Professional Services Acquisitions in Massachusetts

Province, a portfolio company of Trivest, has acquired StoneTurn, a global professional services firm specializing in disputes, investigations, and risk advisory, from MML Capital. The deal adds StoneTurn's investigative, compliance, and dispute capabilities to Province's restructuring and financial advisory services, creating an integrated, senior-led advisory platform across more than 300 professionals and 19 offices.

Careerminds has acquired Keystone Partners, Renovo, Job Copilot, and Outplacement Australia to create a scaled, global workforce solutions platform that spans North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The acquisitions expand Careerminds' outplacement, career transition, talent development and job-search technology capabilities and provide broader local-market delivery and expertise.

Odgers (Odgers Berndtson) has acquired Ridgeway Partners LLC, a U.S.-based executive search firm focused on financial services and board advisory. The acquisition strengthens Odgers' Global Financial Services and Board Advisory practices and expands its U.S. capabilities and reach into major financial centers.

Chief Executive Group (CEG) has acquired CEO Roundtable (CEORT), a Boston-area peer advisory organization for CEOs, bringing its members into CEG’s national Chief Executive Network. The deal preserves CEORT’s confidential peer model while expanding CEG’s presence in the Northeast and adding membership, events and research capabilities to its portfolio.

LaunchPad Home Group, a PE-backed residential inspection platform, acquired RJ Home Inspections, a market-leading home inspection business serving Greater Boston and New England. RJ owner Adam Wright will join LaunchPad as Regional Leader for the newly created Northeast division as LaunchPad expands its footprint with support from RFE Investment Partners.

Ubiquity Global Services has acquired Peak Support, a Cambridge, Massachusetts–headquartered CX and operations support provider, to expand its global customer experience footprint and AI-enabled capabilities. The deal brings Peak Support's ~2,000-person remote-first team and cloud-native platform into Ubiquity's portfolio, enhancing its ability to serve enterprise and digital-first brands across onshore, nearshore and offshore delivery models.

Corgan, a global architecture and design firm headquartered in Dallas, has acquired Boston-based Dyer Brown, integrating the 56-year-old interiors and workplace practice into Corgan's platform. The deal strengthens Corgan's East Coast presence and expands its interior and workplace capabilities, giving Dyer Brown's clients access to broader national and global resources.

IQ-EQ, an Astorg portfolio company, has acquired South Watch LLC, a boutique U.S. fund administration and outsourced CFO/tax services provider, from majority owner Everlane Equity Partners and principal employee shareholders. The deal expands IQ-EQ's footprint in the Boston market and brings the South Watch partners into IQ-EQ's U.S. leadership for liquid funds and fund administration.

Easton Select Group has acquired the service business of Aqua Clear Pools, a Hanover, Massachusetts-based pool care provider. Easton Select Group’s Easton Pool & Spa division will assume management of the service relationships as part of the company's plan to expand its presence and customer base across the South Shore from Boston to Cape Cod.

IML Security (Island Master Locksmith), a family-office-backed security services platform, has acquired Serv-U Stores of Western Massachusetts, a long-established Springfield-based locksmith and physical security services provider. The acquisition expands IML's Northeast footprint while retaining Serv-U's brand, staff and local operations; former owner Steven Horowitz will remain in a consulting role during the transition.

Easton Select Group has acquired Sweetwater Pool Service, a long-running residential pool care and renovation provider serving more than 60 communities in Greater Boston. Sweetwater will continue operating under its brand with its existing team and leadership in place while joining Easton Select Group’s growing platform of pool services and backyard leisure companies.

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.

Maritz acquired Convention Data Services (CDS), a Bourne, Massachusetts-based event registration and lead-management provider, from Freeman on July 1. The purchase (terms not disclosed) expands Maritz’s capabilities and client portfolio in association and trade-show registration, increasing its market share in the events industry.

Boston-based executive compensation and leadership consulting firm Pearl Meyer has acquired Blake Street Group (BSG), a boutique leadership consultancy that provides human capital due diligence, organizational readiness, and leadership development to private equity firms and their portfolio companies. Blake Street, founded in 2007, has about 19 employees and offices in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco; the acquisition expands Pearl Meyer’s private equity-focused leadership and compensation capabilities.

Frasco Investigative Services, based in Irvine, California, has acquired Elite Detective Services, a specialist in insurance claims investigations. The acquisition expands Frasco’s investigative capabilities and geographic coverage across the United States while integrating Elite’s client base and experience into Frasco’s nationwide operations.

Boston-based RODE Architects has acquired McMahon Architects, a full-service firm known for workplace interiors, hospitality, restaurant, residential and environmental design. The deal expands RODE's workplace and hospitality capabilities and brings McMahon's president David McMahon on board for a transitional period to help integrate the teams.

Alchemist, a London-based learning and development company backed by Horizon Capital, has acquired RAIN Group, a Boston-headquartered sales training firm. The deal is Alchemist’s first follow-on transaction with Horizon and is intended to expand global reach, combine complementary capabilities and drive revenue synergies across leadership and sales training offerings.

Bright Event Rentals, a portfolio company of Trivest Partners, has acquired PEAK Event Services from Dubin Clark. The deal expands Bright's coast-to-coast footprint in the premium event rental market by adding PEAK's fulfillment centers and showrooms across New England and the Hudson Valley.

Garden Streets, a Boston-based employee engagement and wellness company, has acquired Revive, a marketplace of team-building activities. The acquisition (closed end of June 2023) will expand Garden Streets’ catalog of experiences and strengthen its learning & development and destination management offerings for corporate and distributed teams.

3STEP Sports has acquired US Officials to add an in-house referee assignment and development capability to its expanding soccer division. US Officials, founded in 2008, operates a network of 6,000+ referees and partners with more than 50 event operators across New England and nationally; the acquisition will help 3STEP strengthen game-day operations and expand the referee business nationally.

BTS Group AB (publ.) has acquired the business, operations, and operating assets of The Boda Group, a North American executive coaching firm. The deal includes initial cash consideration, new BTS shares valued at USD 600,000 and potential additional earn-out payments through 2027; Boda will become BTS's Executive Coaching Center of Excellence to expand BTS's end-to-end coaching capabilities.

Best of Care, Inc., a family-owned Massachusetts home care and care-management provider, has acquired Moving Mentor, Inc., a move-management, organizing and consulting firm serving older adults in the Northeast. The acquisition expands Best of Care's capabilities to offer holistic relocation and downsizing support alongside its in-home care and care-management services.

Los Angeles-based private equity firm Interlock Equity has made a strategic growth investment in Boston-based consulting firm Investor Group Services (IGS). The minority growth capital will support IGS's expansion of its consulting team, new service offerings, geographic footprint, and potential strategic acquisitions while founders and leadership retain significant ownership.

Turnout Industries, a Chicago-based diversified holding company, announced a strategic investment in North Point Associates, an Ipswich, Massachusetts provider of investigative due diligence and proprietary research. North Point serves private equity firms, venture capital firms, corporations and campaigns; the investment will support the firm’s growth and broaden its client reach.

MOREgroup, a Godspeed Capital-backed family of architecture, design and engineering brands, has acquired E4H Environments for Health Architecture. The transaction (terms not disclosed) brings E4H's healthcare and life-sciences architecture expertise into the MOREgroup platform while Keystone Capital exits its investment.

Bonhams has acquired Boston-based auction house Skinner (to be known as Bonhams Skinner). The purchase, from Skinner owners Stephen Fletcher and Karen Keane, expands Bonhams' presence in North America and adds Skinner's regional salerooms and digital auction capabilities to Bonhams' global platform; financial terms were not disclosed.

New York-based private equity firm CI Capital Partners has made a majority investment in The Cadmus Group, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based multidisciplinary professional services and consulting firm focused on climate, energy, environment, transportation, security, and public health. The partnership will provide capital to accelerate Cadmus' U.S. and European growth through organic expansion and strategic add-on acquisitions; financial terms were not disclosed.

Zywave, an insurance technology provider headquartered in Milwaukee, has acquired Boston-based Enquiron, a risk management and consultative business solutions firm. The acquisition adds Enquiron's data, service capabilities and risk-management offerings to Zywave's product cloud to expand its risk management and consultative services for insurers and employer customers.

BTS Group AB has agreed to acquire Bates Communications Inc., a Boston-based executive coaching and corporate communications firm, to strengthen BTS's executive and team development offerings and establish a stronger presence in the US Northeast. Bates reported revenues above $7 million in 2020 and about 23 employees; the deal includes cash consideration, newly issued BTS shares and contingent earnouts.

ettain group, a portfolio company of Alvarez & Marsal Capital, has acquired Centerline Partners, a life-sciences-focused management consulting firm with offices in Beverly, MA and Bridgewater, NJ. The deal expands ettain group's consulting capabilities and strengthens its presence in the life sciences market.

Patrol Protect Secure, Inc. (PPS), a PE-backed security platform sponsored by Mangrove Equity Partners and Sunlake Capital, acquired Internal Security Associates, LLC (ISA), a Boston-based contract security provider focused on public sector customers. The add-on expands PPS’s geographic footprint into greater Boston, increases platform revenue and EBITDA, and provides the ISA founder liquidity and a succession plan while the founder retains an equity stake in the PPS parent.

Innovation Women has acquired My Speaker Leads, an online lead service founded by Matt Ward that provides speakers with weekly speaking opportunity leads. The private sale—announced June 17, 2020—will let Innovation Women integrate My Speaker Leads' database and expand its offerings; financial terms were not disclosed.

EquipNet Inc., a provider of surplus asset management solutions, acquired United Alliance Services, a workplace safety and health consulting and training firm. The deal will expand EquipNet's service capabilities and geographic reach by adding complementary safety, compliance and training services for industrial, healthcare and construction clients.

EquipNet Inc. has acquired B&R Compliance Associates LLC, a provider of FDA compliance, validation and training services for the pharmaceutical, medical and food & beverage sectors. The acquisition expands EquipNet’s capabilities and vertical offerings by adding regulatory compliance and validation services to its surplus asset management and asset disposition platform.

Spencer Stuart, the global executive search and leadership advisory firm, has acquired Cambria Consulting, a Boston-based leadership development and coaching firm. The acquisition expands Spencer Stuart's Leadership Advisory Services by adding Cambria's coaching, executive assessment and team development capabilities.

MML Capital Partners has made a significant minority (growth) investment in StoneTurn, a global advisory firm, to support the firm's expansion into new geographies and practice areas while preserving its independence. As part of the deal, MML partners Ian Wallis and Shawn St. Jean joined StoneTurn’s board; Investec advised StoneTurn and Houlihan Lokey advised MML.