Acquisitions in New Jersey in 2021

World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Tinton Falls-based insurance consolidator, acquired SAS Insurance Agency, Inc. of Kearny, New Jersey effective December 31, 2021. SAS, founded in 1965 and owned by Michael Symeonides since 2002, will continue operating from its existing location with its professional staff as part of WIA's expanding broker network.

World Insurance Associates LLC, a Top-100 insurance brokerage based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, acquired Livingston Insurance Agency on December 31, 2021. Terms were not disclosed; Livingston will continue to serve its personal and commercial insurance clients as part of World’s expanding network.

Sterling Construction Company, Inc. acquired Petillo Incorporated, a Northeast specialty site development firm, for $195 million in aggregate consideration (comprised of $175M cash and 759,447 shares valued at $20M) with up to $20M in earn-outs and $15M in retention payments for the CEO. The deal expands Sterling's E‑infrastructure capabilities and geographic footprint across major East Coast markets, positioning the company as a leader in specialty site development for blue‑chip e‑commerce and data center customers.

Oldcastle APG, a CRH company, acquired the recycling and mulch operations of South Jersey Agriculture Products (SJAP) in December 2021. The deal expands Oldcastle APG’s manufacturing capacity and market presence in the Mid-Atlantic lawn & garden category by adding recycled-material mulch and soil production capabilities.

The Hain Celestial Group has acquired That's How We Roll (Proven Brands, Inc. and KTB Foods, Inc.), the owner of the ParmCrisps and Thinsters brands, from Clearlake Capital for approximately $259 million in cash. The target generated about $108 million of net sales for the 12 months ended September 30, 2021 and grew to over 250 employees under Clearlake's ownership; the deal deepens Hain's position in the better-for-you snacking category.

CompoSecure Holdings, Inc. completed its previously announced business combination with Roman DBDR Tech Acquisition Corp. on December 27, 2021, and the combined company began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker CMPO on December 28, 2021. The transaction takes CompoSecure public via the SPAC, positioning the company to accelerate growth in premium payment cards and its Arculus cryptocurrency storage and security product line.

Kamps, Inc. has acquired Gorgo Group, a Vineland, New Jersey-based provider of pallet, packaging and logistics solutions, expanding Kamps’ asset-based footprint in the North‑East. Gorgo operates three locations (two in Southern New Jersey and one in Harrisburg, PA), employs over 200 people, and will remain staffed with existing employees and owners post‑transaction.

Huron Capital completed the acquisition of TriStruX, a national provider of telecom infrastructure services formed from the 2020 merger of Telcom Engineering Group, Leone Electric Corporation and High Point Utilities. The deal creates a telecom infrastructure services platform to support 5G and fiber deployment nationwide, with TriStruX founders remaining in management and holding minority stakes.

Keystone Capital Management completed an investment partnership with VDA, Inc., a leading provider of technical consulting and inspection services to the elevator and vertical transportation industry. The transaction establishes VDA as a Keystone platform in the building sciences space and positions the company to pursue add-on acquisitions to accelerate growth and consolidation.

US Service Group (USSG), a Deer Park, New York-based industrial services company, has acquired Transcope Services of Randolph, New Jersey. The acquisition strengthens USSG's presence in the Northeast and expands its rigging, transportation, warehousing and logistics capabilities; Transcope President Mark Elfant will remain on a consulting basis to support growth.

Aurora Capital Partners has acquired Spray-Tek, LLC, a North American leader in specialized spray drying and ingredient processing solutions serving food & beverage, personal and home care, and pharmaceutical/nutraceutical markets. Aurora will partner with Spray-Tek's management to resource growth initiatives, expand drying capacity and capabilities, and accelerate both organic and inorganic growth.

Thompson Street Capital Partners portfolio company Len The Plumber has acquired Russo Bros. & Co., a residential HVAC, plumbing, electrical and indoor air quality services provider based in East Hanover, New Jersey. The deal is an add-on to expand Len The Plumber’s service footprint into northern New Jersey; co-owner Matt Russo will remain to run the business while co-owner Mark Russo will transition out and retire. Terms were not disclosed.

Garnett Station Partners has recapitalized PJW Restaurant Group, the parent company of P.J. Whelihan's, providing growth capital to support expansion of its 26-restaurant portfolio across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Comvest Credit Partners provided an $80 million senior secured credit facility to support the transaction; financial terms of the recapitalization were not disclosed. Founder Bob Platzer and the current management team are partnering with Garnett Station under the recapitalization agreement.

Indianapolis-based Vertellus has acquired Jarchem Innovative Ingredients, a Newark, New Jersey manufacturer and supplier of specialty, nature-based ingredients. The deal expands Vertellus' portfolio in nature-based and environmentally friendly ingredients for personal care, food and specialty industrial markets; Vertellus is PE-backed by Pritzker Private Capital.

TZP Group’s portfolio company BIGNAME Commerce is merging with JAM Paper & Envelope in a deal supported by debt and equity co-investment from Patriot Capital alongside TZP. The combined company will combine BIGNAME’s in-house envelope manufacturing and DTC capabilities (Envelopes.com, Folders.com) with JAM Paper’s marketplace and data/analytics strengths; Andrew Jacobs (JAM’s CEO) will lead the combined business.

Kedaara (Kedaara Capital) acquired a significant majority stake in GAVS Technologies, an AI-led digital transformation and managed services provider focused on healthcare, retail, BFSI and other verticals. The investment will support GAVS' growth—accelerating adoption of its ZIF.ai TechOps platform, expanding AI-led managed services and product engineering capabilities, and leveraging Kedaara's and CD&R's global relationships.

Strattam Capital (a private equity firm) invested in Action Title Research, a technology-driven title research and public-records analytics provider, in a transaction announced December 2021. The investment (reported as a $30 million capital commitment by Strattam) is intended to accelerate growth, expand capabilities and support a roll-up/add-on acquisition strategy for Action Title Research.

World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Top 100 insurance brokerage based in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, acquired E&K Insurance Group of Eatontown, New Jersey on December 1, 2021. Terms were not disclosed; E&K is a multi-line insurance agency offering personal, commercial and specialty insurance and will operate as part of World’s national platform.

An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has made a strategic equity investment in Rising Pharma Holdings and Casper Pharma (together, Rising Pharmaceuticals) to support the company's growth, M&A activity and new product launches. Rising Pharmaceuticals is an asset-light developer and marketer of generic and specialty pharmaceuticals based in New Jersey with a diversified portfolio of over 125 products and a network of 23+ CMO/CDO partners.

GlacierPoint Enterprises, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital and parent of E&M Logistics, has partnered with Jack & Jill, a third-generation family-owned direct store delivery (DSD) distributor headquartered in Moorestown, New Jersey. The deal brings Jack & Jill into the GlacierPoint/E&M platform, expands the combined company's footprint from the New York metro into the Mid-Atlantic corridor, and strengthens relationships with key customers and suppliers.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has acquired Discovery Data Holdings, a provider of market intelligence and data for the financial services industry, from Northlane Capital Partners. The deal brings Discovery Data into ISS Market Intelligence to expand ISS’s data, analytics, and market intelligence capabilities for asset managers, insurers, and fintechs.

Arsenal Capital Partners' Value Demonstration business has acquired Cyan Health, a Montclair, New Jersey–based payer marketing and market-access agency. The add-on strengthens Arsenal's Value Demonstration platform capabilities in market access, payer communications, and value demonstration to support life sciences clients and accelerate patient access to new therapies.

Risk Strategies, a national specialty insurance brokerage, has acquired Meeker Sharkey & Hurley, a full-service insurance and employee benefits agency with offices in Basking Ridge and Cranford, New Jersey. The acquisition strengthens Risk Strategies' retail insurance operations and specialist capabilities in New Jersey; terms were not disclosed.

Pouschine Cook Capital Management led a growth investment in Curexa Pharmacy, a PCAB-accredited 503A compounding pharmacy that partners with direct-to-consumer telemedicine brands. Institutional co-investors included ORIX Corporation USA’s Private Equity Solutions group and Hexagon; First Horizon Bank provided senior credit facilities and management completed a meaningful rollover to support continued scaling of Curexa’s digital and pharmacy infrastructure.

The Riverside Company has made a strategic investment to combine Premier Specialties, Intarome Fragrance Corporation and Fragrance Solutions Corporation into a new platform called OnScent. The combined business will be led by CEO Bertrand Lemont and will use Riverside's capital to invest in technology, product development, customer service and pursue strategic add-on acquisitions while existing founders and management remain meaningful shareholders.

Corza Medical, a GTCR portfolio company, has acquired Katena Products from Audax Private Equity. Katena is a Parsippany, New Jersey–based manufacturer of precision ophthalmic instruments, single-use devices and specialty biologics with more than 200 employees and sales in over 110 countries. Audax, which acquired Katena in 2015, supported the company's operational and M&A-driven growth during its ownership.

TEOCO Corporation, a provider of analytics and network optimization solutions, acquired Software Synergy, Inc. (SSI), a 30+-year provider of automated routing and optimization software for communications service providers. The deal (announced in May 2022) closed in December 2021 and brings SSI's Universal Routing Solution and toll-free routing capabilities into TEOCO's analytics and routing product portfolio.

Columbus McKinnon Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCO) has completed its acquisition of Garvey Corporation, a leading accumulation systems solutions provider founded in Hammonton, New Jersey with approximately 100 employees. The purchase expands Columbus McKinnon's precision conveying and accumulation technology offerings as part of its Blueprint for Growth 2.0 strategy.

Baltimore-based Tilley Company, a portfolio company of SK Capital Partners, has completed a merger with Phoenix Aromas & Essential Oils, creating the combined Tilley‑Phoenix Group. The transaction — an add-on to Tilley's platform — was announced December 2021 and was reported as an exit for Caymus Equity Partners, expanding Tilley's product portfolio, technical/regulatory capabilities and global distribution in flavor & fragrance and other regulated markets.

Blue Point Capital Partners has acquired Brimar Industries, a Garfield, New Jersey–based manufacturer and e-commerce seller of safety signs, pipe markers, valve tags and related products. Blue Point will support Brimar's digital-first e-commerce strategy and pursue growth through data & digital capabilities, supply-chain optimization, human capital initiatives and potential add-on acquisitions.

STP Investment Services has acquired third-party fund administrator Tower Fund Services to expand its alternative asset fund administration capabilities and bring Tower clients onto STP's BluePrint technology platform. The transaction strengthens STP's alternative investing offering and aims to deliver enhanced operational technology and service to Tower's clients.

MeritB2B, a Mountaingate Capital–backed provider of B2B data and performance marketing solutions, has acquired True Influence, a leader in B2B buyer intent data, ABM and demand generation technology. The acquisition (an add-on to the MeritB2B platform) combines data, analytics and AI-driven intent capabilities to create a full-funnel B2B marketing solutions provider and expands the combined organization's capabilities and global reach.

Columbia Financial, Inc. (Columbia Bank) received required regulatory approvals to acquire Freehold MHC, Freehold Bancorp and Freehold Bank. The transaction, announced Nov. 24, 2021, was expected to close on December 1, 2021 and aims to expand Columbia's New Jersey branch network and realize cost savings from the combination.

Global-e has agreed to acquire Flow Commerce, a Hoboken-based cross-border e-commerce software provider, for up to approximately $500 million (cash and stock). The deal expands Global-e's capabilities and addressable market to serve small and emerging direct-to-consumer brands, and broadens its relationship with Shopify.

Precision IBC, a privately held IBC rental and services provider based in Fairhope, Alabama, has acquired Metano IBC Services, an intermediate bulk container rental operator with operations in New Jersey. The deal expands Precision IBC's rental footprint in the Northeast U.S.; Metano founder Tom Wilkins will join Precision's management team to support integration and continued service to customers in flavors & fragrance, personal care and pharmaceutical end markets.

Neptune Retail Solutions (NRS) acquired RevTrax, an offer-management and promotions marketing platform, with RevTrax’s founding leadership joining NRS’s executive team to accelerate integration. The deal aims to combine RevTrax’s AI-driven Offer Management Platform and first‑party data capabilities with NRS’s in‑store network and shopper data to expand personalization, fraud prevention and omnichannel promotional capabilities at scale.

HGGC completed a majority investment in PF Atlantic Holdings, which is rebranding as Grand Fitness Partners; co-founders David Bidwell and Scott Linsky will continue to lead the business and retain a significant minority stake alongside current investor Monogram Capital. Grand Fitness Partners, headquartered in Toms River, New Jersey, operates 42 Planet Fitness locations across Florida, California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; financing for the transaction was provided by Carlyle’s Global Credit and Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Credit.

Advantest Corporation has agreed to acquire R&D Altanova, a U.S.-based supplier of consumable test interface boards, substrates and interconnects used in semiconductor testing. The acquisition, sourced from Riverside Partners' exit, will integrate R&D Altanova into Advantest America to expand Advantest's end-to-end test solutions and strengthen its recurring business and U.S. manufacturing footprint.

The Riverside Company, a private investment firm, has invested in Executive Home Care Franchising (Executive Care), a Hackensack, New Jersey–based provider of non-medical in-home services for seniors and disabled individuals. Riverside said it will support Executive Care’s growth through organic initiatives and strategic add-ons as part of its franchise specialization.

MoneyLion Inc. has acquired MALKA Media Group LLC, a creator network and content platform, to expand its content capabilities and better engage consumers across digital channels. The acquisition will enable MoneyLion to combine MALKA's creative capabilities with its financial products and first-party data to drive customer acquisition and retention.

BRP Group, via its subsidiary Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners (BKS Partners), has entered into an agreement to acquire all outstanding equity interests of Construction Risk Partners (CRP), a specialty construction insurance brokerage headquartered in Branchburg, New Jersey. The deal adds about $32.6 million of annual revenue and roughly 85 employees, strengthening BRP's national construction risk management platform and expanding its construction-focused capabilities and market presence.

Sentinel Capital Partners has acquired Empire Auto Parts, a Totowa, New Jersey–headquartered specialty distributor of aftermarket collision parts operating a hub-and-spoke network across the U.S. East Coast. The transaction, effective mid-November 2021, represents an exit for seller Tenex Capital Partners II (Tenex Capital Management); financial terms were not disclosed.

London-based GHO Capital Partners has acquired Genesis Research, a Hoboken, New Jersey–headquartered provider of tech-enabled Real-World Evidence (RWE) and Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) services. The transaction, which follows a prior recapitalization by Rallyday Partners, gives Genesis additional capital and European market expertise to pursue global expansion and adjacent capability growth.

Givaudan has reached an agreement to acquire Custom Essence, a family-owned fragrance creation house based in Somerset, New Jersey. The acquisition expands Givaudan's natural-fragrance capabilities and local/regional customer reach as part of its 2025 fragrance strategy; Custom Essence employs roughly 70 people and would have represented about USD 40 million of incremental sales on a 2020 proforma basis.

New State Capital Partners (via an affiliate) has made a majority equity investment in Wilmington Paper Corp., a recovered-fiber processor and intermediary headquartered in New Jersey. Management, led by CEO Stuart Lurie, retained a substantial minority stake; New State said it will support organic growth, technology and logistics investments, and pursue add-on acquisitions to extend the company's reach.

RoundTable Healthcare Partners has established Everwell Health, a new functional-ingredients platform, and Everwell made its first acquisition by buying Nutrition21 from JDS Therapeutics. Nutrition21, a Saddle Brook, New Jersey–based developer and marketer of clinically substantiated ingredients for dietary supplements, functional foods and beverages, will operate under the Everwell platform to accelerate R&D, product development and commercial expansion.

QuickBox Fulfillment, a Pike Street Capital portfolio company, has acquired Swan Packaging Fulfillment, a Wayne, New Jersey-based provider of fulfillment, packaging and Amazon support services. Pike Street Capital provided additional capital to support the transaction and Swan owner Tim Werkley will join the combined executive team. The acquisition expands QuickBox's east‑coast footprint, increases shipping locations and value‑added services, and aims to accelerate growth through expanded technology and staffing.

CareDx, Inc. acquired MedActionPlan, a New Jersey–based provider of medication safety, adherence technology and patient education, to add a medication adherence platform to its transplant patient digital suite. The acquisition integrates MedActionPlan PRO, MyMedSchedule Plus and clinician dashboard capabilities into CareDx's offerings to improve post-transplant medication management and patient adherence.

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) completed an investment in Thibaut, a long-established designer and supplier of premium wallcoverings, fabrics, and furnishings, on November 9, 2021. The PE investment will support Thibaut's growth plans across product offerings, market channels, and geographies; financial terms were not disclosed.

Dura Software, a San Antonio-based acquirer and operator of hyper-niche software products, has acquired DB Technology, a workflow and process automation software company serving healthcare, retail and hospitality. DB Technology — founded in 1983 and based in Edison, New Jersey — will move its headquarters to San Antonio; Justin Brady has been named CEO and all employees will remain in their current locations.