Private Equity-Backed Acquisitions in Vermont

Fiduciary Services Group (FSG) has acquired Future Planning Associates, Inc. (FPA), a Vermont-based third-party administrator and recordkeeper, and will integrate the business into DWC, FSG’s national TPA platform. The acquisition strengthens FSG’s New England footprint, adds recordkeeping capability, and addresses FPA’s upcoming technology transition by leveraging PCS Retirement’s modernization experience.

Copley Equity Partners has acquired Vital Delivery Solutions, a New England provider of healthcare logistics, same-day courier, and temperature-controlled warehousing services. Financial terms were not disclosed; VDS will continue operating under its brand with management in place while leveraging Copley’s resources to expand service offerings and geographic coverage.

Grizzly MEP, a commercial MEP platform backed by Garnett Station Partners, announced a partnership with Vermont Mechanical Incorporated, a full-service mechanical contractor headquartered in Williston, Vermont. The deal serves as an add-on to Grizzly's platform to expand its New England footprint and leverage Vermont Mechanical's installation and growing services capabilities across healthcare, government and education end markets.

Prosperity Partners, a Chicago-based tax and accounting platform backed by Unity Partners, completed the acquisition of South Burlington, Vermont-based Danaher Attig & Plante (DAP). The deal expands Prosperity’s tax and accounting capabilities and establishes a Vermont presence; terms were not disclosed and DAP partners will remain actively involved.

Blue Mantis has acquired three Vermont-based IT and networking firms — TELigence Partners, Brevin Systems and Calkins Networks — bringing nearly 200 new customers into its portfolio. The deal expands Blue Mantis' carrier, network and managed-services capabilities across the Northeastern U.S., strengthening its offering for mid-market clients in industries such as healthcare and higher education.

Custom Veterinary Services (a portfolio company of Align Capital Partners) has acquired Green Mountain Animal, LLC, combining capabilities in soft chew, powder and liquid pet health products. The combined business will be rebranded as CompletePet to create a larger CDMO/pet health products platform with expanded R&D, manufacturing and supply-chain capacity.

Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) have acquired FoodScience, a Williston, Vermont-based formulator, manufacturer and marketer of pet and human nutritional supplements, from Wind Point Partners. MSCP said it will work with CEO Sharon Rossi to pursue organic growth and strategic M&A to expand FoodScience's portfolio and capabilities.

ATIS, a portfolio company of Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP), has acquired Vermont Elevator Inspection Services (VEIS). The add-on expands ATIS' geographic footprint into Vermont and strengthens its local inspection and regulatory compliance capabilities; terms were not disclosed.

Original Clean Energy, a subsidiary of Clean Royalties backed by Houston-based Siltstone Capital, acquired Williston, Vermont–based iSun and its subsidiaries SunCommon (Waterbury, VT) and Liberty Electric (Salem, NH) following iSun’s bankruptcy. The sale (reported purchase price $10 million) is part of a restructuring and regional growth plan to expand solar, storage and EV charging deployment across northern New England and New York.

HUB International Limited has acquired The Essex Agency, Inc., an independent insurance agency based in Essex Junction, Vermont. The acquisition expands HUB's commercial and personal insurance capabilities in Vermont and strengthens its specialty practices by adding The Essex Agency's team to HUB International New England.

Prince Industries, an HC Private Investments portfolio company, acquired Bradford Machine, a Brattleboro, Vermont-based precision machining firm, to expand Prince’s medical device, aerospace and defense capabilities. The transaction terms were not disclosed; debt financing was provided by Wintrust Financial Corporation, Signature Bank and Midwest Mezzanine Funds, with Winston & Strawn serving as legal counsel and Mirus Capital Advisors advising Bradford.

Trinity Hunt Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm, made a majority investment in Alliance Group, a New England commercial HVAC services provider, to launch a national commercial HVAC platform. Trinity Hunt will support Alliance's growth and scale the business through strategic add-on acquisitions and organic initiatives while Steve Knowles will lead the platform as CEO.

Wilson Allen has acquired the Intapp-solutions practice group of Aurora North, adding a 27-member team and specialist methodologies to its Technology Services group. The move expands Wilson Allen's Intapp OnePlace implementation and optimization capabilities across North America and the UK while Aurora North retains its IP software and PracticeLink business.

The Facilities Group, a PE-backed facilities maintenance platform backed by Greenbriar Equity Group and Revolent Capital Solutions, has added JaniTech, a regional janitorial and facility maintenance provider headquartered in Colchester, Vermont. The deal brings JaniTech into TFG’s family of regional providers to expand the platform’s footprint in Vermont and the broader New England market and to provide additional resources and career growth opportunities for JaniTech employees.

Exaktera LLC, a portfolio company of Union Park Capital, has acquired Advanced Illumination Inc., a designer and manufacturer of specialty LED lighting assemblies and drivers for machine vision, industrial imaging and biomedical applications. Terms were not disclosed; Advanced Illumination will continue operating from Rochester, Vermont with John Thrailkill remaining in a leadership role and will be integrated into Exaktera's precision components platform to expand machine-vision illumination capabilities.

Private equity firm Camano Capital has acquired a majority stake in Turtle Fur, the Morrisville, Vermont–based manufacturer and distributor of headwear and outdoor accessories. Founder Richard Sontag will retain partial ownership; the capital infusion is intended to support product expansion and continued brand stewardship in Vermont.

The Hilb Group has acquired Vermont-based Paige & Campbell, Inc. and its subsidiary the Taylor Palmer Agency, expanding Hilb's New England presence and client offerings. Paige & Campbell — headquartered in Barre with additional offices in Bristol, Bradford and Waitsfield — will join Hilb's New England regional operations; Hilb Group is a Carlyle-backed insurance brokerage platform focused on growth through strategic acquisitions.

Parkway Capital, the mezzanine investment arm of Calvert Street Investment Partners, provided subordinated debt to lead a recapitalization of Phoenix Feeds & Nutrition, marking the company's first institutional capital. The financing is intended to support PFN's growth initiatives and expansion of operations across New England and New York.

Averhealth, with support from Five Arrows Capital Partners, has acquired Aspenti, a Burlington-based provider of substance use monitoring, care coordination and diagnostic services. The deal expands Averhealth's referral base into physicians, treatment centers and healthcare systems and strengthens its capabilities in population health and substance use disorder management.

Copley Equity Partners has completed a majority investment in North Star Leasing, a Burlington, Vermont-based provider of equipment financing solutions. North Star Leasing CEO Daniel Feeney will remain in place; financial terms were not disclosed and Copley will be represented on the board to support the company's aggressive growth and consolidation strategy in the micro-ticket leasing market.

Stonewall Kitchen, the Maine-based specialty food and home goods platform, acquired Vermont Coffee Company, a Middlebury, Vermont-based roaster and seller of certified-organic bagged coffee. The deal brings Vermont Coffee into Stonewall Kitchen’s family of specialty brands and supports continued roasting operations in Middlebury plus plans for a new downtown Middlebury café.

Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners has acquired FoodScience Corporation, a Vermont-based formulator, manufacturer and marketer of human and pet nutritional supplements. Wind Point will partner with management and incumbent CEO Sharon Rossi to grow the Company's branded and private-label business, accelerate eCommerce, and pursue broader growth in human and pet supplement markets.

Artemis Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, has acquired Omega Optical, a Brattleboro, Vermont manufacturer of precision optical filters and coatings. Artemis intends to build Omega as the first company in its Optical Technology platform and support organic and inorganic growth while Omega's founder and management retain a significant ownership stake.

Bear Down Brands, a Topspin Consumer Partners portfolio company based in Huntington Beach, California, has acquired Verilux, the Vermont-based maker of HappyLight therapy and consumer lighting products. The acquisition expands Bear Down Brands' home health and wellness product portfolio and adds Verilux's natural-spectrum lighting and UV-C sanitization capabilities.

AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm focused on aerospace, defense and specialty industrials, has acquired G.S. Precision, a Brattleboro, Vermont-based manufacturer of high-precision aerospace and defense components. Terms were not disclosed; G.S. Precision will continue to be led by CEO Norm Schneeberger, who will remain a significant shareholder.

Clubessential Holdings (a Battery Ventures company) has acquired Vermont Systems, Inc., a provider of recreation and parks management SaaS. The acquisition adds ~1,200 customers and ~100 employees, expanding Clubessential's presence into municipal, county, state and federal/military public markets as an add-on to its portfolio.

Edgewater Capital Partners has entered into an agreement to acquire Haematologic Technologies Incorporated, a Vermont-based provider of biologic products, reagents and GMP-compliant assay development and testing services for the biopharmaceutical industry. Edgewater said it will support HTI's next phase of growth and build the company as a premier outsourced services partner for biologics; financial terms were not disclosed.

ASGARD Partners & Co. and Merit Capital Partners have acquired the protective eyewear product line and related assets of Revision Military Ltd., including the Revision name, a 53,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Essex, Vermont, and approximately 130 employees. Merit provided subordinated debt and equity as part of the investment; ASGARD will lead the separated eyewear business and work with existing management to pursue growth and capability expansion in military and allied defense markets.