Blackford Capital Acquires Starfire Direct

Blackford Capital Acquires LTD Online Stores, Inc.

December 5, 2023

Retail

Blackford Capital, a lower middle market private equity firm, acquired LTD Online Stores, Inc., a San Diego-based patio furniture e-commerce business, wholesale distributor and retail showroom operator. The deal is the third add-on to Blackford's Patio Portfolio (joining Artificial Turf Supply and Starfire Direct) and is intended to expand the platform's high-end furniture offerings and diversify distribution channels.

Blackford Capital Acquires Empire Distributing (Patio Consolidation Platform Add-on)

October 15, 2024

Building Products

Blackford Capital, a lower middle-market private equity firm, has acquired Empire Distributing, a hearth and outdoor living products distributor based in Arcade, New York. The deal is an add‑on to Blackford's Patio Consolidation Platform and is intended to broaden the platform's product breadth, distribution channels and geographic reach across the Northeast and Midwest US; terms were not disclosed.

Creative Planning Acquires Starfire Investment Advisers

June 30, 2020

Financial Services

Creative Planning, an independent wealth management firm based in Overland Park, Kansas, has acquired Starfire Investment Advisers, a Registered Investment Adviser in Southfield, Michigan with approximately $530 million in AUM. The deal expands Creative Planning's presence in the Greater Detroit market and brings Starfire's clients and advisory capabilities onto Creative Planning's platform.

RapidFire Safety & Security Acquires Texas Star Fire Systems

March 6, 2024

Construction

RapidFire Safety & Security, a PE-backed fire, life safety and security platform, has acquired Texas Star Fire Systems to establish a foundational presence in Texas. The deal, completed in partnership with Concentric Equity Partners and Financial Investments Corporation (the Steans family office), positions RapidFire for rapid expansion across Austin, San Antonio, Houston and the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Blackford Capital Acquires Security Fire Systems

December 12, 2024

Construction

Blackford Capital acquired Security Fire Systems (SFS) on December 12, 2024, launching its Fire Safety Consolidation Platform; terms were not disclosed. SFS, founded in 1993 and based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area (Coppell, Texas), provides fire sprinkler design, installation, testing, maintenance and fire alarm services across Texas, Arkansas, Colorado and Oklahoma; SFS management will remain in place as Blackford pursues further add-on consolidation opportunities.

GTY Technology / Bonfire Acquires DemandStar

December 6, 2022

Cloud & SaaS

GTY Technology Holdings Inc., a GI Partners portfolio company, has acquired DemandStar and will merge the business into GTY’s Bonfire eProcurement unit. The deal expands GTY/Bonfire’s public-sector sourcing footprint—together the combined business will serve roughly 1,900 state and local buying agencies and access a network of about 500,000 suppliers—to broaden eProcurement capabilities and supplier outreach for government buyers.