Acquisitions in Ohio in 2021

Great Day Improvements, a Cleveland-area vertically integrated direct-to-consumer home improvement company, has acquired Champion Windows, a Sharonville, Ohio-based provider of windows, doors, siding, and sunrooms. The acquisition expands Great Day Improvements' national footprint and capabilities in replacement windows and sunrooms, bringing Champion's ~1,100 employees and national presence into Great Day's portfolio.

Express Wash Concepts (EWC) acquired three Bee Clean Express Car Wash locations in Zanesville and Cambridge, Ohio (one location is currently under construction). The deal expands EWC's footprint to 57 operating locations and adds the Bee Clean brand to its portfolio as an add-on to its PE-backed platform.

Graphic Village purchased the Cincinnati operations of OneTouchPoint on December 30, 2021, acquiring personnel, equipment and the local customer base in a divestiture by OneTouchPoint. The deal will transition the Cincinnati facility's operations to Graphic Village’s Blue Ash, Ohio site and expands Graphic Village’s print, marketing and mailing capabilities in the Cincinnati region.

Fenix Parent LLC (operating as Fenix Parts) has completed its acquisition of the assets of All Foreign Used Auto Parts, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. The deal marks Fenix's first acquisition in the Midwest as it expands production capacity and its regional footprint; Fenix is PE-backed by Stellex Capital Management LLC.

Juggernaut Capital Partners has sold the Dapple Baby brand to Eleeo Brands. Dapple, a plant-based baby cleaning and personal care product brand (previously part of the Noble Holdings platform), will join Eleeo's family of family-focused health & wellness brands, including Boogie Wipes, to expand its retail and e-commerce presence.

Data Network Services, a Virginia-based managed service provider backed by Cloud Equity Group, has acquired Datacom Specialists, an Ohio-based managed service provider serving small- and medium-sized businesses. The deal is DNS’s first add-on since CEG’s December 2020 investment and is intended to expand DNS’s service offerings and client footprint; financial terms were not disclosed.

Zone Climate Services, a Wind Point Partners-backed platform, has acquired Total Line Refrigeration, a family-owned commercial refrigeration and HVAC services provider based in Cleveland, Ohio. The add-on expands Zone’s Midwest footprint into Ohio and broadens its end-market coverage in food service, grocery/retail and commercial kitchen customers.

American Industrial Partners (AIP) has acquired RelaDyne, Inc., a U.S. provider of lubricants, fuel, diesel exhaust fluid and industrial reliability services, from Audax Private Equity. The deal positions AIP to support RelaDyne's continued buy-and-build growth and operational initiatives; terms were not disclosed.

3Phase Elevator has merged with Gable Elevator, adding the Cleveland/Columbus-based elevator maintenance, repair and modernization business to its platform. The transaction expands 3Phase’s presence into Ohio; terms were not disclosed and the existing Gable leadership team will remain in place while founder Rick Gable retires.

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. completed the acquisition of Ohio Cannabis Clinic, LLC (d/b/a Ohio Cannabis Company) and its licensed medical cannabis dispensary in Coshocton, Ohio. The deal expands AWH's Ohio retail footprint (its second dispensary in the state) as the company plans to migrate acquired brands to the Ascend banner and continue growing in the state.

GoSecure, a leading Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, has acquired Columbus-based cybersecurity and AI firm Covail to augment the GoSecure Titan platform with Covail's AI/ML, automation and risk-optimization capabilities. The deal will expand GoSecure's capabilities in alert analysis, GRC services and establish a stronger regional presence in Central Ohio; terms were not disclosed.

BillerudKorsnäs has agreed to acquire Verso Corporation, a leading North American coated paper producer, for approximately USD 825 million in cash (USD 27.00 per share). The deal, expected to close in Q2 2022 subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, gives BillerudKorsnäs a North American platform and includes plans to convert Verso assets into paperboard capacity with up to SEK 9 billion of estimated capex.

Pilot Power Group, a portfolio company of Boyne Capital Partners, has acquired Trebel Energy, a provider of electricity and natural gas procurement services serving municipal aggregation (CCA) and commercial clients in Ohio. The deal positions Pilot to expand its capabilities and presence in the Ohio CCA market by adding Trebel’s CCA expertise, customer relationships and procurement operations.

Envoy Solutions, a Glenview, Illinois-based specialty distribution platform, acquired Valley Janitor Supply Company, a family-owned janitorial distributor headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio. The acquisition expands Envoy Solutions' national platform in the Midwest and adds distribution and in-house cleaning operations capabilities to serve customers across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

New Orleans-based Eustis Mortgage Corporation has acquired Canton, Ohio-based Signature Mortgage Corporation, bringing Signature's 30+ member Canton team into the Eustis family. The deal folds Signature's operations and brand into Eustis' platform, with Signature founder Bob Catlin remaining as Senior Vice President to support integration and operational continuity.

Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. has agreed to acquire Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Centers, adding Tuffy's ~165 service centers to Mavis's national footprint. Tuffy will remain headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, with CEO Roger Hill joining the combined company's leadership; terms were not disclosed.

Houston-based private equity firm Milton Street Capital has acquired Woodsage LLC, a Holland, Ohio manufacturer of specialty steel rollers and conveyor components. The acquisition is a platform investment to expand Milton Street's presence in material handling and capitalize on growth driven by e-commerce, automation, and distribution infrastructure needs.

Congruex, a Crestview Partners-backed telecom engineering and construction platform, has acquired Ohio Valley Excavating (OVE), a regional commercial excavation and underground utility services provider based in Lebanon, Ohio. The add-on strengthens Congruex's underground telecom and utility capabilities in the Midwest and retains OVE's founders and leadership as senior managers; financial terms were not disclosed.

Mid-State Industrial Maintenance, a portfolio company of CenterGate Capital, has acquired Elmco Industrial Services, a Van Wert, Ohio-based mechanical shop and field services provider. The add-on acquisition expands Mid-State's field and shop capabilities and increases geographic reach across aggregates, grain, food processing, and general industrial end markets.

AssuredPartners, Inc. has acquired American Risk Services, LLC (ARS), a Cincinnati-based insurance brokerage with a 32-person team and approximately $20 million in annualized revenue. The ARS founders and leadership will remain with the business as AssuredPartners expands its Ohio footprint as part of continued national growth.

High Street Capital, alongside Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, has acquired Knight Material Technologies (formerly Koch Knight), a Koch Engineered Solutions subsidiary. The PE firm plans to invest in KMT's technology, innovation and infrastructure while retaining the current management team to expand manufacturing capacity and grow market share.

Wrench Group, a national home services platform, has acquired Buckeye Heating & Cooling, a Columbus-area HVAC provider founded in 1948. Buckeye will operate under the Williams Comfort Air service umbrella as part of Wrench's Midwest expansion; financial terms were not disclosed.

Ameresco, a cleantech integrator, has acquired Plug Smart, an Ohio-based energy services firm specializing in building controls and building automation systems. The acquisition expands Ameresco's smart buildings and controls capabilities and adds to its clean-energy project pipeline across government, education, healthcare and commercial markets.

Blue Sea Capital has completed an acquisition of WillowWood Global LLC, a long-established designer and manufacturer of prosthetic products, from DW Healthcare Partners. The investment positions WillowWood for accelerated growth — with management retaining meaningful ownership — and signals Blue Sea's intent to support organic growth and pursue acquisition-driven expansion in the prosthetics market.

Magellan Scientific, LLC closed its initial round of equity funding and simultaneously acquired 1,600 MicroBT Whatsminer M30S ASIC mining servers. The company will deploy the servers across Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, using ~6MW of its 100MW off-grid capacity in Ohio and Pennsylvania to expand Bitcoin production and hold mined digital assets.

OpenGate Capital portfolio company Duraco Specialty Tapes has acquired 3 Sigma, a Troy, Ohio-based custom provider of pressure-sensitive products and specialty coatings, from Brixey & Meyer Capital. The add-on expands Duraco’s coating, in-house adhesive formulation and manufacturing capabilities to better serve high-growth end markets such as health & beauty, flexible packaging, food & beverage and medical.

BindTech LLC has acquired Cleveland-based Steffen Bookbinders Inc., bringing the century-old bindery into its nationwide group of trade book manufacturers and post-press services. The deal expands BindTech's Cleveland-area footprint and capabilities—adding layflat and PUR perfect-binding capacity—and was sold by long-time owners Bill and Betty Turoczy.

BlackHawk Industrial Distribution, a Tulsa-based industrial distributor, acquired Dayton, Ohio-based Tools for Industry, Inc. (TFI) and affiliate Service for Industry (SFI) in a deal that closed on November 9, 2021. The acquisition expands BlackHawk's presence in southwestern Ohio and adds specialty cutting-tool manufacturing and grinding capabilities; 13 TFI/SFI associates joined BlackHawk and TFI's former president Tim Ozvath will lead integration at the Dayton branch.

Funds managed by Greenbriar Equity Group acquired a majority position in JEGS Automotive, a national online retailer and distributor of high-performance aftermarket auto parts and accessories. The Coughlin family will remain significant minority shareholders; Greenbriar plans to support product and market expansion while enhancing JEGS' technology and distribution capabilities.

Blackstone Energy Partners (part of Blackstone) has agreed to acquire Irth Solutions, a Columbus-based provider of cloud-based SaaS for damage prevention, asset protection and risk analytics serving energy, utilities and telecom customers. The deal furthers Blackstone Energy Partners' strategy to invest in companies that support critical infrastructure and the energy transition; terms were not disclosed and the transaction is expected to close by the end of December.

Pexco LLC, a PE-backed North American specialty plastics extruder, acquired Performance Elastomers Corporation (PEC), a Ravenna, Ohio-based manufacturer of rubber, silicone and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) products. The deal — announced December 1, 2021 — expands Pexco's silicone and TPE capabilities and broadens its end-market exposure in mobility, RV, marine and heavy equipment aftermarket segments; PEC owners Art Bowen and Dave Spears sold the business.

METEOR Group, a German manufacturer of engineered rubber products, acquired the operating business of Creative Extruded Products, LLC (now Meteor Creative, Inc.), a Tipp City, Ohio-based custom plastic and rubber profile extrusion and injection molding company. The acquisition bolsters METEOR's North American presence and expands its thermoplastic and plastic component capabilities to offer a broader portfolio of sealing and profile solutions to automotive and industrial customers.

Radial Equity Partners announced a new partnership with Clark‑Reliance Corporation, a Strongsville, Ohio‑based designer and manufacturer of liquid level instrumentation, sight flow indicators and filtration equipment. Terms were not disclosed; Radial said the investment will provide Clark‑Reliance with resources to support organic growth and acquisitions, and Scott Dysert will serve as Non‑Executive Chairman.

Irvine-based venue management software provider Clubspeed has acquired Vantora, an online booking and waiver management SaaS vendor, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition expands Clubspeed's product portfolio and presence in axe-throwing and paintball markets while retaining Vantora founder Larry Dague as a consultant.

Transport Investments, Inc. (a transportation platform backed by Gemspring Capital) has invested in US Logistics, LLC and Nationwide Logistics, LLC (together, USLN), a Cincinnati-based specialty freight brokerage group. The deal brings USLN's agent network and specialty freight brokerage capabilities into Transport's heavy-haul, flatbed, and specialized transportation platform as an add-on to support growth and expanded service offerings.

World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Top 100 insurance brokerage headquartered in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, acquired Governor Insurance Agency of Vienna, Ohio on August 1, 2021. The acquisition brings Governor's specialty pet and small-business P&C insurance offerings into WIA's platform to expand specialty coverage (including pet insurance) across the United States; terms were not disclosed.

Medallia, Inc. has acquired Fields Healthcare Research, a CMS-approved CAHPS data collection firm, to integrate CAHPS survey capabilities with Medallia's real-time patient experience platform. Fields will operate as a subsidiary of Medallia and continue as an authorized CAHPS vendor led by Ken Fields, enabling Medallia to expand healthcare regulatory compliance and patient experience offerings.

MiddleGround Capital has acquired Race Winning Brands (RWB) from Kinderhook Industries; financial terms were not disclosed. RWB, headquartered in Mentor, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance automotive and powersports engine components, and MiddleGround intends to support growth through new product development and complementary acquisitions.

Workday has agreed to acquire VNDLY, a Mason, Ohio-based external workforce management (VMS) startup, for $510 million to integrate contingent workforce management into Workday’s HCM and HR platform. VNDLY, founded in 2017 and having raised roughly $58 million (including a $35M Series B led by Insight Partners), will expand Workday’s capabilities for managing internal and external workers; the deal is expected to close in Workday’s next fiscal quarter.

Vertafore, the Denver-based insurance technology provider, has acquired AgencyZoom, a Columbus, Ohio-based cloud sales automation platform for insurance agencies. The deal integrates AgencyZoom's sales automation, pipeline management, and onboarding capabilities into Vertafore's agency management suite to help independent agencies drive growth, improve retention, and automate workflows.

Alta Equipment Group Inc. agreed to acquire Midwest Mine Services LLC to expand its engineering and design capabilities within its construction business segment and broaden its aggregate-processing solutions across Alta's branch network. Midwest Mine Services, headquartered near Toledo (Northwood), Ohio, generated approximately $17 million in revenue and $1.3 million of adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months ended July 2021; terms were not disclosed and the transaction was expected to close in Q4 2021.

ACW Flex Pack, a portfolio company of Edgewater Growth Capital Partners IV, has acquired Bag Pack, Inc., a custom converter of polyethylene bags, mailers, pouches and specialty flexible packaging products. The deal is an add-on to Flex Pack’s platform to expand manufacturing capabilities and capabilities in flexible packaging as the platform pursues additional acquisitions.

EyeCare Partners (ECP) acquired CEI Vision Partners (CVP), a Cincinnati-based ophthalmology management services organization formed with Cincinnati Eye Institute. The add-on expands ECP’s clinically integrated network — creating a combined platform of more than 280 ophthalmologists, over 700 optometrists and thousands of clinical/support staff across 18 states; financial terms were not disclosed.

Foam Holdings Inc., a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, has acquired Fabricated Packaging Materials, Inc. (FPM), a Lancaster, Ohio-based manufacturer of block molded expanded polystyrene (EPS). The acquisition is an add-on to Foam Holdings' materials solutions platform intended to extend its footprint in core end-markets and enhance its EPS manufacturing and packaging capabilities.

ClickFunnels acquired select software products (Doodly, Toonly, Voomly, Talkia, and Automatic Script) from Bryxen, Inc. ClickFunnels formed a new entity, Voomly LLC, to manage the acquired products; the deal is an asset sale of Bryxen's product lines intended to expand ClickFunnels' marketing and video-creation capabilities for its entrepreneur-focused user base.

QGenda, a healthcare workforce management software provider headquartered in Atlanta, acquired Schedule360, a Best in KLAS nurse and staff scheduling software vendor. The acquisition adds nurse and staff scheduling capabilities to QGenda’s platform, enabling customers to schedule all clinical team members and staff across departments and improving workforce visibility and capacity optimization.

RWS Entertainment Group has acquired JRA, a Cincinnati-based attraction design and creative studio, expanding RWS into a full-service provider of design, production, performance and operations for attractions and branded experiences. JRA founder Keith James will remain as President of JRA as the combined company pursues global growth across theme parks, museums, cruise ships, resorts and other venues.

SPX Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cincinnati Fan & Ventilator Co., Inc. from Dominus Capital. Cincinnati Fan, headquartered in Mason, Ohio with approximately 215 employees across the US and UK, supplies engineered air movement solutions and will be integrated into SPX's global HVAC Cooling business to expand capabilities and distribution.

Chicago-based Help at Home has acquired Prime Home Care, a Maineville, Ohio provider of skilled and non-skilled in-home care that operates nine locations across the state. Terms were not disclosed; the deal marks Help at Home's first entry into Ohio and expands its national footprint — Help at Home is backed by Centerbridge Partners and Vistria Group.

Pamplona Capital Management has acquired BFG Supply, a technology-enabled distributor serving the green industry, from Incline Equity Partners. Headquartered in Burton, Ohio, BFG distributes products across professional horticulture, lawn & garden, hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture and will look to grow organically and via acquisitions under Pamplona's ownership.