Acquisitions in Ohio in 2024

Lovell Minnick Partners (LMP) has made a strategic growth investment in Cohen & Company, a national assurance, tax and business advisory firm. The minority growth capital will support Cohen & Company’s technology investments, expansion of service offerings, and broader strategic growth plan, while enabling an increase in employee equity ownership under a new alternative practice structure.

Wealth Enhancement, a national independent wealth management firm, acquired Danison & Associates, an independent RIA based in Columbus, Ohio that oversees roughly $82 million in client assets. The deal closed on December 31, 2024 and marks Wealth Enhancement's first office in Greater Columbus as the two-advisor team joins Wealth Enhancement's platform and centralized planning and back-office services.

LawnPRO Partners, a residential lawn care platform backed by HCI Equity Partners, has acquired Meehan's Lawn Service, a Brook Park, Ohio–based residential lawn and pest services provider founded in 1993. The Meehans (Tim and Deanna) will remain with the business; the acquisition is LawnPRO's ninth and strengthens its footprint in the Cleveland / Northeast Ohio market. Financial terms were not disclosed.

NEFCO has acquired Unistrut Midwest, a Cincinnati-based provider of modular steel support systems, from Brixey & Meyer Capital. The transaction closed on December 20, 2024; NEFCO intends to integrate Unistrut Midwest’s value‑added distribution, fabrication and regional footprint to enhance its specialty construction trade offering.

Guardian Alarm, a Southfield, Michigan–based full-service security company, has completed its acquisition of Cincinnati-based ProAlert Security Systems. The deal expands Guardian Alarm's customer base and capabilities in the Cincinnati market, allowing it to deliver security and fire alarm services to more residential and commercial customers.

Frontier Growth announced a strategic equity (growth) investment in Nymbl Systems to accelerate product innovation and growth. Nymbl Systems is a cloud-based practice management software provider serving Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P), Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), and Home Medical Equipment (HME) providers across the United States.

White Cap Supply Holdings LLC has acquired Site Supply, Inc., a distributor of stabilization, stormwater and erosion control materials with four locations across Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The acquisition expands White Cap's product and service offerings in erosion control and stormwater management and brings Site Supply into White Cap's suite of brands and branches.

Farmers National Banc Corp., through its subsidiary National Associates, Inc., completed the acquisition of Crest Retirement Advisors LLC on December 16, 2024. Crest will continue to operate from its Dublin, Ohio location and will merge with National Associates as part of Farmers' strategy to expand its wealth management and retirement plan administration capabilities in Central Ohio.

Columbus-based GBQ Partners LLC acquired Cincinnati-based Wirth Lowe Wissemeier CPAs Inc. (WLW), effective Dec. 16, 2024. As part of the deal, WLW partners Glenn Wissemeier and Beth Herman joined GBQ as partners as GBQ expands its Cincinnati presence and advisory capabilities.

ZEDRA, a global provider of wealth, corporate and fund services backed by Corsair and BCI, has joined forces with Gryphon, an Ohio-headquartered fund administrator. The integration significantly expands ZEDRA's U.S. fund administration business (doubling its size) and grows combined assets under administration to roughly $30 billion.

RESA Power, a portfolio company of Investcorp, has acquired Power Asset Recovery Corporation (PARC), a North Canton, Ohio-based supplier of substation power transformers and high-voltage transformer parts. The acquisition expands RESA Power's transformer services and parts capabilities and accelerates PARC's entry into RESA's broader national footprint; it is RESA's eighth acquisition in 2024.

Patriot Capital announced a new growth investment in Libra Industries, an existing portfolio company of CW Industrial Partners, to support the company's next stage of growth. Libra is a U.S.-based systems integrator and outsourced manufacturing partner providing PCBA/EMS, precision machining and metal fabrication to semiconductor, medical, aerospace and industrial OEM markets.

Los Angeles-based private equity firm Vance Street Capital has partnered with Cleveland-based System Seals, a designer and manufacturer of proprietary sealing solutions. Founder and CEO Arnold von Engelbrechten will retain a meaningful ownership stake and continue to lead the business as Vance Street supports product development, international expansion and targeted M&A.

Jennmar, a FalconPoint Partners portfolio company, through its Jennchem subsidiary acquired the Pyro‑Chem line of pre‑mixed fire‑retardant ventilation sealant products from Wright‑Mix Material Solutions, LLC’s Pyro‑Chem division. The asset purchase adds Pyro‑Chem’s product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities to Jennchem, expanding Jennmar’s offering for the underground mining and construction markets.

Mace Security International, Inc. completed a going-private merger effective December 6, 2024, under which Merger Sub merged into the company and the company became wholly owned by W Electric Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Each outstanding share (other than excluded or dissenting shares) was cancelled in exchange for $0.015777 in cash per share, with potential additional contingent consideration; Charles A. Gaddis was appointed Stockholders' Representative.

Huron (NASDAQ: HURN) has acquired AXIA Consulting, a supply chain-focused consulting and technology firm, to deepen its supply chain and technology capabilities, including expanded Oracle SCM and Microsoft offerings. Approximately 130 client-facing AXIA employees will join Huron; financial terms were not disclosed and Clearsight Advisors served as AXIA's exclusive financial advisor.

KPS Capital Partners agreed to acquire INEOS Composites from INEOS Enterprises for approximately €1.7 billion and has completed the transaction, creating a standalone company now named Alta Performance Materials. Alta is a global manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gelcoats with ~900 employees and 17 manufacturing facilities; KPS intends to invest in manufacturing excellence, R&D and growth.

Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region has acquired the Women's Med Center in Kettering (Dayton area), a deal driven by the retirement of Dr. Martin Haskell and finalized in December 2024. The clinic — which brought ~20 employees (including 3 physicians) into Planned Parenthood's network — will continue serving patients and expands Planned Parenthood's reproductive health access in southwestern Ohio.

North Square Investments, through its majority-owned affiliate CS McKee, has acquired Foundry Partners and will merge Foundry into CS McKee. The deal adds approximately $2.3 billion of assets under management to CS McKee and includes a leadership transition in which Foundry's Timothy Ford will assume the CEO role at CS McKee.

Risk Strategies has acquired the assets of Cincinnati-based Cornerstone Broker Insurance Services Agency, Inc. and ARC Benefit Solutions. The asset purchase (terms not disclosed) expands Risk Strategies’ employee benefits wholesale, back-office and succession-support capabilities across Ohio, adding Cornerstone/ARC’s quoting, enrollment, renewals and broker succession services to its footprint.

Omni Fiber and Lit Fiber have agreed to merge, consolidating Lit Fiber's Medina County, Ohio network into Omni Fiber to accelerate fiber-to-the-home expansion and speed market rollout. Both companies are majority-owned by Oak Hill Capital; existing Lit Fiber shareholders Stephens Capital Partners and The Pritzker Organization will remain minority investors and continue to support the business.

Verisma, a provider of health data management solutions, has acquired Olah Healthcare Technology to integrate Olah’s Enterprise Archiving Solution (EAS) into Verisma’s platform. The acquisition is intended to enhance Verisma’s archiving and interoperability capabilities, improving regulatory compliance and data accessibility for hospitals and health systems.

Prosourcefit, a Pilot Wave Holdings portfolio company, has acquired Hyggelight, a small premium candle brand known for its sustainable "Growing Candle" product. The add-on expands Prosourcefit's lifestyle and wellness product offering and will leverage Prosourcefit's and Pilot Wave's capabilities to scale Hyggelight.

Radon Medical Imaging, a PE-backed independent service organization, acquired Alpha Imaging of Willoughby, Ohio in an add-on transaction closed in October 2024. The deal expands Radon's geographic footprint and service and distribution capabilities in medical imaging equipment across the eastern U.S.

Jones Lake Management, a Fort Point Capital‑backed provider of pond and lake management services, has partnered with/acquired Ponds Beautiful, a Medina, Ohio pond and lake services business owned by Joe Hinderman. The deal expands Jones Lake's Northern Ohio coverage and brings Ponds Beautiful's recurring treatment, algae and aquatic weed management, fish stocking and aeration customers into Jones Lake's platform.

OneCompass Holdings has made a strategic minority investment in Evolve Global Logistics (EGL), a minority-owned third-party logistics provider based in the Columbus, Ohio area. The funding is intended to support EGL's growth, operational excellence and scaling capabilities, leveraging OneCompass's logistics experience (including related holding FST Logistics) to drive synergies and expand EGL's service reach.

Hickey Metal Fabrication, a family-owned metal fabrication business based in Salem, Ohio, has acquired Ohio Laser of Plain City, Ohio. Hickey will retain Ohio Laser's management and operations while integrating its laser cutting and fabrication capabilities to support future growth and expanded service offerings.

MIGA Holdings LLC has acquired Invacare Holdings Corporation’s North American business, transferring Invacare’s U.S. mobility and home-healthcare product operations to MIGA. The divestiture lets Invacare concentrate on its other regional operations while giving MIGA a platform to expand manufacturing, sales and distribution in the North American medical mobility market.

Waverly Advisors has acquired Buckingham Advisors, a Dayton, Ohio-based investment advisory firm, adding Jay Buckingham and a 38-person team and approximately $900+ million in AUM. The deal (closed November 8, 2024) expands Waverly’s Ohio footprint by four locations, increases Waverly’s AUM to about $15.5 billion, and brings new tax preparation and business services into Waverly Business Services.

Sagewind Capital LLC made a majority investment in Sabel Systems Technology Solutions LLC, a Dayton, Ohio–based provider of digital engineering, modeling & simulation, and sustainment solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense and other government customers. The partnership will support Sabel’s growth in digital engineering and cyber offerings and positions the company to expand via internal investment and acquisitions as part of Sagewind’s government-technology platform strategy.

TT Capital Partners announced a majority investment in Collaborating Docs, a Columbus-based company that matches nurse practitioners with supervising physicians and provides related administrative, compliance, and payment services. The investment will support scaling operations, expanding services to other advanced practice providers and enterprise customers, and accelerating growth under founder Dr. Annie DePasquale.

Stonepeak has completed an all-cash acquisition of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (ATSG) in a transaction valuing the company at approximately $3.1 billion and providing ATSG shareholders $22.50 per share. The deal, first announced on November 4, 2024, received shareholder approval on February 10, 2025, and takes ATSG private under Stonepeak to support the company’s long-term growth in aircraft leasing, air transport operations, and support services.

Versiti Blood Center of Ohio has acquired Solvita Blood Center (formerly Community Blood Center) to expand Versiti's footprint and blood donation services in the Dayton, Ohio region. The transaction transfers Solvita's blood center operations to Versiti while Solvita retains its global tissue services.

Stellar Industries, an employee-owned manufacturer based in Garner, Iowa, has acquired Elliott Machine Works, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of mobile fuel and lube service equipment headquartered in Galion, Ohio. The acquisition expands Stellar’s product offering to include Elliott’s fuel and lube trucks and related mobile service equipment, while keeping Elliott’s manufacturing operations and workforce in Galion.

AssuredPartners, a global insurance brokerage based in Orlando, acquired Saxon Financial Services, an employee benefits and financial management firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Saxon’s 16 employees will fold into AssuredPartners’ Cincinnati office to bolster employee benefits capabilities, while Saxon’s financial advisory business will continue to operate independently.

CleanSpark, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSK) completed its acquisition of GRIID Infrastructure Inc. (Nasdaq: GRDI) on October 30, 2024, in an all-stock merger following approval by GRIID stockholders. The deal expands CleanSpark's Bitcoin mining footprint and power diversity, enabling planned growth to over 400 MW of mining capacity in Tennessee and adding GRIID's team and existing sites to CleanSpark's operations.

Load One has acquired Tri-State Expedited Service, a Millbury, Ohio-based provider of expedited ground transportation and logistics, to expand its North American expedited network and capacity. Terms were not disclosed; the deal brings Tri-State's company trucks and owner-operator network into Load One's platform to better serve time-critical, cross-border and high-value freight.

Waverly Advisors, a Birmingham-based RIA backed by Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC's Aspire Holdings, acquired 9258 Wealth Management, a Cincinnati-based investment advisory and tax preparation firm. The deal adds three Ohio offices and approximately $1.0 billion in AUM, brings a team of 24 professionals to Waverly, and closed on October 18, 2024, increasing Waverly's AUM to about $14.4 billion.

Core4ce, a Virginia-based federal contractor, has acquired Azimuth Corporation, a Dayton-area provider of R&D, database and modeling, and lab support for military electronics, sensors and biotech. The deal combines Core4ce's data-driven national security capabilities with Azimuth's AAIM lab and R&D expertise to expand ISR, AI/ML, threat protection and warfighter support capabilities.

Kauhale Health has acquired the purpose-built memory care community Symphony Centerville in Centerville, Ohio and will rebrand it as Kauhale Centerville. The acquisition was sponsored by Kauhale Healthcare Real Estate and will be managed by Kauhale Healthcare Management as part of Kauhale's ongoing senior living growth strategy.

Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, LLC has acquired Midwest Equipment Sales, LLC. WhiteHorse Capital provided a new first-lien credit facility to support the acquisition, refinance existing debt, and pay related transaction expenses; Westinghouse says the deal will help restore its manufacturing and product-innovation capabilities and leverage MWE's retail relationships.

Benchmark Gensuite, an EHS and sustainability platform provider, has acquired Anvl, an AI-powered, mobile-first frontline worker safety solution. The deal expands Benchmark Gensuite's practical AI capabilities for field and project operations, embedding frontline safety and execution tools into its enterprise EHS platform.

Edwardsville, Illinois-based Prairie Farms Dairy has acquired Ohio-based SmithFoods, a regional dairy manufacturer founded in 1909, for an undisclosed sum. The deal expands Prairie Farms' Ohio footprint and complements its existing network of dairy plants, with both companies committed to a seamless integration and continued service to customers and communities.

Creative Brands, a Phoenix-based distribution and manufacturing firm, has acquired P. Graham Dunn Company of Dalton, Ohio. The deal transfers ownership from the company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to Creative Brands, which plans to expand P. Graham Dunn’s production and distribution capabilities and strengthen its marketing across retail channels.

Calibre Scientific has acquired Molecular Research Center, Inc. (MRC), an Ohio-based developer and manufacturer of reagents and kits for RNA and DNA isolation and analysis. The acquisition expands Calibre Scientific's life‑science reagent and molecular biology product offering and strengthens its capabilities in nucleic acid isolation technologies.

Midwest Remediation, a CID Capital portfolio company, has acquired Icon Property Rescue of Cincinnati (headquartered in Milford, Ohio). The add-on expands Midwest Remediation's emergency restoration footprint into the Cincinnati/OH-KY market and is the second acquisition since CID's investment in February 2023.

CX Institutional, LLC d/b/a Credent Wealth Management, an Indiana-headquartered fee-only RIA, has acquired Clarify Wealth Management, a Cincinnati-based fee-only RIA with approximately $450 million in AUM. The deal expands Credent's geographic footprint into Cincinnati, Columbus and Lafayette, Indiana, pushes Credent's AUM above $3 billion, and provides a succession plan for Clarify's founding partners.

Dedienne Aerospace has acquired The Champion GSE, a Springfield, Ohio-based designer and manufacturer of containers and ground support equipment, strengthening Dedienne's industrial presence in the United States. The acquisition will support investments to modernize and double The Champion GSE's production capacity while expanding product and technology offerings for aerospace, defense, and energy customers.

Funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLC have completed the acquisition of AEP OnSite Partners from American Electric Power (AEP). AEP nets approximately $318 million in cash after taxes, transaction fees and customary adjustments; the sale received required regulatory clearances including FERC and HSR approvals.

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. acquired Parsec (including Parsec Intermodal of Canada ULC and OB Leasing, LLC) for $193.6 million. Parsec is a Cincinnati-based provider of rail terminal management, drayage and intermodal services with ~2,100 employees and $230.2 million of trailing-twelve-month revenue; the business will operate within Universal's contract logistics segment to expand its rail terminal capabilities and is expected to be immediately accretive.