Acquisitions in Ohio in 2016

Aterian Investment Partners, through an affiliate, has acquired Step2, a branded designer and manufacturer of large-format plastic toys headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio. The deal combines Step2 with Aterian's existing platform Backyard Discovery to create the largest outdoor toy company in North America and expand market share across playsets, playhouses, ride-ons and home & garden products.

Altaris Capital Partners announced a recapitalization of CSafe Global with an investor group that includes funds managed by Frazier Healthcare Partners; Altaris will retain a minority stake. CSafe Global, headquartered in Monroe, Ohio, is a provider of active and passive cold-chain packaging solutions serving the biopharmaceutical industry and will use the transaction to support continued growth and capability expansion.

Cleveland-based Oswald Companies acquired The Hoffman Group, an Ohio insurance firm founded in 1919, effective June 1, 2016. Hoffman employees became employee-owners of Oswald and will operate out of Cleveland and Medina while continuing to serve clients in commercial property & casualty and personal insurance and expanding offerings via Oswald's broader services.

Confie, a national insurance distribution company and portfolio company of ABRY Partners, has acquired ExpressLink, Inc., a provider of auto dealer point-of-sale insurance programs and related products. The deal will expand Confie's product and territory offerings; ExpressLink's president Brian Murphy will remain in place and the companies said there will be no employee reductions or location changes.