Professional Services Acquisitions in North Carolina

Alpine Intel, a Charlotte-based provider of forensic investigation and insurance intelligence services, has acquired HMI, a Cary, North Carolina–based provider of national outdoor property claims support. The acquisition expands Alpine Intel’s capabilities to include tree and landscape loss services—such as emergency tree removal, estimate reviews, and replacement/repair cost estimates—strengthening its data-driven offerings for insurance carriers.

Quad-C Management has made a growth investment in Tax Protection Plus (TPP), a Winston-Salem–based provider of post-filing tax protection and identity-theft restoration services. Management, led by CEO Matt Lievens, will remain significant shareholders as Quad-C partners with the company to expand service offerings, enhance technology capabilities, and broaden market reach; terms were not disclosed.

West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting firm, has acquired The Hartsema Group, a boutique firm that builds and manages customer advisory boards for regional banks and payment technology providers. The deal expands West Monroe's financial services and payments advisory capabilities and integrates Hartsema's team and advisory-board offerings into West Monroe's banking and payments practice.

Michael Kidd, owner of the Pet Butler franchise in Cary, North Carolina, has acquired local pet care business Fluff Inc., adding pet sitting and dog walking services to his franchise's offerings. The acquisition—brokered in part by Seth Blackburn of BridgeWorth & Associates—expands service capabilities for Pet Butler in the Cary market and brings Fluff Inc.'s clients and staff into the Pet Butler family.

MRE Partners, supported by investors including Stonehenge Partners, Blue Marlin Partners, Cohesive Capital and UMB Financial, has completed an investment to acquire Curated Events, a leading special-event rental and services provider based in the Raleigh area. The transaction (terms undisclosed) transfers Curated Events from seller Dubin Clark and positions MRE to pursue organic growth and follow-on acquisitions to build a market-leading platform across the Mid‑Atlantic and Southeast.

B. Riley Financial has acquired certain assets of ABTV (formerly Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos), a Charlotte-based restructuring and financial advisory firm. Senior restructuring advisors Ed Sanz and P. Michael Kain have joined B. Riley Advisory Services and the former ABTV headquarters will be re-established as a B. Riley office in Charlotte; financial terms were not disclosed.

Technical Safety Services (TSS), a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP), has acquired Precision Air Technology, Inc., a Morrisville, North Carolina provider of controlled-environment testing and certification services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare settings. The deal expands TSS's geographic presence in the Research Triangle and is the sixth acquisition by TSS since being acquired by LLCP in 2022.

Arch Amenities Group, a Rockville-based provider of wellness and amenity management (and a CI Capital Partners portfolio company), acquired Innovative Spa Management and Privai and took a majority stake in Spa Space. The deal expands Arch’s network of spa clients to over 70, adds a botanical skincare/manufacturing and salon footprint, and brings a SaaS reservations/marketplace platform into its service offering to drive utilization and revenue across its amenities portfolio.

ABACO, with backing from Noah Lowy/Lowy Family Group, has completed a recapitalization of FranDevCo, a franchise sales organization. Founder Nick Neonakis will exit while Jeff Dudan remains as chairman and Sung Ohm will serve as CEO as the new capital is used to accelerate FranDevCo's growth and expand its service offerings.

Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm headquartered in Boston, has acquired PARC design lab, a boutique architecture practice based in Durham, North Carolina. The acquisition expands Shepley's science and technology design capabilities and establishes a physical presence in the Research Triangle; PARC co-founders Jeffery Bottomley and John Jarvis will join Shepley in leadership roles.

Private equity firm Blackford Capital, through its Boston Trade Interior Solutions platform, has acquired Greensboro, N.C.-based interior design and FF&E procurement firm ID Collaborative Inc. The add-on deal expands Boston Trade's capabilities and footprint—particularly in the senior living and healthcare end markets—and furthers Blackford's consolidation strategy in commercial interior design and procurement.

TZP Group’s TZP Small Cap Partners II has led a recapitalization of Force Management, partnering with the company's management team and existing investor Driehaus Private Equity, who will retain a meaningful stake. Force Management, a Charlotte-based provider of sales force training, sales effectiveness consulting and learning management software, will work with TZP to accelerate growth and expand its offerings.

Capitala Group has made a growth investment in Proactive Dealer Solutions, a Huntersville, North Carolina-based provider of lead management, BDC and conversion services for automotive, RV, marine and powersports dealerships. The partnership will provide capital and strategic support to help Proactive scale its people, process and technology offerings across the dealership channel.

MSouth Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has closed an investment in iBenefit Communication, a Charlotte-based benefits communication, engagement, and enrollment services provider. The partnership is intended to help iBenefit scale its sales, operational, and financial processes and accelerate growth.

Nationwide Property & Appraisal Services, backed by Corridor Capital, has acquired Elliott & Company Appraisers, a Greensboro, North Carolina–based valuation and appraisal management firm. The deal expands Nationwide's valuation product set and Southeastern U.S. footprint while retaining Elliott's management team to support integration and product development.

Pamlico Capital has agreed to make a strategic investment in Business Network International (BNI); financial terms were not disclosed. The investment will fund accelerated investment in BNI’s global network, with a focus on technology and training to enhance the member and franchisee experience; Pamlico partners will join BNI’s board.