Add-on Acquisitions in 2023

Atlanta-based private equity firm Grove Mountain Partners launched Service Country LLC, a home‑services platform, and completed the acquisition/partnership with McGee Heating and Air, a residential HVAC provider operating five locations in Georgia and South Carolina. McGee’s management, led by President Robert Kesler, will remain with significant equity; the platform will provide shared marketing, technology, training, and procurement support to drive growth across the Southeastern US.

Smart Care, a Wind Point Partners-backed platform, completed three add-on acquisitions in Q4 2023: Watson Refrigeration (Raleigh, NC), A Advantage Air (Birmingham, AL) and Metroplex Refrigeration (Dallas–Fort Worth, TX). The deals expand Smart Care’s refrigeration, HVAC and foodservice equipment capabilities and increase regional coverage and operational density across the Southeast and Texas.

AFC Industries, a portfolio company of Bertram Capital Management, has acquired Chicago Industrial Fasteners, a West Chicago, Illinois-based distributor of specialty and standard fasteners. Mazzone & Associates acted as exclusive financial advisor to Chicago Industrial Fasteners; the deal expands AFC's supply-chain capabilities and product offerings for OEMs across heavy truck, renewable energy, defense and automotive end markets.

Specialized Packaging Group (SPG), a portfolio company of Altamont Capital Partners, acquired Monroe, Michigan-based Complete Packaging from the Spell Family Office in late 2023. The add-on purchase expands SPG’s engineered/protective packaging capabilities and Midwest footprint while adding roughly 90 employees to SPG’s ~1,600-person workforce.

Lineage Capital-backed Flightcheck Commercial Aviation Services acquired Keenan Technical Industries (KTI), a provider of aircraft line maintenance services at Bradley International Airport (BDL) and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT). The transaction closed on December 15, 2023 and expands Flightcheck's line maintenance footprint into the U.S. Northeast as an add-on to its existing platform.

Integrated Foot and Ankle Specialists (IFAS) acquired Quarryville Family Foot Care in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with the transaction closing on December 29, 2023. IFAS — a PE-backed joint venture between Avonwood Capital Partners and Mereo Capital Partners — completed its fifth add-on of 2023, bringing the platform to 16 locations and expanding its regional podiatry network.

ARC Health, a Thurston Group portfolio company, has acquired Exult Healthcare, a Texas-based mental health practice founded by Dr. Deepika Bhargava. The deal brings Exult's integrated behavioral health services — including MAT, TMS and IOP — into the ARC Health network to expand care access and enhance clinical capabilities in Texas.

Archetype, a media portfolio company backed by Regent LP, has acquired Cheddar News and the Rate My Professors digital property from Altice USA. The deal — terms not disclosed — adds Cheddar's news network and the education review platform to Archetype's growing media holdings to broaden audience reach and digital capabilities.

LindFast Solutions Group (a Nautic Partners portfolio company) has acquired Hi-Q Fasteners, a Santa Fe Springs, California-based provider of sems, thread-forming and machine screws, spacers, standoffs and self-clinching hardware. The deal, completed December 27, 2023, is an add-on to LindFast's platform intended to expand product capabilities and leverage LindFast's supply chain and distribution network across North America.

Salt Creek Capital’s portfolio company, Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding (owner of EPTAC), has acquired Blackfox Training Institute. The transaction combines EPTAC and Blackfox to form one of the largest IPC training and certification providers in the U.S., expanding in-person and online training capabilities and geographic reach.

SCIO Automation GmbH completed the acquisition of Fabmatics GmbH (agreement announced Oct 30, 2023; deal closed Dec 27, 2023). Fabmatics, a Dresden-based specialist in material-flow and handling automation for semiconductor cleanrooms, will strengthen SCIO’s cleanroom/intralogistics capabilities and support the group’s global expansion. The transaction is an add-on to SCIO’s automation platform, which is PE-backed by Quadriga Capital.

Ironclad Environmental Solutions, a Kinderhook Industries portfolio company, acquired DenBeste Water Solutions, a provider of liquid containment and fluid management solutions based in Windsor, California. The add-on expands Ironclad's presence and capabilities in the Western United States; financial terms were not disclosed.

Oakley Capital portfolio company 7NXT, which owns Gymondo, has acquired German mental wellbeing app 7Mind to create a combined digital platform for physical and mental fitness with more than 650,000 paying subscribers. The deal expands product capabilities (adding mindfulness and meditation content), diversifies the customer base into more B2B relationships (including health insurers and corporates), and creates scale for further international growth and M&A.

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CDRE) has acquired ICOR Technology Inc., an Ottawa-based manufacturer and distributor of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robots and specialized protective security equipment. The deal — presented as an add-on to Cadre's EOD business — was funded with available cash, is expected to be immediately accretive, and adds a business that generated roughly CAD 26 million in revenue for the year ending July 31, 2023.

JDI Cleaning Limited Partnership, a portfolio company of TrussPoint Equity Partners, has acquired United Janitorial Inc. and Drake Clean Up Systems Inc. The UJ Group will continue to operate from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, with existing management and employees as JDI expands its commercial cleaning and duct/HVAC service offerings across Atlantic Canada.

FirstFruits Farms, a portfolio company of Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, has acquired Applewood Orchards, Inc. and Applewood Fresh Growers LLC. The deal expands FirstFruits' growing, packing and distribution footprint—adding apple acreage, controlled-atmosphere storage and new club apple varieties to better serve customers across the Midwest and East Coast.

ImageQuix, a Charlesbank Capital Partners portfolio company, has acquired Fotomerchant, an end-to-end workflow and ecommerce software solution for high-volume photography studios. The deal brings Fotomerchant into ImageQuix's suite of studio-focused products to accelerate product integration and deliver a unified, capabilities-rich offering for professional photographers.

Classic Collision, a national multi-site auto body repair operator based in Atlanta, has acquired Crash Depot, a family-owned collision repair shop in Auburndale, Florida. The acquisition expands Classic Collision’s footprint in Florida and adds another repair location to its network of facilities.

Hudson Robotics and Art Robbins Instruments, an Argosy Healthcare Partners portfolio company, has acquired Tomtec Inc., a Hamden, Connecticut-based maker of automated liquid handling instruments for mass spectrometry sample preparation. The deal expands Hudson's liquid handling and sample-preparation capabilities—adding Tomtec's Quadra/Harvester products and opening new bioanalytics and mass-spectrometry workflows to Hudson's integrated automation solutions.

Monument MicroCap Partners-backed portfolio company Sweet Tooth Enterprises has acquired Inter Molds Inc., an aluminum mold-maker based in Bay Shore, New York. The add-on expands Sweet Tooth's Aztec division with in-house toolmaking capabilities and increased CNC machining capacity; it is Sweet Tooth's first add-on since Monument's October 2023 recapitalization.

Heritage Distribution Holdings, the U.S. platform for Beijer Ref AB, has agreed to acquire the assets of Webb Supply, a family-owned HVAC wholesale distributor headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Webb will continue to operate under its brand and management will roll over equity as the business becomes part of Heritage Distribution's Northern Region to expand the platform's footprint in Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

Traliant, a PSG-backed provider of online compliance training, has acquired Kantola Training Solutions, an eLearning leader focused on harassment prevention and DEI training trusted by over 15,000 organizations. The acquisition expands Traliant's portfolio of harassment prevention and DEI courses and is an add-on to the PSG-supported Traliant platform to accelerate capability and market growth.

NEORIS, an Advent International portfolio company, has acquired ForeFront, a New Jersey-based Salesforce Summit Partner and cloud consulting specialist. The deal expands NEORIS' Salesforce capabilities and global delivery footprint by integrating ForeFront's IP-based accelerators and industry expertise across manufacturing, healthcare, telecom and automotive end markets.

Novvia Group, a national rigid container and life-sciences packaging distributor backed by Kelso & Company, has acquired JWJ Packaging LLC, a Millstone Township, New Jersey-based supplier of drums, pails and other rigid containers. Financial terms were not disclosed; JWJ will be combined with Novvia's existing New Jersey subsidiary, Rahway Steel Drum, as part of Novvia's Northeast U.S. expansion.

Opta Group, a portfolio company of Speyside Equity Advisers, acquired Anker Industries effective December 20, 2023. The add-on expands Opta's specialty metallurgical additives, aluminum recycling and clean-steel product offerings and builds on Opta's recent recapitalization to broaden capabilities across metallurgical, glass and concrete end markets.

AEFP Group, a North American precision parts and assemblies platform backed by Emko Capital, has acquired Johnson Precision Products of Santa Ana, California and named industry veteran Joe DeMartino as CEO of the group. The add-on strengthens AEFP Group’s hydraulics and fuel-systems component capabilities and expands its electro-mechanical assembly offerings for aerospace and defense customers.

Lafayette Instrument Company, a portfolio company of Branford Castle Partners, has acquired Actimetrics, a Wilmette, Illinois-based maker of scientific instrumentation and software for circadian biology and animal behavioral neuroscience. Brookside Capital Partners provided subordinated debt and minority equity to support Lafayette in the bolt-on acquisition; terms were not disclosed.

AutoManager Acquisition, Inc., a dealership software provider majority-owned by The Beekman Group, has acquired AutoAp, Inc., a Recalls‑As‑A‑Service provider that automates safety recall discovery and management for dealerships, fleets and rental companies. The acquisition bolsters AutoManager's product portfolio by adding recall-management technology and services to its dealer management and CRM offerings.

HouseWorks Holdings, backed by InTandem Capital Partners, has entered into definitive agreements to partner with Elite Home Health Care to expand HouseWorks' BetterCare at Home footprint into New York. Elite, led by Gershon Strasser who will remain as President of the New York region, delivers care to close to 4,000 clients across the New York metro and upstate regions; the transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Keyes Coverage, a South Florida insurance brokerage and platform partner of Keystone Agency Partners, completed the acquisitions of Sabal Benefits, Nat Steinart & Associates, and Robin Lewis, Inc., expanding its employee benefits and commercial insurance capabilities in South Florida. The add-on deals broaden Keyes Coverage's group benefits expertise and local footprint as part of its ongoing growth strategy with backing from Keystone Agency Partners.

Hildred Capital Management has agreed to acquire Hello Bello, a premium yet affordable baby and family care brand, through a Chapter 11 sale process. Hildred will transition Hello Bello into its portfolio under Hyland's Naturals to build a larger pediatric consumer health platform and accelerate manufacturing, distribution, and growth.

BWT Logistics, a Bluejay Capital portfolio company, has acquired International Express Trucking (IET), a regional 3PL in North Carolina. The add-on expands BWT’s contract logistics and warehousing footprint in the state; IET’s president Howard Shope will join BWT as Senior Vice President of Operations and retain a meaningful ownership stake. Bluejay Capital financed the transaction with participation from Argosy Private Equity, Southfield Mezzanine, Spring Capital Partners and KeyBank; terms were not disclosed.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquired American Fire & Safety Supply, a fire protection and life safety equipment and service provider based in Ocala, Florida, expanding Pye-Barker’s footprint in northern Florida and southern Georgia. The American Fire leadership and team will remain in place to continue serving local customers as part of Pye-Barker’s growing platform of life-safety and security businesses.

Elevator Service LLC (ESI), a Grand Rapids-based elevator service platform backed by Carroll Capital, has acquired Allrise Elevator Company, an independent elevator service provider in the Greater St. Louis market. The transaction is an add-on acquisition that will keep Allrise's branding and team intact while expanding ESI's Midwest footprint and service, modernization, and new construction capabilities in St. Louis and Mid‑Missouri.

GREENPEAK Partners, through its holding group PARATUS, has acquired aycan, a medical imaging IT solutions provider headquartered in Wuerzburg, Germany. The deal brings aycan into the PARATUS group alongside IMAGE Information Systems to broaden the group's PACS and medical imaging solution portfolio and enable complementary Windows, Mac and Linux offerings.

VC3, a PE-backed managed service provider, has acquired Aberdean Consulting, a veteran-owned IT managed services firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The add-on expands VC3's Midwest footprint and augments its managed services, cloud and cybersecurity capabilities; Aberdean supports more than 140 client organizations whose combined employees exceed 5,000.

GT Golf Supplies, a Kinzie Capital Partners LP-backed wholesale golf distributor, has acquired The ProActive Sports Group, a Canby, Oregon-based national golf accessories distributor. The deal adds ProActive's Oregon distribution facility as a fourth DC, broadens GT Golf's product portfolio (including Clicgear, Rovic and Tempercraft lines), and expands the combined company's national footprint and e-commerce capabilities.

An affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management has completed the acquisition of Spring EQ, a U.S. home equity lender. Spring EQ will join Cerberus' Residential Opportunities platform and continue to be led by founder and CEO Jerry Schiano, with Cerberus supporting technology investment, commercial growth, and operational initiatives.

ESTELA, a Latin American digital compliance software platform backed by Accel-KKR, has acquired Peruvian electronic invoicing and tax compliance provider TCI. The deal expands ESTELA's presence in Peru and bolsters its e-invoicing and digital compliance capabilities for enterprise and mid-market customers across the region.

Mammoth Holdings LLC, an express car wash platform headquartered in Dallas, acquired Galaxies Express Car Wash, an operator of two express conveyor car wash locations in Killeen, Texas. The acquisition is an add-on to Mammoth's platform as part of its national expansion strategy and furthers its footprint in the Texas market.

Hop Lun, a Platinum Equity portfolio company and global designer/manufacturer of intimate apparel and swimwear, has acquired Rainbow West Apparel (RW Designs), a Los Angeles–based woman- and minority-owned private-label swimwear design house. The acquisition expands Hop Lun's U.S. sample, design and private-label capabilities and is an add-on to the Hop Lun platform to better serve retail partners with shorter lead times and greater flexibility.

Avantik has expanded its national service network by bringing CPBS Holdings and Marston Technical Services (MTS) into its platform. The additions more than double Avantik's geographic footprint and increase its technicians, service hubs, and consumable inventory to better support anatomic pathology, histology and dermatology laboratories nationwide.

Circular Services, through its recycling arm Balcones Recycling, has acquired Midwest Fiber Recycling, a family-owned materials recovery and recycling company with operations in Illinois and Indiana. The deal expands Balcones' MRF footprint into the Midwest, adds collection and brokerage capabilities, and keeps Midwest Fiber's management team in place to support further growth under Circular Services' platform.

Frontline Road Safety, a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, has completed the acquisition of The Aero-Mark Company, a Streetsboro, Ohio-based pavement marking contractor with an additional location in Cincinnati. The deal is an add-on to Frontline’s platform (its twelfth acquisition since July 2020) and is intended to expand the platform’s Midwest footprint and service capabilities in road safety and infrastructure maintenance.

Volaris Group Inc. has acquired Delacon, an Australian provider of call tracking, call management and speech analytics solutions. Delacon will operate independently under CEO Michael Center and join Volaris' marketing management portfolio to expand capabilities in marketing analytics and call attribution.

Conditioned Air Company, a Naples-based residential HVAC platform backed by Gemini Investors, acquired A/C Designs of St. Augustine to expand its footprint into Northeast Florida. The transaction was supported by a debt and equity investment from Genesis Park and a lending package from Cambridge Savings Bank; West 4th Capital advised A/C Designs.

Imperial Dade has acquired Wedge Supply, LLC, a two-location distributor of janitorial supplies and foodservice packaging serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The founder, Kevin Wedge, will remain with the business as Imperial Dade continues to expand its presence in Texas; financial terms were not disclosed.

Thrive Freeze Dry (a portfolio company of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners and Mubadala Capital) has acquired Canature, a Langley, British Columbia-based freeze-dried pet food and treats producer. The add-on acquisition expands Thrive's freeze-drying capabilities and pet-focused offering by adding Canature's technical team, wet-processing expertise and a state-of-the-art facility near Vancouver; financial terms were not disclosed.

Plastifab Industries, a portfolio company of Regimen Equity Partners, has acquired MoldPro Inc., an injection molding business based in Swanzey, New Hampshire, from owner Gary Barnard. The acquisition expands Plastifab's injection molding capabilities and strengthens its footprint in the United States as part of a broader strategy to diversify and enhance its plastics manufacturing services.

Alliance for Multispecialty Research (AMR) has acquired Affinity Health, a clinical research services provider founded in 2015. The deal adds Affinity's sites and eight principal investigators to AMR's network, expanding AMR's geographic footprint (including Chicago and Nashville) and strengthening its clinical trial capabilities and patient diversity.