Acquisitions in Georgia in 2019

SFW Capital Partners completed a strategic recapitalization of Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, partnering with Micromeritics President Preston Hendrix and his family, who will remain significant shareholders. The deal brings SFW resources and leadership (Terry Kelly named CEO) to support product development, sales and service expansion, and pursuit of strategic add-on acquisitions.

Affiliates of Apollo Global Management completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Cox Media Group from Cox Enterprises, with Cox retaining a minority stake. The deal transfers ownership of CMG’s television and radio stations, Ohio newspapers, CoxReps and Gamut digital/OTT advertising businesses to the Apollo-backed company, which will continue to operate as Cox Media Group headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

SOCOTEC Group has acquired David Pattillo & Associates (DPA), an Atlanta-based dispute resolution and project risk management firm serving the U.S. construction market. Separately, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) will invest in SOCOTEC (Cobepa remains majority owner) to support the group's U.S. expansion.

Resurgens Technology Partners, an Atlanta-based software-focused private equity firm, made a strategic equity investment in OfficeSpace Software to support product investment and accelerate go-to-market initiatives. The partnership will fund enhancements to OfficeSpace’s SaaS workplace management platform and improve customer experience as the company scales.

Funds managed by Harvest Partners have completed the acquisition of Lazer Spot, Inc. from Greenbriar Equity Group. Lazer Spot, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, is a national leader in outsourced yard management services (trailer spotting and shuttling) operating at 400+ sites across the United States and Canada; management will remain significant owners and Harvest will support organic growth and an accelerated acquisition strategy.

MSouth Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has acquired Nth Degree, a leading provider of exhibit management and event services. Gladstone Investment Corporation sold its majority stake while retaining a minority equity interest; MSouth will partner with Nth Degree's management to expand services, capacity and technology to support global event marketing growth.

Wynnchurch Capital acquired Clyde Industries, the pulp & paper and regional industrial business carved out from Clyde Bergemann Power Group. Clyde Industries, headquartered in Atlanta with manufacturing in Brazil and offices in multiple countries, provides engineered boiler cleaning/sootblower systems, aftermarket parts and services for pulp & paper, power and other industrial markets.

Hire Dynamics, a portfolio company of MSouth Equity Partners, has completed the acquisition of Trace Staffing Solutions. The add-on expands Hire Dynamics' branch footprint and allows Trace to leverage Hire Dynamics' recruiting technology, training and brand to accelerate growth across South Georgia, coastal South Carolina, Virginia and northern Florida.

ACS Group (formerly American Cybersystems) acquired The Ascent Services Group, a national IT and life sciences consulting and staffing firm, in a transaction that closed in December 2019. The acquisition — from Ascent's financial sponsor Sycamore Hill Capital Partners — expands ACS Group's geographic footprint and strengthens its IT and life-sciences staffing capabilities as ACS pushes toward the $1 billion revenue milestone.

Caymus Equity Partners, together with Midwest Mezzanine Funds, RGA Private Debt & Equity and Pan‑Am Dental management, completed a recapitalization of Pan‑Am Dental, a full‑service outsourced dental laboratory headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. The transaction provides Pan‑Am with capital to expand its product portfolio, grow into new geographies and pursue future add‑on acquisitions while management retained a significant equity stake.

Leonard Green & Partners has acquired a majority stake in Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, a U.S. route-based fire protection and life-safety services platform founded in Atlanta. Carousel Capital completed a majority exit from the company (remaining as a minority investor) after partnering with Pye-Barker since 2016, during which the company completed 35 add-on acquisitions and materially grew revenue and EBITDA.

Silver Lake has signed a definitive agreement to acquire First Advantage, a global provider of background screening, drug testing and identity solutions, from Symphony Technology Group. The deal will support First Advantage's technology differentiation and accelerate growth while First Advantage's senior management remains in place and meaningful equity holders.

Drew Foam Companies, a portfolio company of Branford Castle Partners, acquired Davis Core & Pad, an EPS foam shape molder based in Cave Spring, Georgia, from owner Joel Davis. The add-on strengthens Drew Foam's leadership in the Southeast and augments its capabilities in EPS shape molding; terms were not disclosed.

Atlas Intermediate Holdings LLC (operating as Atlas Technical Consultants) has signed an agreement to acquire Long Engineering, Inc., a civil and transportation engineering and surveying firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The add-on deal expands Atlas' service capabilities (including subsurface utility engineering and construction engineering/inspection) and strengthens its footprint and client relationships across the Southeast; Atlas expects to close the transaction prior to year-end as it pursues a planned business combination with Boxwood Merger Corp.

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has completed its acquisition of Atlanta-based Prime Risk Partners, combining the two brokers to expand EPIC's national footprint and broaden specialty support offerings. Prime Risk Partners will initially operate as Prime Risk Partners – an EPIC Company and continue to serve clients from its existing locations.

Stamford-based private equity firm Olympus Partners has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Soliant Health, an education and healthcare staffing provider, from The Adecco Group. Soliant supplies therapists to K-12 schools and places travel nurses and allied health clinicians for the life sciences and healthcare markets; Olympus said the acquisition will support continued growth given strong market dynamics in special education and clinician staffing.

Brentwood Associates has acquired a majority interest in SSRG Holdings, LLC (Chicken Salad Chick) from Eagle Merchant Partners. The fast-casual chain — led by CEO Scott Deviney and operating 137 locations across 16 states as of the announcement — will continue to pursue growth and geographic expansion; transaction terms were not disclosed.

DAS Health, a Tampa-based health IT and management firm, has acquired Automated Medical Systems, a healthcare IT company headquartered in Valdosta, Georgia that serves clients across several Southern and Northeastern states. The acquisition expands DAS Health's EHR and service offerings (including Henry Schein's MicroMD) and strengthens its footprint and capabilities in practice management, RCM, managed IT and other value-based care solutions.

VSS and Trivest Partners have completed a growth investment in Quatrro Business Support Services (QBSS), with BPO veteran CM Sharma investing alongside them and assuming the role of CEO. The capital will support QBSS's organic growth and a planned add-on acquisition program to expand its tech-enabled BPO services for small and mid-sized businesses and enterprise customers.

Audax Private Equity has completed its acquisition of EIS, Inc., a distributor, fabricator, and converter of electrical process materials, wire, cable and assemblies headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Audax said it will support EIS’s growth through organic initiatives and a buy-and-build strategy, leveraging EIS’s 38 branches, four fabrication facilities, and broad North American customer base.

Transportation Insight, a Gryphon Investors-backed enterprise logistics provider, has acquired The Transportation Specialist's Group (TSG) to strengthen its enterprise logistics leadership and expand its service offering. The deal preserves TSG's Atlanta-area office and leadership engagement to ensure continuity while integrating TSG's technology-enabled transportation management capabilities into Transportation Insight's platform.

JPB Partners has acquired The Helpful Hardware Company, an Ace Hardware franchisee operating eight stores across the Southeast, with subordinated debt and equity provided by Tecum Capital Partners to support the transaction. Darin Workman will remain CEO and retain a minority stake; financial terms were not disclosed and the former owner was The Capstan Fund.

Wind River Environmental, a Gryphon Investors‑backed environmental services platform headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, acquired Bishop‑Thiem Septic Services, a family‑owned septic and grease‑trap services provider based in Fayetteville, Georgia. The add‑on deal expands Wind River’s coverage in the Atlanta market and strengthens its ability to service residential, commercial and municipal customers in the region.

Vital Recovery Services (VRS), a Fusion BPO Group company, has acquired the client portfolio of Nations Recovery Center (NRC). The deal transfers NRC's debt-collection clients across banking, commercial, medical and retail sectors to VRS as part of VRS/Fusion's ongoing growth-through-acquisition strategy.

Hargray Communications has agreed to acquire Infinity Network Solutions, an IT services firm with operations in Macon and Covington, Georgia. The deal expands Hargray’s Data Center and Managed Services (DCMS) capabilities in the Southeast; Infinity’s founders Robert and Brian Betzel will take on leadership roles within Hargray following the transaction.

Branford Castle Partners, a New York‑based private equity firm, has acquired Pulse Veterinary Technologies, LLC, a leading maker of shock wave therapy devices for equine and small‑animal veterinary markets, from Thompson Street Capital Partners. Siguler Guff provided debt financing and made an equity co‑investment; Branford plans to use the platform to accelerate geographic and customer expansion and pursue potential add‑ons.

TPG Capital signed a definitive agreement to acquire CollabNet VersionOne from Vector Capital; terms were not disclosed. TPG said it will commit up to $500 million of equity to build an integrated, enterprise-focused DevOps platform and pursue acquisitions to expand capabilities in Agile planning, DevOps and Value Stream Management.

Tailwind Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, has acquired Ventiv Technology, a global provider of integrated risk management (IRM) software headquartered in Atlanta. Tailwind plans to accelerate Ventiv's growth through enhanced sales and marketing, new product development, geographic expansion, and support for M&A activity.

Boathouse Capital has completed a growth investment in AnalyticsIQ, an Atlanta-based marketing data and predictive analytics firm. The capital will be used to fuel business growth and continued product innovation, supporting AnalyticsIQ's PeopleCore and BusinessCore data products.

Kaltroco, a private investment company, acquired Council Capital’s stake in Atlanta-based EspriGas. Council Capital — which invested in EspriGas in 2013 — sold its position while CEO Mike Walsh remains a significant shareholder; transaction terms were not disclosed.

Hargray Communications, a regional telecommunications operator based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has agreed to acquire Kings Bay Communications, Inc. (operating as Kingsland Cable), a locally owned internet and cable TV provider based in Kingsland, Georgia. Hargray said it will invest in the Kingsland network to deliver next-generation services (including 1 Gbps internet and Hargray TV), integrate billing and network systems, and continue serving both residential and business customers; the seller was Don Trednick and his family after 41 years of ownership.

Wardle Educational Services, Inc., doing business as Peach State Tutoring and Test Prep, was sold by owners Kathy and Don Wardle to Cornerstone Holdings International, LLC. The transaction, advised by Walden Businesses, Inc., supports the founders’ retirement and transfers the tutoring and test-prep business to Cornerstone for continued operation and growth.

Eurazeo (via its Eurazeo Capital arm) agreed to acquire Elemica, a cloud-enabled digital supply network and SaaS provider, from Thoma Bravo. The transaction—backed by approximately $250 million of equity from Eurazeo and its affiliates—is intended to support Elemica's global expansion into new geographies, industry verticals and product offerings.

Cendyn, a cloud-based hospitality software provider headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, has acquired The Rainmaker Group, a revenue and profit optimization SaaS provider for hotels, resorts and casinos. The deal will integrate Rainmaker's revenue-management capabilities into Cendyn's hospitality cloud to offer aligned sales, marketing and revenue solutions; Rainmaker co‑founder Tammy Farley will join Cendyn's board.

Cint has acquired 100% of P2Sample, a U.S.-based programmatic sampling platform, to expand its audience reach and strengthen programmatic sampling and AI-driven fraud detection capabilities. The deal brings P2Sample's supplier relationships, API integrations and employees into the Cint Group while P2Sample's co-founders will remain in leadership roles.

Ciox Health received a $30 million equity investment led by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund alongside private equity owner New Mountain Capital to accelerate development of its Digital Patient Clone and expand clinical data capabilities. The financing aims to enhance Ciox's clinical data liquidity and support research use of de-identified real-world patient data to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Owner Resource Group, an Austin-based private investment firm, has recapitalized OTR International, Inc., a Rome, Georgia-based manufacturer of specialized off-the-road tires, wheels, mounted assemblies and rubber tracks. The partnership with founder and CEO Fred Taylor will provide capital for continued global expansion, product line extensions and acquisitions while supporting management's long-term growth plans.

Mammoth Holdings, an Atlanta-based express conveyor car wash operator, has acquired Wash Time Express, Inc., a single-unit express conveyor car wash in Austell, Georgia. The seller and founder Richard Bailey, Jr. reinvested a significant portion of proceeds into Mammoth and will join the company as an operations consultant and shareholder; Mammoth's platform is backed by Red Dog Equity with additional partnership from The Pritzker Organization.

Meridian Adhesives Group, a platform created and backed by Arsenal Capital Partners, has acquired PolyCom Industries, LLC and its affiliate Eco Dispersions, LLC. The add-on expands Meridian's capabilities in adhesives and coatings for the flooring market and positions PolyCom to leverage Meridian's broader technologies and resources.

Investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan agreed to acquire Lendmark Financial Services from private equity funds managed by The Blackstone Group. The senior management team will remain in leadership and as shareholders; the transaction was expected to close in H2 2019 subject to regulatory approvals.

Valet Living has acquired Torch Fitness, an Atlanta-based provider of fitness, wellness and nutritional programs for multifamily communities. The deal adds Torch's presence in more than 200 communities and over 400 certified trainers and dietitians to Valet Living's Valet Living Home amenity platform as an add-on to its PE-backed portfolio.

MSouth Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, completed the acquisition of BIG Language Solutions in partnership with the company's management team led by Jeff Brink. MSouth intends to use BIG as a platform for a buy-and-build strategy focused on translation, interpretation, and related language services for regulated verticals such as legal, financial services, and life sciences.

Summit Park has made a platform investment in Aspirent Consulting, a Atlanta-based data and analytics consulting firm, partnering with the company's leadership to accelerate growth. Summit Park will work with Aspirent's management and industry veterans Bob Gallagher and Jim Folds in advisory roles to scale the business and capitalize on demand for data and analytics services.

Affinity Hospice Holdings, a portfolio company of MBF Healthcare Partners II, L.P., has acquired Bridgeway Hospice Holdings, a hospice and palliative care provider operating in 39 counties in Georgia with a combined census of about 900 patients. The acquisition expands Affinity's footprint in Georgia and makes it one of the larger hospice providers in the state.

CM Equity Partners (CMEP), together with JANUS Research Group's founders and management, completed a recapitalization of JANUS Research Group, Inc. The transaction positions the Evans, Georgia–headquartered defense engineering and services firm (≈350 employees) for continued growth while keeping existing leadership and the founders involved.

RIB Group (RIB Software SE) has acquired a majority ownership stake in Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD), the provider of BSD SpecLink specification software and SpecLink Cloud. The deal is intended to accelerate cloud-based BIM integration, expand BSD's international reach and advance digital capabilities across the construction industry; BSD's leadership team will remain in place and Caltius Structured Capital will no longer be involved.

Bonaccord Capital Partners (a division of Aberdeen Standard Investments) acquired a passive, non-voting minority stake in MSouth Equity Partners to provide capital supporting the firm’s future growth and strategic initiatives. Terms were not disclosed; the investment is intended as a long-term, non-control partnership and BCP will not participate in MSouth’s operating or investment decisions.

Shore Capital Partners formed Southern Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy Physicians (SENTA) and completed a strategic partnership with Northwest ENT & Allergy Center, a seven-location ENT and allergy services provider in the Greater Atlanta, Georgia area. The investment creates a physician-led platform to support growth, standardize operations, and pursue affiliations with other regional ENT and allergy practices across the Southeast.

SugarCRM announced on May 16, 2019 that it has acquired Salesfusion, a SaaS marketing-automation provider. The acquisition adds marketing automation and lead management capabilities to SugarCRM’s platform to deliver a unified customer experience for mid-market B2B customers.

West Physics, a national diagnostic medical and health physics services provider backed by LNC Partners, has acquired Phoenix Technology Corporation, a Woodstock, Georgia-based provider of diagnostic medical and health physics services. The transaction is West Physics' first add-on since LNC Partners' initial investment in May 2018 and expands West Physics' scale and presence in the market.