E-Commerce Acquisitions in Ohio

Trends International has acquired Art.com and AllPosters.com, including their IP, image library, tradename, and the U.S. base of operations near Columbus, Ohio, together with staff and management. The deal expands Trends’ direct-to-consumer e-commerce offering and augments its product portfolio and licensing capabilities for wall art and décor.

Other World Computing (OWC) has acquired SellYourMac.com, a leading Apple trade-in and recommerce platform. The deal brings SellYourMac.com's trade-in website and technology into OWC's Apple Refurbishments division to expand OWC's capabilities in buying, refurbishing, and reselling used Apple devices.

Funds managed by Greenbriar Equity Group acquired a majority position in JEGS Automotive, a national online retailer and distributor of high-performance aftermarket auto parts and accessories. The Coughlin family will remain significant minority shareholders; Greenbriar plans to support product and market expansion while enhancing JEGS' technology and distribution capabilities.

Two Sigma Impact and Avance Investment Management have acquired Wholesale Supplies Plus (WSP), a leading B2B e-commerce provider of ingredients, supplies and packaging for soap, skincare and candle artisans. The company will remain led by CEO Sam Solomon and the existing management team; financial terms were not disclosed. The buyers plan to support WSP's continued growth through enhanced marketing, data science capabilities and accretive acquisitions.

Berlin-based SIGNA Sports United has acquired a majority stake in Midwest Sports, a Cincinnati-based online tennis retailer, marking SIGNA's first substantial U.S. operation and expanding its Tennis-Point platform into the U.S. market. Midwest Sports—one of the top three U.S. online tennis retailers with ~100 employees and strong traffic—will support Tennis-Point's strategy to replicate its European tennis e-commerce platform in the United States.

Tecum Capital Partners joined Provariant Equity Partners, Centerfield Capital, and MWE founder/CEO James Cline Jr. in a recapitalization of Midwest Equipment Sales (MWE), a Columbus-based technology-enabled specialty distributor of outdoor power products and aftermarket parts. The investment provides capital and organizational support to fund MWE's next phase of growth while keeping founder James Cline Jr. in place as CEO.

Cortec Group, through an affiliate of Cortec Group Fund VII, acquired Enthusiast Auto Holdings (EAH), a Wadsworth, Ohio–based digitally native e‑commerce platform in the automotive aftermarket. The transaction, announced as completed in January 2020 (signed December 19, 2019), was a platform investment for Cortec Fund VII; terms were not disclosed and senior debt was provided by Antares Capital, NXT Capital and First Eagle Investment Management.

Torsion Group Corp (TGC), a manufacturer and distributor of garage door parts and accessories, acquired North Shore Commercial Door (NSCD), an established online retailer and distributor of garage door replacement parts and openers. The deal expands TGC’s e-commerce presence, broadens its product offering and provides access to DIY customers and dealers outside TGC’s traditional channels.

Pittsburgh-based private equity firm Incline Equity Partners has partnered with management to recapitalize Wholesale Supplies Plus (WSP), a distributor of raw materials and supplies for soap, cosmetics and candle makers. The investment will support capacity expansion, new product introductions and pursue acquisitions to accelerate growth.