Professional Services Acquisitions in Ohio

The Riverside Company has invested in 1-Tom Plumber, a fast-growing franchisor of emergency plumbing and drain cleaning services, as the sixth add-on to its EverSmith Brands platform. 1-Tom Plumber operates through 37 franchisees across 57 territories in 22 states; Riverside and EverSmith plan to accelerate franchise development, deepen commercial penetration and drive cross-sell opportunities across the platform.

Unity Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm, has formed a new Midwestern landscaping platform by completing investments in Yardmaster (Columbus, Ohio), Big Lakes Lawncare (Detroit, Michigan) and Kunco Landscape (Erie, Pennsylvania). The three businesses will be fully integrated and operate under the Yardmaster brand to serve commercial, multi-family/HOA, office and industrial clients across the Midwest.

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.

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.

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.

OneDigital has acquired A Slice of HR, a Cincinnati-based human resources and recruiting consulting firm founded by Colleen Pfaller. The deal brings Pfaller and her seven-member team into OneDigital as the firm expands its HR and recruiting capabilities in Ohio and nationally.

PennSpring Capital, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based lower middle market investment firm, has acquired Zirtual, a Columbus/Powell, Ohio-based provider of U.S.-based virtual assistant services, from accelerator Startups.com. The acquisition expands PennSpring's BPO capabilities and complements its existing holding Mobiniti, positioning the firm for additional add-on activity in the business process outsourcing space.

CPL has acquired Cleveland-based Makovich & Pusti Architects (MPA), adding the firm’s healthcare, higher-education and public-sector expertise and opening CPL’s first office in Ohio. The transaction expands CPL’s geographic footprint into the Midwest and strengthens its sector capabilities across healthcare and institutional markets.

Command Investigations LLC, a portfolio company of Monument MicroCap Partners, completed the acquisition of Infoquest Information Services, Ltd., a Columbus, Ohio-based provider of professional investigation and information services for insurance claims defense. The add-on expands Command's service offerings and geographic reach, enabling accelerated cross-selling and enhanced capabilities for insurance defense clients.

Authority Brands purchased Weed Pro, an Ohio-based lawn care company founded in 2001 by Rob Palmer; terms were not disclosed. Weed Pro will be integrated into Authority Brands' incubator for emerging home-service franchise concepts to support brand development and nationwide expansion.

Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPDN) — through its wholly-owned subsidiary Expo Experts Events, LLC — purchased the assets and operations of Expo Experts, LLC for total consideration of $600,000 (cash and restricted PDN stock). The acquisition brings a STEM-focused career-fair platform into PDN's event portfolio to drive immediate event revenue growth and cross-platform sales opportunities.

ScaleCo Management LLC has made a platform investment in Total Procurement Intelligence (TPI Efficiency), a Cleveland-based energy procurement and utility consulting firm founded in 2009 by Roger Zona. The investment (ScaleCo's 22nd platform and third from Fund IV) will provide capital and operational support to expand TPI Efficiency's energy procurement, efficiency services, and LED lighting offerings nationwide.

The Riverside Company, via its CertaSite platform, has acquired the service business of Burnside Fire Protection (Cincinnati, OH) and Fire Loss Control (Brunswick, OH) as add-ons to its CertaSite fire and life safety platform. The deals expand CertaSite's footprint and technical capabilities in Ohio, marking the 18th and 19th recent add-ons to the platform and the 20th and 21st Midwest acquisitions cited by Riverside.

New State Capital Partners has acquired AFIMAC Global Inc., a provider of specialty business continuity solutions (staffing, security, logistics) in a carve-out from Dalton First Financial Inc. AFIMAC, headquartered near Cleveland, Ohio, will continue to be led by CEO Joe Schollaert as New State plans to grow the business organically and via add-on acquisitions to expand service lines and market share.

Bureau Veritas has acquired Advanced Testing Laboratory (ATL), a Cincinnati-based scientific sourcing and laboratory testing services provider serving consumer healthcare, cosmetics/personal care and medical device markets. The acquisition expands Bureau Veritas' Consumer Products Services capabilities and North American footprint; ATL employs over 500 people and generated approximately €31 million in revenue in 2021.

Three Ohio-based cleaning/contractor companies—QAC Services, Werner Services (WSI) and VIP Contractor Services—have joined forces to form Provantage, a Columbus-headquartered facility management and contractor services company. Provantage combines specialized cleaning, sanitizing, maintenance and remote monitoring capabilities to serve medical, education, commercial and construction end markets; no financial terms were disclosed.

Pittsburgh-based private equity firm Incline Equity Partners has made a growth investment in Perfect Power Wash, a residential exterior cleaning services platform headquartered in the Akron/Norton, Ohio area. Incline will support PPW's expansion through aggressive greenfield location openings, digital marketing and evaluation of additional exterior services while partnering with the founding team.

The Riverside Company has invested in Craynon Fire Protection, an Ohio-based fire and life safety services provider, as an add-on to its CertaSite platform. Craynon, based in Dayton, provides inspections, repairs, maintenance and sprinkler system installations; Riverside plans to grow the business through technology, training and improved technician utilization.

SIB Fixed Cost Reduction, a portfolio company of O2 Investment Partners, has acquired The Fox Consulting Group, a Cincinnati-based spend-management consultancy specializing in telecom, wireless, cloud services and credit card processing. The add-on expands SIB's capabilities in telecom, wireless and merchant/credit-card processing services and is the platform's second acquisition under O2's ownership.

Gridiron Capital has acquired AML RightSource from Clarion Capital Partners, partnering with AMLRS founders and management to drive the company's next phase of growth. AML RightSource, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading outsourced provider of AML, KYC and BSA compliance solutions with over 1,000 employees serving banks and non-bank financial institutions across North America.

Direct Travel announced on January 14, 2020 that it has acquired Professional Travel, a Cleveland-based corporate travel management company. Professional Travel, founded in 1963 with more than 175 employees and approximately $448 million in combined sales, will retain its executive leadership and be integrated into Direct Travel to deepen North American presence and expand service offerings for mid-market clients.

SinglePoint Group International Inc. has agreed to acquire General Revenue Corporation (GRC) from Navient. GRC, a Mason, Ohio-based college and university-focused asset recovery agency with approximately 130 employees, will continue operating from its Mason office and will join SinglePoint's receivables management and call center business.

HaystackID, a Knox Capital-backed eDiscovery platform, acquired eTERA Consulting and will fully integrate eTERA's team into the combined business. Senior leadership from eTERA reinvested alongside additional investment from Knox Capital, ORIX Mezzanine & Private Equity, Maranon Capital, L.P., and Baird Principal Group to support the combined company's expansion of eDiscovery, forensics, and managed review capabilities.

Epiq has acquired Garretson Resolution Group (GRG), a tech-enabled provider of mass tort, class action and high-volume legal dispute resolution services. The acquisition expands Epiq's mass tort and class action capabilities, bringing GRG's expertise and bench of specialists into Epiq's global legal services platform.

SYNNEX Corporation, via its Concentrix division, agreed to acquire Convergys Corporation for approximately $2.43 billion in a deal expected to close in 2018. The transaction will integrate Convergys into Concentrix to create a larger global customer engagement and CRM BPO services provider, delivering scale, expanded capabilities and geographic reach.