Private Equity-Backed Acquisitions in South Carolina

ALL4 LLC, a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, has acquired Tora Consulting LLC, an environmental and engineering consulting firm based in Columbia, South Carolina. The deal adds Tora’s ~15 environmental professionals and expands ALL4’s capabilities in air quality, permitting, and regulatory compliance while broadening its national footprint.

Michelli Weighing & Measurement, a portfolio company of Summit Park LLC, has acquired Greenville Scale Company, Inc., a Taylors, South Carolina provider of scale sales, service, installation and certified calibration. The add-on acquisition, which closed on February 9, 2026, expands Michelli’s footprint across the Southeast and preserves Greenville Scale’s local expertise while providing access to Michelli’s broader resources and scale.

Graycliff Partners LP completed a subordinated debt investment and minority equity investment in Palmetto Moon, LLC, a Charleston-based specialty retailer operating 51 stores across the Southeastern United States. Proceeds will fund a distribution to shareholders and general corporate purposes; Palmetto Moon remains a portfolio company of Topspin Consumer Partners.

Hilb Group, a Carlyle-backed insurance brokerage, completed its 200th acquisition with the addition of an undisclosed South Carolina-based property & casualty and employee benefits agency effective February 1, 2026. The deal expands Hilb Group's Southeast footprint and enhances its full-service risk solution capabilities across property & casualty and employee benefits offerings.

Foundation Investment Partners (FIP), via its platform Sustainable Packaging, LLC, has acquired Paper Converters, Inc., a Walterboro, South Carolina manufacturer of spiral wound paper tubes, edge board and sheeting. The acquisition is an add-on to FIP's Sustainable Packaging platform and is intended to drive collaboration with sister company Amspak, improve supply chain continuity, and expand capability in sustainable paper packaging for textile and industrial customers in the Southeastern U.S.

Warner Pacific, a PE-backed national general agency, has acquired Brokers Holding Group (BHG), a South Carolina–based general agency specializing in level-funded health plans and alternative funding strategies. The deal expands Warner Pacific’s footprint across the Southeast (South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee) and deepens its capabilities in level-funded employee benefits while BHG will continue operating under its existing brand with co-owners Scott Lee and Lee Long remaining in leadership roles.

StayTerra, a vacation rental platform backed by Garnett Station Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners, announced an investment in Vacation Homes of Hilton Head (VHHH), a luxury property management and vacation rental operator on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The deal expands StayTerra's portfolio into the southeastern Atlantic coast and positions VHHH for growth leveraging StayTerra's technology, customer service capabilities and growth capital.

A consortium led by TriArtisan Capital Advisors, alongside Treville Capital Group and franchisee Yadav Enterprises, completed the all‑cash acquisition of Denny's Corporation on January 16, 2026. Shareholders received $6.25 per share (approximately $620 million enterprise value), Denny's common stock ceased trading on Nasdaq, and the new owners said they will invest in the brands, support franchisees and accelerate growth initiatives.

Smith + Howard, an Atlanta-based accounting and advisory firm, has acquired Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A. (BPS), a Columbia, South Carolina-based public accounting firm with nearly 100 certified public accountants and professional staff. Terms were not disclosed; the acquisition expands Smith + Howard's presence in the Southeastern United States and strengthens its advisory and industry-specific capabilities across areas such as construction, insurance, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

GALLS, the national distributor of uniforms and equipment for public safety professionals, has acquired DesignLab, Inc., a regional supplier of public safety uniforms and gear. The acquisition adds six retail locations across South Carolina and Florida, strengthening GALLS' footprint in the Southeast and consolidating market share in those states.

YA Group has acquired InQuis Global, a multi-service expert witness and litigation consulting firm, to expand its end-to-end litigation consulting and biomechanics/accident-reconstruction offering. The deal closed on December 22, 2025 and follows YA Group's October 2024 investment from THL Partners; financial terms were not disclosed.

Jacksonville-based investment firm Pablo River Partners, led by Charlie Tomm, acquired Dick Smith Hyundai in Greenville, South Carolina from Brian Smith and Dick Smith Automotive. The dealership will be renamed Hyundai of Greenville and remain at its current location, expanding Pablo River Partners' presence in the Southeast.

TreeServe, a platform backed by Soundcore Capital Partners, has acquired Schneider Tree Care, a Greenville, South Carolina-based provider of residential and commercial tree care, plant healthcare, and mulch services. The deal is an add-on to the TreeServe platform and will keep Schneider's leadership in place while expanding TreeServe's service footprint and plant-health capabilities in the Greenville/Charlotte region.

Trive Capital made a strategic growth investment in Illumis Global to accelerate the company's expansion and establish a comprehensive vendor management platform. The investment will support Illumis' technology investments, broaden its audit and analytics capabilities, and enable new offerings such as a proprietary Group Purchasing Organization while keeping current management in place.

Care Advantage, Inc., a large privately owned Mid-Atlantic home care operator, has completed the acquisition of Attentive Angels Home Care, a Columbia, South Carolina-based non-medical in‑home care provider. The deal marks Care Advantage's entry into South Carolina and is supported by equity sponsor Searchlight Capital; financial terms were not disclosed.

Eagle Merchant Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has made a strategic investment in ES Integrated, an industrial cleaning, environmental and waste services provider headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The partnership will support ESI's geographic and service-line expansion, pursue strategic acquisitions, and retain the company's existing leadership team.

Emerald Lake Capital Management has made an equity investment in CORE Transformers, a Seneca, South Carolina-based supplier of new and reconditioned transformers and repair solutions serving commercial, industrial, data center, and renewable energy markets. Terms were not disclosed; Emerald Lake said it will support CORE with investments in talent, technology, and inventory and pursue select acquisitions to broaden the company's service offerings and market position.

KSL Capital Partners affiliates, via its Tactical Opportunities Fund, acquired The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa; terms were not disclosed. The oceanfront resort on Hilton Head Island features roughly 420 refreshed rooms, extensive event space and wellness amenities — the deal expands KSL’s travel & leisure portfolio with a high-quality beachfront asset in the Southeast United States.

ICS Holding, a portfolio company of Stellex Capital, has acquired Langford Electric, a Greenville, South Carolina-based electrical contractor. The add-on expands ICS Holding’s footprint and capabilities in the Southeast U.S.; terms were not disclosed and EdgePoint advised Langford Electric on the sale.

Argano, a global specialist consultancy and portfolio company of Trinity Hunt Partners, has acquired HyBridge Solutions, a cloud-focused consulting firm specializing in workforce management (WFM), human capital management (HCM) and cloud ERP implementations. The add-on expands Argano's healthcare expertise and performance consulting capabilities while bolstering its UKG and Infor platform offerings and managed services.

ShoreView, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm, has completed an investment in Frham Safety Products, a Rock Hill, South Carolina distributor of consumable safety supplies and specialized equipment serving the nuclear power and other safety-critical sectors. Frham, founded in 1983, will operate as a platform to pursue add-on acquisitions targeting specialty safety product providers with exposure to nuclear and adjacent markets.

Wireless Logic has completed the acquisition of Zipit Wireless, a South Carolina–headquartered provider of multi-carrier IoT connectivity and subscription billing solutions. The deal expands Wireless Logic’s North American presence and adds advanced subscription-billing and multi-tier connectivity capabilities to its global IoT offering.

US Masonry and Building Products (USMBP), a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, has acquired Davis Supply of Charleston, a regional distributor of masonry and concrete materials headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The add-on expands USMBP's distribution footprint and capabilities in the Southeastern United States; financing for the transaction was arranged by TPG Twin Brook and Kayne Anderson Private Credit.

CSL Consulting, a portfolio company of NMS Capital, has acquired Brownstone Construction Group, a Columbia, South Carolina–based owner's representative and program management firm. The add-on deal expands CSL's presence in the Southeastern U.S. and strengthens its capabilities in the public K‑12, higher education and municipal markets; terms were not disclosed.

Strength Capital Partners closed a single-asset continuation vehicle to recapitalize ESP Associates, providing liquidity to Strength Capital’s existing investors and bringing in follow-on capital led by investment funds affiliated with Neuberger Berman. The transaction includes significant rollover by SCP and the ESP management team and is intended to fund organic growth and strategic add-on M&A to expand the platform’s geographic footprint and service offerings.

Air Conditioning Specialist, Inc. (ACS), a Hidden Harbor Capital Partners portfolio company, acquired David Taylor Heating & Air Cond, LLC, a residential and light-commercial HVAC and plumbing services provider headquartered in Anderson, South Carolina. The deal is an add-on to ACS’s Southeast service platform to expand geographic presence and service capabilities; financing was provided by funds managed by First Eagle Alternative Credit and Capital Southwest.

ISPN, a portfolio company of Align Capital Partners, acquired two core business lines from DxTEL: DxTEL Marketing Services and the Harper content platform. The add-on expands ISPN’s marketing capabilities and content library to better serve community-focused broadband service providers and brings DxTEL co-founder Eddie Andrews into ISPN as VP of Marketing Services.

Nova Capital Management has completed the acquisition of Shakespeare Company LLC, a long-standing manufacturer of engineered nylons, monofilaments and marine/military antennas, from Jadex Inc. The transaction is a corporate carve-out that establishes Shakespeare as a standalone, PE-owned company headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina; Nova intends to pursue operational transformation and growth under new leadership.

Bondcote Performance Textiles (BPT), a subsidiary of XFS Global and backed by Lake Country Capital, has acquired Graniteville Specialty Fabrics (GSF). The GSF team, brand, and product lines will integrate into BPT while continuing operations at GSF’s Graniteville, South Carolina facility, expanding BPT’s coating and technical-textile capabilities to better serve defense, first-responder, and commercial end markets.

Inverness Graham, a Philadelphia-based buyout firm, has acquired Cognito Forms, a Columbia, South Carolina-headquartered SaaS provider of low-code/no-code workflow automation and form-building software. The deal (terms undisclosed) represents Inverness Graham’s first platform investment for its Investments V fund and aims to expand Cognito’s product capabilities and vertical reach into compliance-driven sectors such as healthcare, education and legal.

Solaia Capital Advisors completed an investment in Modjoul, Inc., a Greenville, South Carolina-based provider of hardware, software, and AI workplace-safety solutions. The capital will help Modjoul finalize and roll out its AI Manager offering, expand its installed base, and diversify its customer base to drive growth and product development.

Active Day, a Trevose, Pennsylvania-based provider of adult day and home care services, acquired AllCaregivers, New Generations Home Care of Florence, and Goldencare to form a statewide home care platform in South Carolina. The transactions expand Active Day's in-home services and pair those services with its existing adult day centers to extend its continuum of care and geographic coverage in the state.

Waste Eliminator, a metro-Atlanta sustainable waste management platform backed by Allied Industrial Partners, has acquired Oconee Resources LLC, an MSW and C&D transfer station in upstate South Carolina. The add-on expands Waste Eliminator's geographic footprint into South Carolina and adds vertical integration to support its growing MSW collection and hauling operations.

Officine Maccaferri, with support from majority shareholder Ambienta, has acquired Synteen Technical Fabrics Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of geosynthetics headquartered in Lancaster, South Carolina. The acquisition strengthens Maccaferri’s geosynthetics footprint and distribution capabilities in North America, supporting infrastructure and highway/rail projects.

Ascent Lifting, a portfolio company of Shorehill Capital, completed the acquisition of Charleston's Rigging & Marine Hardware (CRMH) on February 3, 2025. The add-on expands Ascent's footprint into South Carolina with two full-service branches (North Charleston and Columbia) and adds fabrication, load-testing and crane-service capabilities.

Ruppert Landscape, LLC has acquired Ocean Woods Landscaping, Inc., a long-standing commercial landscaping provider in the Hilton Head / Bluffton, South Carolina market. The Ocean Woods owner, Matt Thomas, will join Ruppert as a Partner and continue to lead the local business as Ruppert expands its footprint in South Carolina; financial terms were not disclosed.

DirectMed Imaging has acquired a majority of Richardson Electronics' Richardson Healthcare reportable segment, including the Fort Mill, South Carolina operation, in a transaction that closed January 24, 2025. Richardson Electronics will consolidate remaining healthcare assets into its PMT segment and enter a 10-year global supply agreement with DirectMed for repaired Siemens CT X-ray tubes while DirectMed expands its CT tube manufacturing, parts inventory and training capabilities.

Rockit Pest, a Halle Capital‑backed pest control platform, acquired Mincey's Pest Control of Dillon, South Carolina. The deal brings the long‑standing local operator and its team into Rockit's Southeast expansion as founder/previous owner Allen Lane transitions ownership.

Turner Ashby Capital, LLC of Naples, Florida has acquired HC Luxury Outdoor, a Mount Pleasant, South Carolina–based luxury outdoor furniture designer and direct-to-consumer retailer. The transaction was announced by Woodbridge International, which served as the sell-side advisor for the deal.

Waste Eliminator, a metro-Atlanta waste management platform backed by private equity firm Allied Industrial Partners, acquired Enterprise Landfill and Phillips Recoveries, regional C&D and industrial waste landfill and hauling businesses. The add-on deal expands Waste Eliminator’s landfill and hauling capacity and strengthens its footprint across Georgia and South Carolina; financial terms were not disclosed.

CHA Consulting, Inc. has acquired Civil Engineering Consulting Services, Inc. (CECS), a Columbia, South Carolina–based transportation engineering firm with 85 employees. CECS will rebrand immediately as CHA, expanding CHA's transportation capabilities and presence across South Carolina and the southeastern United States; CHA is a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital.

Mangrove Equity Partners has made an investment in Griffin Gear, a South Carolina-based provider of industrial gearbox repair, rebuild services and aftermarket replacement gears. Griffin's senior management will remain in place as Mangrove looks to grow the business and pursue additional acquisitions in the gear manufacturing and gearbox repair sector.

Cordance, a Raleigh-based acquirer and operator of vertically-focused B2B SaaS companies, has made a strategic growth investment in Solutions ITW, a Greenville-based provider of SaaS point-of-sale and donations software for Goodwill and thrift retailers. Solutions ITW will operate as an independent business unit within Cordance to accelerate product development, expand reach, and enhance operational capabilities for Goodwill retailers.

Foundation Investment Partners (FIP) has completed the acquisition of American Spool & Packaging, Inc. (Amspak), a Hartsville, South Carolina-based specialty paper packaging manufacturer. The Ridgeway family is exiting the business while FIP will keep operations in place with industry veteran David Partin serving as CEO to support growth and reinvestment in the company.

Providus Capital Partners has entered a growth equity partnership with McMillan Pazdan Smith (MPS), a Greenville, South Carolina-based architecture and planning firm. The undisclosed investment will support MPS’s growth strategy — expanding service capabilities, entering new markets and pursuing organic and acquisition initiatives while CEO Chad Cousins remains in place.

Hub International Limited has acquired Creative Financial Strategies, LLC, a Columbia, South Carolina-based investment and financial advisory firm. The Creative Financial Strategies team, including president Terry A. Crenshaw and EVP William H. Phillips, will join Hub Carolinas to strengthen Hub's retirement and private wealth capabilities.

Altor Solutions, a Compass Diversified (CODI)-backed cold-chain and protective packaging business, has acquired Lifoam Industries from Jadex Inc. for an enterprise value of $137 million in cash (excluding working capital and certain adjustments). The deal expands Altor's cold-chain packaging capabilities and geographic footprint with Lifoam's seven U.S. manufacturing sites and specialized thermal testing and engineering capabilities.

ContourGlobal (a KKR company) has acquired a 151 MWdc solar portfolio consisting of two late-stage projects in South Carolina from Sun Tribe Development. The assets, which have long-term PPAs and completed interconnection studies, mark ContourGlobal's entry into the U.S. renewables market with commercial operations planned in 2029.

Wealth Enhancement Group has acquired FinTrust Capital Advisors, LLC, a hybrid RIA headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina that oversees approximately $2.39 billion in client assets. The 14-advisor team (plus 13 support staff) will join Wealth Enhancement Group as part of its continued Southeast expansion; Park Sutton Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to FinTrust.

TransTech Group, a portfolio company of Bridge Industries, has acquired Cryogenic Technology Resources (CTR) to expand its cryogenic systems, fabrication, service and automation capabilities. The deal strengthens TransTech’s end-to-end offering for industrial gas, air separation, and related end markets while expanding geographic reach and service capacity.