S5 Equity Acquires Heartland America

Heartland Food Products Group to Acquire Whole Earth Brands Americas Business

May 22, 2026

Consumer Products

Heartland Food Products Group entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Americas business of Whole Earth Brands, including the Equal, Whole Earth, Swerve, and Chuker sweetener brands across North America and Latin America. The deal expands Heartland’s position in sugar reduction and low- and no-calorie sweeteners and will grow Heartland’s portfolio across retail, foodservice, e-commerce, ingredient solutions, and B2B channels.

S5 Equity Acquires Howard's Appliances

April 7, 2025

Retail

S5 Equity, a Southern California private investment firm, has acquired Howard's Appliances, a nearly 80-year-old Southern California retailer of appliances and mattresses. The firm said it will work with Howard's management to enhance operations, expand offerings and drive growth; financial terms were not disclosed.

S5 Equity Acquires Heartland America, Owner of Hammacher Schlemmer

September 5, 2024

Retail

S5 Equity has acquired Heartland America — the owner/operator of the long-running catalog retailer Hammacher Schlemmer — with financing support from Gordon Brothers, which provided a revolving credit facility to back the deal. S5 plans to strengthen customer experience and loyalty while continuing to shift the legacy catalog business toward e-commerce.

UMB Financial Corporation Acquires Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

April 29, 2024

Financial Services

UMB Financial Corporation completed its previously announced all-stock acquisition of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., creating a larger regional bank with approximately $68 billion in assets and expanded operations across 13 states. The deal (announced at an implied value of about $2.0 billion and using a 0.55 share exchange ratio) increases UMB's private wealth AUM by roughly 31–32%, adds more than 100 branches and ATMs, and brings HTLF operations onto UMB platforms before full brand conversion.

LFM Capital Acquires Heartland Steel Products

April 2, 2024

Manufacturing

LFM Capital has acquired Heartland Steel Products, a U.S.-based manufacturer of structural steel platforms, pallet racking systems and material-handling products sold under the SpaceRAK and Heartland Engineered Products brands. LFM said it will invest in Heartland’s manufacturing capabilities, optimize facility workflows and add engineering and leadership talent to support growing demand from distribution, warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment.

A&M Capital Opportunities Invests in Heartland Business Systems

October 6, 2022

IT Services

A&M Capital Opportunities (AMCO), the lower-middle-market strategy of Alvarez & Marsal Capital, has made an investment in Heartland Business Systems, a Little Chute, Wisconsin-based provider of IT services. The capital will support Heartland’s next phase of growth — including geographic expansion, new end markets and acquisitions — as the company pursues expansion across the Midwestern United States.