Acquisitions in Iowa in 2020

Bluebird Network acquired the ColoHub Data Center in Bettendorf, Iowa (effective December 31, 2020) from Geneseo Communications, expanding Bluebird’s Midwest data center footprint and complementing its underground facility in Springfield, Missouri. The deal strengthens Bluebird’s fiber and edge data center capabilities across Iowa and Illinois, providing additional low-latency and disaster recovery options for carriers and enterprise customers in the region.

Mercer Global Advisors (Mercer Advisors), a national registered investment adviser headquartered in Denver, acquired Marrs Wealth Management, LLC, an Ames, Iowa-based wealth management firm with approximately $215 million AUM serving ~275 clients. The deal closed December 31, 2020, and four Marrs team members (including founders/LLC members Craig Marrs, Andra Reason, and Nathan Brammer) joined Mercer; the move was driven primarily by succession planning and to expand client services and back-office capabilities.

Valeo Networks, a division of Saalex Corporation and national Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), has acquired Etech Solutions, an Ankeny, Iowa-based managed service provider (MSP) and affiliate EtechASP. The acquisition establishes Valeo's first Midwest office, expands its nationwide MSSP footprint and capabilities in cybersecurity, managed services and cloud hosting; financial terms were not disclosed.

An affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. has acquired Calcium Products, Inc., a manufacturer of calcium-based fertilizers headquartered in Ames, Iowa. The transaction represents First Capital Partners' exit of its 2013 investment in Calcium Products; Piper Sandler & Co. advised Calcium Products in the sale.

American Securities LLC has closed its acquisition of CPM Holdings Inc., partnering with CPM's management team; financial terms were not disclosed. CPM, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, is a global supplier of engineered process equipment for the animal feed, oilseed processing, extrusion and thermal processing markets, and American Securities plans to invest in product innovation, geographic expansion and aftermarket growth.

Great Range Capital completed the acquisition of The Realm, Inc., a Newton, Iowa-based custom manufacturer and distributor of pallets and wood crating that also recycles wood waste and produces wood mulch. The transaction closed on November 30, 2020, with Generational Equity advising the seller (led by Chris Barton).

Aspen Surgical Products, a manufacturer of surgical disposable products, has acquired Protek Medical Products, a Coralville, Iowa-based maker of single-use ultrasonic probe covers and needle guides. The acquisition expands Aspen’s portfolio of patient- and staff-safety consumables, adds Protek’s patented Pull-Up probe cover technology and R&D capabilities, and supports cross-selling into hospital, surgery center and OEM imaging channels.

Epiphany Dermatology announced a partnership with Dermatology Associates, LLP to expand its presence in Coralville, Iowa; the practice’s two physicians, Dr. Thomas Boysen and Dr. David Boysen, joined Epiphany. The arrangement provides the practice with Epiphany’s operational support (managed care, HR, IT, marketing) and expands Epiphany’s provider network and access to dermatologic care in the Cedar Rapids–Iowa City region.

AmeriLife Group, LLC has acquired a majority interest in The Achievement Group (TAG), a brokerage specializing in annuities and life insurance for pre-retirees and retirees. The deal expands AmeriLife’s retirement planning and annuity distribution capabilities while keeping TAG founder Brad Tison in a leadership and principal role within AmeriLife's annuity and retirement planning brokerage division.

Pamlico Capital completed a growth equity investment in Fastpath Solutions, a Des Moines–based provider of cloud-based governance, risk and compliance (GRC) software. Founder and CEO Andy Snook and management retain a significant ownership stake; Pamlico will help scale the business by accelerating sales and marketing and broadening the product set and ERP coverage.

Truck Center Companies, a Freightliner/Western Star dealership group based in Omaha, Nebraska, has acquired Harrison Truck Centers, adding eight Freightliner/Western Star sales and service locations across Minnesota and Iowa. The deal expands Truck Center Companies' geographic footprint in the Upper Midwest and brings Harrison's staff into TCC while the current Harrison ownership group will remain in managerial roles.

Capital For Business (CFB) led an investment in Entegra Attachments, LLC to acquire Bloom Manufacturing, Inc., a 110-year-old manufacturer of worm-drive and planetary winch systems and speed reducers. CFB partnered with B12 Capital Partners, UMB Capital Corporation and Entegra CEO Michael P. Flannery to complete the transaction as the first cornerstone of Entegra’s platform strategy.

Epiphany Dermatology has expanded its presence in Iowa by forming a partnership with board-certified dermatologist John H. Wollner, MD, bringing his Cedar Rapids practice into Epiphany's network. The affiliation will keep Dr. Wollner's location and staff unchanged while providing operational, administrative, and financial support to improve access to dermatologic care.

AssuredPartners, Inc. announced that LMC Insurance & Risk Management, headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, is joining AssuredPartners’ national broker team. The deal brings LMC’s 290 employees and 11 offices into AssuredPartners to expand its upper Midwest footprint and grow its agricultural practice.

DexKo Global Inc.'s subsidiary Dexter Axle Company has acquired Silent Drive, a long-established maker of specialty heavy-duty trailer air suspensions based in Orange City, Iowa. The acquisition expands Dexter/DexKo's specialty suspension capabilities and broadens its product portfolio and end-market reach across the United States and Canada.