Acquisitions in Nebraska in 2023

An affiliate of Antarctica Capital has completed the acquisition of Midwest Holding Inc. (NASDAQ: MDWT), a technology-driven life and annuity platform headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Midwest shareholders received $27.00 per share in cash, Midwest was delisted from Nasdaq, and Antarctica says Midwest will become a key component of its retirement services business while retaining current leadership and operations.

Funds managed by Harvest Partners have completed the acquisition of Road Safety Services, Inc. from Parallel49 Equity. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Road Safety Services provides pavement marking and road-safety services across 15 states from nine facilities; the company's management team, led by CEO Mike Johnson, will remain significant owners and continue to lead the business. Transaction terms were not disclosed.

Omaha Steaks announced that Omaha-based private equity firm McCarthy Capital has made an investment in the business and that Nate Rempe has been promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer. The Simon family remains involved as owners and chairman, and McCarthy Capital said the partnership will support accelerated growth and capacity investments while preserving management control.

FreshEdge, a Wind Point Partners–backed super-regional fresh food distributor, acquired Greenberg Fruit Company, a specialty produce distributor headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The deal expands FreshEdge's Midwest footprint westward, strengthening its supply chain and fresh-cut processing capabilities to better serve foodservice and retail customers in Nebraska and western Iowa.

Atlantic Street Capital (ASC) has acquired Brown's Medical Imaging, an Omaha-based provider of medical imaging equipment, service, maintenance and support. ASC plans to combine Brown's with its existing platform Prestige Medical Imaging to create the No. 2 independent provider of medical imaging services nationally and will pursue geographic expansion and select add-on acquisitions.

Agrality, an Argentina-based seed industry services company, has acquired Nebraska Irrigated Seeds, a Fremont, Nebraska seed production and processing business. The purchase adds four sites, ~400,000 sq ft of warehousing/processing capacity and access to thousands of acres of seed production, accelerating Agrality's expansion into the U.S. Midwest seed market.

Rickley Sports Cards, a family-owned sports card and memorabilia shop in Bellevue, Nebraska, has acquired Perfect 10 Card Company, a veteran‑owned sports card retailer based in Omaha, Nebraska. Financial terms were not disclosed; Rickley said the acquisition will broaden its product offering by adding Perfect 10's sealed hobby boxes and graded-10 cards sold through brick-and-mortar, social media and wholesale channels.

Ever.Ag, the Lewisville, Texas–based AgTech provider, has acquired Roger, a digital platform for bulk agricultural commodity trucking and logistics. The acquisition integrates Roger's freight-management and carrier/shipper marketplace with Ever.Ag's data analytics, aiming to deliver near-real-time logistics information and improved supply-chain transparency for agribusiness customers.

InTandem Capital Partners completed a strategic equity investment to acquire OrthoNebraska, a regional provider of orthopedic and musculoskeletal care headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Audax Private Debt provided a unitranche credit facility to support the transaction; InTandem intends to accelerate OrthoNebraska's growth by expanding clinical capabilities and geographic reach.

Minneapolis-based private equity firm ShoreView has acquired Garner Industries, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based manufacturer of level measurement sensors that markets under the BinMaster brand. The deal provides an exit for majority owner Phil Mullin and establishes Garner as a platform for ShoreView's test-and-measurement investment strategy, with plans to pursue add-on acquisitions and new product development.

Lindsay Corporation has acquired FieldWise, LLC, a Norfolk, Nebraska–headquartered provider of subscription-based precision irrigation and remote monitoring solutions. FieldWise will continue to operate independently while the acquisition strengthens Lindsay's smart irrigation and AgTech capabilities and expands its distribution and customer reach globally.

Rev.io, a Primus Capital-backed billing and customer management software provider, has acquired Tigerpaw, a long-running provider of professional services automation and business management software for MSPs and technology service providers. The acquisition expands Rev.io's capabilities in PSA, field/service automation and recurring billing for managed services and communications providers; AGC Partners advised Tigerpaw on the deal.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired Bamford, Inc., a full-service fire sprinkler company headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska, marking Pye-Barker's entry into its 36th U.S. state. The family-owned Bamford team will continue to serve customers locally as Pye-Barker expands its national footprint of fire protection, life safety and security services.

RelaDyne, the nation's largest lubricant distributor, has acquired Allied Oil, a Midwest leader in lubricant and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) solutions and industrial reliability services based in Omaha, Nebraska. The acquisition expands RelaDyne's geographic presence and route density in the Upper Midwest, while providing Allied Oil access to RelaDyne's resources, product breadth, and technology.

Argenta has agreed to acquire the CRO services business of Midwest Veterinary Services, Inc., a veterinary clinical research specialist founded in Oakland, Nebraska. The acquisition expands Argenta’s molecule-to-market capabilities in animal health and nutrition by adding clinical research and related services, while MVS will operate as a standalone business unit under Argenta with its existing leadership retained.

Jackson Healthcare has completed the acquisition of Omaha-based LRS Healthcare. LRS will continue to operate under its brand from Omaha with its management team and roughly 500 employees, joining Jackson Healthcare’s family of specialized healthcare staffing, search and technology companies to expand national staffing capacity and reach.

Everi Holdings Inc. agreed to acquire the majority of assets of VKGS LLC (Video King) for approximately $59 million in cash. The asset purchase expands Everi's addressable market for digital casino gaming content—Video King brings an installed base of more than 50,000 portable electronic bingo tablets, revenue of over $25 million in 2022, and licensing in ~60 jurisdictions.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Quality First Insurance, LLC, a La Vista, Nebraska-based insurance agency that serves health care and senior living facilities. The team led by Kathy Mock will relocate to Gallagher’s Omaha office to bolster Gallagher’s senior living and healthcare insurance capabilities in the Midwest; terms were not disclosed.

MAI, a Chicago-based fulfillment and 3PL provider, has acquired Omaha-based call center operator WASI to join its MAI Voice division. The acquisition expands MAI Voice’s omnichannel and AI-enabled contact center capabilities and increases capacity across multiple verticals; WASI owner Hank Schelling retired with the sale.

Milan Laser Hair Removal received strategic growth equity investments from Sixth Street and Wildcat Capital Management, with existing investor Leonard Green & Partners and the company co-founders retaining a majority stake. The capital will be used to accelerate clinic expansion, marketing, and business development as Milan Laser — the largest U.S. laser hair removal provider with ~250–260 clinics and ~1,700 employees — scales its footprint and offerings.

Chicago-based private equity firm Monroe Street Partners has completed the acquisition of Vigilnet America LLC, an Omaha-headquartered provider of electronic offender monitoring services. The acquisition will support Vigilnet's growth initiatives and Monroe Street's plans to build a portfolio in business services and accelerate strategic add-on acquisitions.

Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc. has purchased Orthman Manufacturing’s agricultural product lineup and two Lexington, Nebraska manufacturing locations. John McCoy, the preceding owner and company president, will retain ownership of Orthman Conveying Systems while manufacturing and support personnel are being offered employment with Unverferth.

Highstreet Insurance Partners (HSIP) partnered with Kearney, Nebraska-based Barney Insurance Group, adding Barney's ~25 employees and locations in Lexington and Lincoln to HSIP's Nebraska footprint. The transaction is an add-on to HSIP's national insurance agency platform as it continues roll-up activity across the U.S.