Partners, acquired two New York-based brokerages — Lloyd D. Sprague & Son (Sprague Insurance) in Corning, NY and J.N. Mason Agency with locations in Hancock and Monticello, NY. The deals add local personal-lines and small commercial insurance operations (12 employees at Sprague; 8 at J.N. Mason) to Confie's platform as part of its ongoing roll-up strategy.

Jerdon Style, a portfolio company of Hall Capital, acquired 4Knines, a maker of fabric-based protective liners and vehicle seat covers; earlier in the year Jerdon Style also acquired Telegraph Hill Bathrobes. The transactions expand Jerdon Style’s consumer product offerings into automotive/pet accessories and high-end bathrobes, creating synergies with Hall Capital’s automotive parts distribution assets.

Volaris Group (an operating group of Constellation Software) acquired the Operations Support Systems (OSS) business line of Boston-based Active/Advanced Broadband Networks (ABN). The acquired OSS business will become a business unit of Incognito Software Systems, expanding Incognito/Volaris's communications vertical offerings and usage-based billing capabilities for broadband operators.

Confie, a national insurance distribution company and portfolio company of ABRY Partners, has acquired ExpressLink, Inc., a provider of auto dealer point-of-sale insurance programs and related products. The deal will expand Confie's product and territory offerings; ExpressLink's president Brian Murphy will remain in place and the companies said there will be no employee reductions or location changes.

Cobalt Ventures, the for-profit holding company for subsidiaries of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City, has acquired MEDVAL, a provider of Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) compliance and Medicare Set-Aside services. MEDVAL will join Cobalt's CompAlliance brand to expand managed care and MSP compliance capabilities for workers' compensation and liability insurance clients across the U.S.

Wilmington Medical Supply, an affiliate of Woodbury Health Products (owned by MTS Health Investors), acquired certain assets of Advanced Medical Group, LLC, a Southeastern U.S. distributor of home urological supplies. The asset purchase expands Woodbury’s footprint in the Southeast and strengthens its specialty home urological distribution capabilities; terms were not disclosed.

Milestone AV Technologies, a portfolio company majority owned by Pritzker Group (with Duchossois Capital Management as a co-investor), has acquired Vaddio, a Minnetonka-based manufacturer of PTZ cameras and professional AV solutions. The undisclosed-value deal brings Vaddio into Milestone’s family of AV brands and is intended to expand Milestone’s product and service offerings while keeping Vaddio’s operations in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery (ADCS Clinics) has acquired Kalamazoo Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center, a Portage, Michigan practice owned by Dr. Gerald D. Karabin. The deal expands ADCS's footprint in Michigan and adds clinical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology capabilities — including Mohs micrographic surgery — to its national platform.

Data Intensity, an Audax Group portfolio company, has acquired Oracle enterprise solution provider Enrich and the Oracle practice of UK-based Inatech. The add-on expands Data Intensity's end-to-end Oracle capabilities (including procurement, supply chain, financials and HR), increases its global footprint across the UK, India, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, and strengthens its managed and cloud services offering.

United Flexible, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has acquired Fulton Bellows, a Knoxville-based manufacturer of precision bellows and thin-walled metal components. The deal expands United Flexible's engineered fluid and gas transfer product offering by adding Fulton's hydroforming and specialized bellows capabilities, supporting organic and acquisition-driven growth.

The Hilb Group, a Richmond-based insurance agency and portfolio company of ABRY Partners, has acquired Hyannis, Massachusetts-based Dowling & O'Neil effective Feb. 1, 2016. Dowling & O'Neil's co-owners Rob Miller and Mark McCartin will continue to lead the 31-employee agency, which expands THG's New England footprint and adds expertise in high-net-worth personal lines and healthcare facility coverage.

Excelligence Learning Corporation, backed by Brentwood Associates, has acquired Really Good Stuff, a multi-channel marketer of K-8 classroom products headquartered in Connecticut. The deal expands Excelligence's product portfolio from pre-K into the broader K-8 market and is expected to generate revenue synergies by leveraging Excelligence's distribution, fulfillment and sales capabilities.

Industrial Service Solutions, a portfolio company of Edgewater Growth Capital, acquired five regional industrial service businesses — Midwest Valve Parts Supply Co., Cajun Valve Services, All-Pump & Equip. Co., Service Equipment & Repair Company, and Plant-N-Power Services — to expand its field service, repair and parts capabilities. The deals augment ISS’s national platform by adding products, technical personnel, physical assets and new geographies to support industrial and manufacturing customers across North America.

The Loar Group, an affiliate of private equity firm JLL Partners, has acquired General Ecology, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of drinking water purification systems based in Exton, Pennsylvania. General Ecology supplies Versa‑Pure systems to commercial and business aircraft and markets consumer/portable systems under the Seagull and First Need brands; approximately 75% of its revenue is aftermarket/replacement and two‑thirds of revenue is from aerospace end markets.

Summit Sports has acquired Austin Canoe & Kayak, an omnichannel specialty retailer of kayaks, camping and outdoor adventure gear. Cascadia Capital served as exclusive financial advisor to Austin Canoe & Kayak; the deal expands Summit's portfolio and provides a counter-seasonal retail capability to balance its primarily winter-sports offering.

Food Evolution LLC, a platform backed by Akoya Capital Partners with partners Balance Point Capital and Plexus Capital, has acquired Fresh & Ready Foods, Inc. as the first add-on to the Food Evolution platform. The transaction expands Food Evolution's geographic footprint and capabilities in the fresh prepared, grab-n-go food category across the Western United States.

Computer Aided Technology (CATI), a portfolio company of Mangrove Equity Partners, has acquired MCAD Technologies, a Denver-based reseller and services provider for SolidWorks and 3D printing solutions. SDR Ventures served as exclusive sell-side advisor to MCAD. The acquisition expands CATI’s geographic presence into the Rocky Mountain region and adds MCAD’s sales, support, training and additive manufacturing capabilities to CATI’s platform.

Tailwind Capital, through its portfolio company National HME, has merged with and acquired Therapy Support, Inc., a multi-state durable medical equipment (DME) provider serving the hospice and long-term care markets. The acquisition (announced Jan. 6, 2016) expands National HME’s geographic footprint and strengthens its DME benefit management capabilities with Therapy Support’s 21 locations across eight states.

Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery (ADCS Clinics) has acquired Greater Washington Dermatology/Capital Dermatology, a multi-location dermatology practice with offices in Annapolis, Bethesda, Olney and Rockville, Maryland. The deal adds four Mid‑Atlantic locations and clinicians to ADCS's growing national dermatology platform as part of its ongoing acquisitive expansion.

Potentia Holdings, LLC has acquired MacDiarmid Machine Corporation, a Newburyport, Massachusetts-based CNC and precision machining business, to join Potentia’s group of metal products manufacturing companies. Founder Scott MacDiarmid will stay through a transition period before retiring; Potentia plans to preserve the business and expand its market reach.