Manufacturing Acquisitions in Iowa

J.F. Lehman & Company, via an affiliate of JFL Equity Investor VI, L.P., acquired a majority interest in Wellman Dynamics, a Creston, Iowa-based manufacturer of large-scale magnesium and aluminum sand castings. TRM Equity sold the majority stake and will retain a meaningful minority position; the deal is positioned as a platform investment to expand Wellman's manufacturing capacity and pursue new aerospace and defense programs.

Novae, a leading North American trailer manufacturer, has acquired Aluma Trailers to expand its aluminum trailer product offering and strengthen its dealer-distributed platform. Aluma will remain headquartered in Bancroft, Iowa and led by CEO Mike Lloyd and the existing management team; financial terms were not disclosed.

Amca, an El Segundo, California-based aerospace and defense company, has acquired Aerospace Control Products, Inc. (ACPI) of Davenport, Iowa to expand its hydraulics-focused components platform by adding aerospace-grade pressure and liquid-level switch capabilities. Amca plans significant investment to expand ACPI’s manufacturing capacity and improve supply availability; Shedd Capital advised on the transaction and Aaron Ellis, ACPI’s president and former owner, will remain involved.

Solve Industrial Motion Group has acquired D&D Global, a vertically integrated U.S. manufacturer of power drive belts headquartered in Rock Valley, Iowa. The deal expands Solve's manufacturing capabilities and product offering in power transmission (V-belts and timing belts), adding D&D's four locations and more than 35,000 belt configurations to Solve's platform.

Federal Signal Corporation completed the acquisition of Scranton Manufacturing Company LLC, doing business as New Way Trucks, adding a leading U.S. refuse-collection vehicle manufacturer to its Environmental Solutions Group. Federal Signal said New Way brings over $100 million backlog and more than 750 employees, and the company expects to leverage its specialty vehicle platform and aftermarket opportunities to drive growth and margin improvement.

Alamo Group Inc. completed the acquisition of Ring-O-Matic, Inc., a Pella, Iowa-based manufacturer of trailer-mounted and truck-mounted vacuum excavation equipment. The deal, funded with Alamo Group's cash on hand, adds Ring-O-Matic's hydro-excavation and sewer/storm drain cleaning product lines to Alamo's equipment portfolio to drive product offering expansion and cost/revenue synergies.

Rensa Filtration, a PE-backed manufacturer and distributor of air filtration products, has acquired Air Filtration Co., Inc., a family-owned maker and distributor of spray booth and industrial air filters with production facilities in Lancaster, California and Corydon, Iowa. The deal expands Rensa's geographic footprint in California and Iowa and adds Air Filtration Co.'s spray booth filtration product line to Rensa's portfolio.

Flow Control Management (FCM), a private equity-backed holding company sponsored by The Edgewater Funds, has acquired Master Packing & Rubber Company (MPRC), a Cedar Rapids-based manufacturer and supplier of gaskets and seals serving agricultural transport and processing markets. The add-on expands FCM's MRO gasket and seal offerings and strengthens its presence in the agriculture value chain.

Innovative Fluid Handling Group (IFH Group), a portfolio company of The Mendota Group, has acquired Dynamic Tube, Inc., a Maquoketa, Iowa-based custom tube fabrication and precision-machined parts supplier. The transaction is an add-on acquisition that expands IFH Group's manufacturing capabilities and product offering for off-road, heavy equipment, agricultural and industrial end markets.

Hidden Harbor Capital Partners has acquired Norplex Micarta, a North American producer of thermoset composite materials, from Industrial Dielectrics Holdings, Inc. Stellus Capital Management provided unitranche debt financing to support the transaction. Hidden Harbor plans to provide operational and financial resources to scale Norplex Micarta's operations and execute on growth initiatives across electrification and industrial end markets.

Baker Manufacturing Company, a Blue Sage Capital portfolio company, has acquired the Pump Division of A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co., including the full pump product line of submersible, booster, jet, sump pumps and pressure tanks. The add-on expands Baker’s Water Systems product offerings and market coverage for residential and agricultural end markets, with TPG Twin Brook providing financing and advisors representing both sides.

Consolidated Equipment Group (CEG), a portfolio company of Dominus Capital, has acquired Agile Manufacturing Group, LLC, a Granite, Iowa-based maker of agricultural, industrial and construction attachments marketed under the GrabTec and Miller Loader brands. The deal is an add-on to CEG's platform to broaden its product suite and expand into adjacent material-handling end markets; Agile founder Mike Feilmeier will remain in leadership as Vice President of Agile Products.

Madison Capital Partners, a Chicago-based investment firm, has made an investment in Global Filter, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa developer and manufacturer of validated filtration solutions. The capital will support Global Filter's continued product and technology development and strengthen its customer responsiveness across end markets including food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical.

LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm, has invested in APQS, a Carroll, Iowa-based designer and manufacturer of longarm quilting machines. LFM said it will partner with APQS management to leverage operational expertise and drive future growth for the premium quilting equipment brand.

Chicago-based private equity firm May River Capital has acquired Cablevey Conveyors, the Oskaloosa, Iowa manufacturer of tubular drag conveyor systems. The deal closed on Dec. 22 (Cablevey’s 50th anniversary); Cablevey will continue operating in Oskaloosa while May River plans to invest to grow market share in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and other regulated end markets and pursue synergies with a sister platform, Advanced Material Processing (AMP).

Chicago-based Granite Creek Capital Partners partnered with Equivu Capital (the investment arm of Salvatore Calvino) to acquire a majority stake in C&C Manufacturing (formerly Al-jon Manufacturing). Equivu's Salvatore Calvino was named CEO and the investment will provide working capital to grow the company's workforce, expand parts and services, and capitalize on demand across scrap recycling, waste management, and airport maintenance markets.

Midwest Growth Partners has sold Inland Coatings Holdings, LLC to a confidential strategic buyer, marking an exit for the West Des Moines-based PE firm. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Adel, Iowa, Inland manufactures roof and automotive aftermarket coatings (SEBS, silicone, acrylic and polyurethane) and includes the previously acquired TRUCO Coatings and Aldo Products brands.

Cookbook Specialists, a division of Independence, Iowa–headquartered Print Express, acquired Jumbo Jack's of Audubon, Iowa, with the transaction closing on April 12, 2021. Jumbo Jack's manager Jeanne Christensen (25 years' experience) will join Cookbook Specialists while production is consolidated to Print Express's Independence facility; terms were not disclosed.

Great Range Capital completed the acquisition of The Realm, Inc., a Newton, Iowa-based custom manufacturer and distributor of pallets and wood crating that also recycles wood waste and produces wood mulch. The transaction closed on November 30, 2020, with Generational Equity advising the seller (led by Chris Barton).

American Securities LLC has closed its acquisition of CPM Holdings Inc., partnering with CPM's management team; financial terms were not disclosed. CPM, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, is a global supplier of engineered process equipment for the animal feed, oilseed processing, extrusion and thermal processing markets, and American Securities plans to invest in product innovation, geographic expansion and aftermarket growth.

Capital For Business (CFB) led an investment in Entegra Attachments, LLC to acquire Bloom Manufacturing, Inc., a 110-year-old manufacturer of worm-drive and planetary winch systems and speed reducers. CFB partnered with B12 Capital Partners, UMB Capital Corporation and Entegra CEO Michael P. Flannery to complete the transaction as the first cornerstone of Entegra’s platform strategy.

DexKo Global Inc.'s subsidiary Dexter Axle Company has acquired Silent Drive, a long-established maker of specialty heavy-duty trailer air suspensions based in Orange City, Iowa. The acquisition expands Dexter/DexKo's specialty suspension capabilities and broadens its product portfolio and end-market reach across the United States and Canada.

Chicago-based private equity firm May River Capital has completed the acquisition of Marion Process Solutions, a Marion, Iowa manufacturer of industrial mixers, blenders and microwave vacuum drying systems. The deal—terms undisclosed—transfers ownership from longtime owners Barry Boyer and Jim Hoke to May River, which intends to use Marion as the first building block of a new materials processing solutions platform and to support the company’s growth under existing management.

American Securities LLC has closed its acquisition of CPM Holdings, Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of engineered process equipment for animal feed, oilseed processing, extrusion and thermal processing. The transaction was completed in partnership with CPM's management team; financial terms were not disclosed. CPM, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, has more than 1,000 employees and serves a global customer base across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Eckhart, Inc., an LFM Capital-backed industrial automation and tooling company based in Warren, Michigan, has acquired Eagle Engineering, a custom weld-station and assembly-fixture manufacturer headquartered in Eldridge, Iowa. The acquisition expands Eckhart's manufacturing footprint and capability to deploy Industry 4.0 solutions to Eagle's aerospace, agriculture and heavy construction customers.

The AMES Companies, a subsidiary of Griffon Corporation, has acquired Harper Brush Works, a division of Horizon Global, for approximately $5 million. The deal adds brooms, brushes and other cleaning tools to AMES' long-handled tool portfolio and is expected to contribute roughly $10 million in annualized revenue.

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.

Kolpin Outdoors Inc. is purchasing the ATV Accessories product line from Cycle Country Accessories Corp. for $9.7 million, with $3.2 million paid at closing, $1 million in near-term installments, and a $5.5 million earn-out over three years. Cycle Country (Spencer, Iowa) is selling only the product line and will continue to manufacture ATV accessories for Kolpin under a manufacturing agreement.

Textron Inc. has sold its Energy Manufacturing and Williams Machine and Tool (E&W) business to Eastport Operating Partners alongside the E&W management group. The Monticello, Iowa–based business (approximately 170 employees) manufactures welded hydraulic cylinders, valves, pumps and reservoirs serving light construction, waste handling, agricultural and truck equipment end-markets; terms were not disclosed.