Professional Services Acquisitions in 2024

Guardian Alarm, a Southfield, Michigan–based full-service security company, has completed its acquisition of Cincinnati-based ProAlert Security Systems. The deal expands Guardian Alarm's customer base and capabilities in the Cincinnati market, allowing it to deliver security and fire alarm services to more residential and commercial customers.

Rainier Partners has completed a platform investment in Welfare & Pension Administration Service (WPAS), a Mercer Island, Washington–based third-party administrator (TPA) specializing in Taft-Hartley multi-employer benefit plan administration. The transaction represents a sale by Periscope Equity and will provide WPAS with capital and operational support to scale its services and serve more multi-employer trusts nationwide.

Davies has acquired Premier Claims Management (PCM), a Santa Ana, California-based provider of professional and general liability claims services. The deal brings Marilyn Bonetati and more than 40 PCM colleagues (including 16 coverage attorneys) into Davies’ North American claims operations and strengthens Davies’ claims handling capabilities for the Lloyd’s market across the U.S. and parts of Canada.

Allied Universal has acquired Unified Command, an event safety and security technology provider that specializes in event surveillance video, command center operations and situational awareness services. The deal expands Allied Universal’s technology-enabled offerings and brings Unified Command’s team, including founder and CEO Chad Ladov, into Allied Universal’s management structure.

VSS Capital Partners, alongside Century Equity Partners, completed a private equity investment in Lumenci, Inc., a full-service intellectual property (IP) consulting and patent monetization firm headquartered in Austin, Texas. The capital will support Lumenci's expansion of services and geographic reach as the firm scales its technical, valuation, and litigation-support offerings.

NFP has acquired Benefits Partner, LLC dba Salus Group, an employee benefits consulting, brokerage and administration firm based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The acquisition is intended to expand NFP’s employee benefits capabilities for the middle-market and deepen its presence and talent base in Michigan and the broader region.

Security 101, a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, has acquired Eos Business Surveillance Solutions, a Flint, Michigan-based security integration firm specializing in video surveillance, access control, and mobile surveillance trailers. The acquisition expands Security 101's capabilities and Michigan footprint while retaining Eos leadership to continue scaling the mobile surveillance trailer sales and leasing business.

Funds managed by New York-based Lee Equity Partners will take a majority stake in UK accountancy and business advisory firm Cooper Parry, succeeding Waterland Private Equity as the firm's capital partner. The investment will provide financing to accelerate Cooper Parry's organic growth and M&A-led expansion as it builds a next‑generation professional services platform; the deal is expected to close in H1 2025 subject to regulatory approvals.

Registrar Corp has acquired Personal Care Regulatory (PCR) Group, a UK- and Ireland-based cosmetics regulatory, toxicology, and compliance specialist. The deal expands Registrar’s EU/UK regulatory capabilities and toxicology services, enabling end-to-end cosmetic compliance support including acting as a Responsible Person for clients in the UK and EU.

Graham Partners has acquired Becklar LLC, a tech‑enabled provider of connected safety, monitoring and emergency response solutions headquartered in Ogden, Utah. Becklar management and existing sponsor BV Investment Partners rolled substantial stakes into the transaction while Graham becomes the new lead investor; financial terms were not disclosed and the deal closed in early December 2024.

Security 101, a Gemspring Capital-backed national commercial security provider, acquired two of its high-performing franchisees: North Texas Integration (Dallas, TX) and Mountain View Integration (Denver, CO). The transactions bring the Dallas and Denver teams into Security 101's core operations to expand the company's geographic footprint and enhance its operational capabilities across multiple end markets including healthcare, education, financial and government.

Easton Select Group has acquired the services operation of Shore Pools, a Marshfield, Massachusetts-based pool services company; Shore Pools' retail operation is excluded from the deal and will continue to operate independently. The services business will be integrated into Easton Pool and Spa to expand maintenance capabilities across Massachusetts' South Shore; Easton Select Group is backed by Brenton Point Capital Partners.

Cervano Capital, in partnership with Konza Valley Capital, made a strategic growth investment in From The Ground Up (FTGU), a Minnesota-based commercial landscaping services provider. The deal closed on December 5, 2024, with Tradition Capital Bank providing debt financing; financial terms were not disclosed.

Salon Republic, a portfolio company of Riata Capital Group, has acquired Mosaic Salons + Spas in Seattle, Washington. The add-on expands Salon Republic's West Coast footprint and increases its presence in the Pacific Northwest; terms were not disclosed.

Bureau Veritas, the global testing, inspection and certification leader, has acquired LBS Luxury Brands Services S.R.L. Group, an Italy‑headquartered laboratory and quality assurance provider for the luxury and fashion sector. The deal strengthens Bureau Veritas' upstream supply‑chain quality and sustainability capabilities and expands its presence in the Italian market.

Huron (NASDAQ: HURN) has acquired AXIA Consulting, a supply chain-focused consulting and technology firm, to deepen its supply chain and technology capabilities, including expanded Oracle SCM and Microsoft offerings. Approximately 130 client-facing AXIA employees will join Huron; financial terms were not disclosed and Clearsight Advisors served as AXIA's exclusive financial advisor.

HR Path, a global HR consulting and HRIS provider, has acquired Pay Human Group, a Mexican payroll management and HR consulting firm, to strengthen HR Path’s presence in Latin America. The deal adds payroll outsourcing and BPO capabilities in Mexico and Colombia and expands HR Path’s AIR (Advise, Implement, Run) service footprint in the region.

The Vertex Companies, a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, has acquired LitCon Group, a forensic accounting, financial analysis, eDiscovery and construction consulting firm. The add-on expands Vertex’s forensic, financial accounting and litigation support capabilities and extends its geographic and technical reach for clients across construction, government contracts, insurance and commercial litigation matters.

PRA, a Chicago-based business events management firm majority owned by EagleTree Capital, has acquired Island Style Innovations, a Hawai‘i-based destination management and events specialist. The Island Style Innovations team will join PRA’s Hawai‘i office and rebrand as PRA to expand the company’s local capabilities and strengthen its presence in the Hawaiian meetings, conventions, and incentive market.

Hidden Harbor Capital Partners has made a strategic investment in Lathan Associates Architects, P.C., a Hoover, Alabama–based architectural and design firm serving K-12, higher education and municipal clients. Founder Rick Lathan and the existing partners remain invested and active; terms were not disclosed and the investment closed on November 21, 2024.

IMS Legal Strategies has acquired Texas-based MacKenzie Life Care Planning to expand its advisory and life care planning capabilities for litigation support. The acquisition brings MacKenzie's 36 professionals into IMS, enabling deeper integration of medical, vocational, and expert testimony services to strengthen clients' legal cases.

Global consulting firm J.S. Held has acquired substantially all assets of Luttrell Wegis, a specialized forensic accounting and business valuation practice serving family law and civil litigation clients in California. The roughly 40-person team will join J.S. Held to strengthen its family law, asset tracing, and valuation capabilities.

The Vertex Companies, a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, has acquired CBBG Group, a construction expert services firm with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and London. The acquisition expands Vertex's forensic consulting and expert testimony capabilities and extends its footprint across the EMEA region.

SolomonEdwards, a Renovus Capital Partners-backed professional services firm, has acquired Dominion Advisory Group (DAG), a U.S.-based anti-money laundering (AML) advisory and financial crime consulting firm. DAG founders Jon Glass and Pete Balint will join SolomonEdwards as partners, all DAG employees will be retained, and the acquisition expands SolomonEdwards' AML and financial crime capabilities as part of its national growth strategy; terms were not disclosed.

Tucker's Farm Corporation, via its franchisor platform Wonder Franchises, has acquired Christmas Decor (also known as The Decor Group), the leading franchisor of exterior Christmas and holiday decorating services. The Decor Group operates roughly 200 franchisees across 240 territories with about $75 million in system sales; Wonder intends to scale the brand and support franchisee growth.

Intact Financial Corporation has acquired Jiffy Inc., a Canadian app-based marketplace for home maintenance services, to accelerate the platform's geographic expansion across Canada and enhance Intact's digital customer engagement. Jiffy's team, including its co-founders, will join Intact and continue operating under the Jiffy brand to connect homeowners with certified local service professionals.

Entigrity and MYCPE announced a strategic merger and rebrand as MYCPE ONE to create an integrated ecosystem serving CPA and accounting firms. The combined company will offer staffing, continuing professional education (CPE), digital marketing, M&A advisory, tech/cybersecurity, and other firm services to streamline operations and expand capabilities for client firms.

ICTS Europe has acquired First Coast Security (FCS), a Jacksonville, Florida-based provider of corporate security services. The acquisition establishes FCS as ICTS Europe’s North American corporate security business unit and strengthens the group's presence in the United States; terms were not disclosed.

Contego Investigative Services, an Orlando-based provider of investigative and fraud solutions, has acquired veteran surveillance firm Investigation Specialists, Inc. The acquisition expands Contego’s investigative and SIU capabilities and strengthens its footprint in the Southeast to better serve insurance carriers, TPAs, self-insureds and employers.

NMi, a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, has acquired ExVeritas Ltd., an internationally accredited certification body focused on product and personnel safety. The deal expands NMi’s certification and market access capabilities across metrology, cybersecurity and product safety and is an add-on to NMi’s platform under LLCP ownership.

Signal Hill Equity Partners has invested in CSArch, a New York-based architecture, engineering and design firm, to establish a national architecture and engineering platform as the first investment from Signal Hill Fund IV. CSArch’s leadership will remain in place and Signal Hill plans to support geographic expansion and platform diversification through future add-on acquisitions.

Covisian Group has acquired Centrinex, a 600-employee contact center management company based in Lenexa, Kansas. The acquisition expands Covisian's U.S. footprint and brings Centrinex's agent base and contact-center capabilities into Covisian's GenAI-enabled Smile.CX CX platform.

Lincoln International acquired TCG Corporate Finance, a pan‑European boutique technology and digital-economy M&A advisory firm with offices in Munich, Berlin, Stockholm and London. The deal expands Lincoln's Global Technology Group (doubling its Europe technology advisory team to more than 60), and names Scott Twibell and Harald Mährle as Co‑Heads of Lincoln's Global Technology Group.

Apheon has reaffirmed its commitment to TMC by reinvesting through a new Apheon-controlled vehicle, and MML Capital Partners is joining as a new investor alongside significant reinvestment from TMC's founder and management. The recapitalization will provide capital and sector expertise to support TMC's geographic expansion, capability development and continued M&A activity; TMC is headquartered in Eindhoven and employs about 2,750 people across 16 countries.

French information services group SVP Group, backed by private equity firm MML Capital Partners, has acquired Editions Tissot and Editions Weka from the German WEKA Group. The transactions expand SVP’s legal and public-sector information offerings, accelerate digitalisation and AI integration, and are financed in part with a unitranche facility provided by Eurazeo.

Guardian Protection, a Pittsburgh-area security and monitoring provider, has acquired Jupiter, Florida-based Vortex Security. The deal adds approximately 5,000 customer accounts to Guardian’s central Florida footprint and transitions Vortex customers to Guardian’s U.L.-certified monitoring and in-house customer service operations.

ECI Partners has acquired Independent Governance Group (IGG), the UK provider of professional pensions trusteeship and governance services; LDC has exited its majority stake but has reinvested alongside ECI. Crescent Capital's European Specialty Lending strategy led the debt financing to support the transaction. IGG employs more than 200 people, serves 386 pension schemes with around £324bn of assets and will pursue further organic growth and acquisitions under ECI's ownership.

PES Benefits has acquired the Benefits Administration business from Clarity Benefit Solutions, bringing Clarity's benefits administration team and technology into PES's platform. The deal expands PES Benefits' technology capabilities and service offerings, and includes a reseller agreement under which Clarity will continue to market benefits solutions through PES.

Marshall & Stevens, an independent valuation advisory and litigation support firm based in Los Angeles, has acquired Equitable Value, LLC, a Clifton Park, New York valuation and expert witness practice. The deal expands Marshall & Stevens' New York presence and adds Equitable Value’s matrimonial accounting, litigation support, and expert witness capabilities to the firm's service offering.

GardaWorld has acquired Stealth Monitoring, a North American leader in commercial mobile and fixed video monitoring, to create a global leader in AI-enabled remote video monitoring solutions. The acquisition (announced under a binding agreement and completed Oct 31, 2024) adds Stealth's technology, R&D, and ~2,000 employees across 40+ offices and eight monitoring centers to GardaWorld's ECAMSECURE capabilities.

Amtivo Group has acquired Quality Systems Registrars (QSR), a US-based ANAB‑accredited certification body, to strengthen Amtivo's presence and capabilities in the United States. The deal expands Amtivo's sector expertise (notably aerospace and chemical Responsible Care) and brings QSR's client network and standards experience into the Amtivo platform.

Command Investigations LLC, a portfolio company of Monument MicroCap Partners, acquired SuperiorX Investigations on October 15, 2024. The add-on transaction (financed by Maranon Capital with Charter Capital Partners as sell-side advisor) expands Command's geographic footprint and service offerings in Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region.

Propio Language Services (Overland Park, KS) announced the acquisition of three language-service firms—Akorbi, ASL Services, Inc., and United Language Group—to broaden its interpretation, translation, localization, and accessibility offerings. The deals expand Propio’s capabilities across healthcare, financial services, government, education and call-center markets and add multilingual digital transformation, on-site ASL services, and localization technology to its platform.

Arthur J. Gallagher (via its Gallagher Bassett business) acquired Safe T Professionals, a Chandler, Arizona–based construction and EHS safety management consulting firm. Capstone Partners advised Safe T Professionals on the transaction; the acquisition expands Gallagher Bassett's nationwide safety and outsourced EHS capabilities and adds expertise in semiconductor and EV construction safety.

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services has acquired Robert Stephen Consulting (RSC), a provider of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) and GIS solutions, to expand its digital solutions and space-planning capabilities. The acquisition brings RSC's implementation expertise and staff into Langan's national digital/GIS practice to enhance workplace efficiency, asset management and facilities optimization for clients across corporate, government and healthcare sectors.

ECI Partners has made a majority investment in TAG, the high-touch travel and event management firm, providing an exit for Apiary Capital. TAG, founded in 1988 and employing about 450 people globally, will partner with ECI to invest in technology, scale its global footprint and accelerate growth across entertainment and corporate travel markets.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired PEAK Alarm Company, adding six Western U.S. locations and roughly 120 employees. The acquisition expands Pye-Barker's geographic footprint across the Intermountain West and brings PEAK's security, monitoring and life-safety capabilities into the Pye-Barker platform.

Prime Pensions, Inc. (PPI), a retirement plan administration and consulting firm headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, has acquired Piper Pension & Profit Sharing, a Los Angeles–based third-party retirement plan administrator. The acquisition expands Prime Pensions' West Coast presence and adds Piper's clients and team to PPI's national platform; financial terms were not disclosed.

Guardian Alarm has completed the acquisition of Columbus-based SDG Security, expanding its footprint in Ohio and enabling the company to offer its residential and commercial security and fire alarm services to more customers in the Columbus market. The deal brings SDG's customers and local team into Guardian Alarm's operations; SDG co-owner Bruce Reedy commented on confidence in Guardian Alarm continuing SDG's tradition of service.

Carrier Johnson + Culture has merged with Seattle-based Communita | Atelier to integrate Communita’s landscape architecture and urban planning expertise into Carrier Johnson + Culture’s multidisciplinary design platform. The combined firm will broaden service offerings and expand Carrier Johnson + Culture’s presence in the Pacific Northwest.