Proven. Professional. Principled.
Investment Bankers for the Middle Market
Industrials
Our team has extensive experience working with industrial manufacturing, industrial service and specialty distribution companies in a variety of end market verticals including plastics, ag, automotive, aerospace, specialty chemicals, electrical equipment and building products.
Areas of expertise
- Industrial components
- Engineered equipment and systems
- Aerospace components
- Building products
- Industrial services
- Specialty chemicals and coatings
Plastics & Packaging
Our experience in the Packaging sector is deep and ranges from raw materials processing and handling to plastic and corrugated converting to thermoforming and other finishing operations. We have worked in many different end markets from industrial packaging to consumer packaged goods.
Areas of expertise
- Converting
- Extrusion
- Die-cutting
- Thermoforming
- Films
- Composites
- Colorants
- Additives
- Cast/blown film
- Labeling
- Plastic injection molding
- Packaging distributing
- Materials (resins) processing
- Packaging equipment design and manufacturing.
Food & Consumer
We are very active in the Food & Beverage space and have a wide range of experience throughout the whole supply chain from ingredient manufacturers to private label co-packers to branded consumer, foodservice distributors and both retail and direct-to-consumer (DTC) businesses.
Areas of expertise
- Mixing
- Agglomerating
- Extrusion
- Industrial ingredients
- Snack mixes
- Baked goods
- Protein processing/packing
- Co-packers
- Branded consumer
- Specialty beverage
- Craft breweries and distillers
- Processing equipment manufacturers
Transportation & Logistics
Over the last four decades, our team has spent a considerable amount of time in the Transportation and Logistics Sector. We have worked with both asset-light and fleet based businesses, importers, distributors, warehousing and fulfillment and specialty intermodal and logistics services businesses.
Areas of expertise
- Asset-light
- 3PL
- Freight brokerage/forwarding
- Specialty transportation
- Last mile delivery
- Warehousing and fulfillment
- Turnkey management systems
- Intermodal, drayage
- Equipment rental
- Technology
Tech-Enabled Services
Our team has deep domain expertise in software and technology-enabled services with a sector focus in a variety of functional areas and vertical end-markets.
Areas of expertise
- Industrial technology
- Human capital management tech
- SAAS, fintech
- Cybersecurity
- Beauty tech
- IT/managed services
Healthcare
With a constantly evolving regulatory environment and ever changing census dynamics, our experience in healthcare services and medical device transactions is a real value add for companies providing a wide range of clinical, research, technology and manufacturing services in the healthcare economy.
Areas of expertise
- Behavioral health
- Ophthalmology
- Dermatology
- Long term care
- Hospice, prescription benefits management
- Pharmacies
- Imaging services
- Healthcare staffing
- Surgery centers
- Disposables
- Consumer healthcare
- Med device
- Medical products distribution
Services
Recent Transactions
Copp has been acquired by Warehouse Services, Inc.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Copp is a leading provider of intermodal, less-than-truckload (LTL), and full truckload (FTL) transportation services. Copp serves as a Container Freight Station (CFS) for various freight forwarders and brokers and as a Centralized Exam Station (CES) of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Since its founding 35 years ago, the Company has developed a strong reputation for quality and reliability, driven by a track record of on-time delivery and quality service. Copp’s excellent reputation has led to steady growth and a large, diverse customer base.
Environmental Restoration LLC has been acquired by the Environmental Restoration Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1997, ER has grown to be the leading national provider of environmental emergency response and remediation services to the USEPA with coverage spanning over 43 states. Additionally, ER provides emergency remediation and rapid response services to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as a number of commercial and industrial customers. Several members of the ER ownership group were seeking liquidity and retirement and this ESOP transaction enabled these owners to monetize their investment but also afford the employees with a way to become owners themselves and help secure the long-term continuity of the business. Upon closing the transaction, CEO and co-founder, Dennis Greaney said “We are excited for the team at Environmental Restoration who played a vital role in getting the company where it is today and we look forward to the next chapter of growth.”
Inventive Group has been recapitalized by Clearview Capital
Founded in 1999, Clearview Capital is a private investment firm specializing in the acquisition and recapitalization of lower-middle market companies in North America. Since inception, the Clearview Capital team has completed more than 150 transactions in a wide variety of industries. Inventive represents Clearview’s sixth platform investment in the outdoor industry across all of its funds and also represents the fourth platform investment made in collaboration with Vertikal Brands, a team Clearview established which includes former members of the Battenfeld Technologies management team, to pursue the acquisition of premium brands in the outdoor industry.
Team Three Group has been acquired by AmerCareRoyal, LLC, a portfolio company of HCI Holdings.
Based in St. Louis, Missouri and Hong Kong with additional warehouse locations in California and Virginia, Team Three is a leading global distributor of paper, packaging and disposable plastic products to the foodservice industry. Co-founded by Bob Hubbard and Roy Van in 2009 to create a global platform for companies seeking to expand their sourcing options, Team Three has organically grown revenue and income every year since inception and was awarded a global sourcing role with one of the largest foodservice distributors in the U.S. Upon closing the transaction, CEO and co-founder, Bob Hubbard said “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the AmerCareRoyal team and we look forward to the next chapter of growth for Team Three and GIS.”
Headquartered in Exton, PA, AmerCareRoyal is a single stream resource for over 6,000 disposable products used in the foodservice, janitorial, sanitation, industrial, hospitality and medical industries. With multiple shipping points across North America, ACR’s family of companies service national level customers with outstanding customer service and an ever-growing product line. Team Three is ACR’s eighth add-on acquisition since HCI’s initial investment.
Zipline Logistics has been recapitalized by Frontenac
Zipline Logistics is an Ohio based third-party logistics solutions provider exclusively servicing the consumer-packaged goods sector. Zipline processes were built specifically to resolve the most critical logistics challenges faced by consumer goods brands shipping into retail.
Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence.
Ironman Sound Industries, LLC has sold substantially all of its assets to Markey’s Audio/Visual, Inc.
ISI, located in St. Louis, Missouri, is a leading provider of audio/visual (“A/V”) production services for live and virtual events as well as integration services for corporate A/V system installations. The company was founded by Bob and Stacy Horner in 1997 and has built a reputation over the past 25 years as the creator of some of the highest quality and most memorable events in the St. Louis region and beyond. The Company has steadily grown to become one of the Midwest’s leading event production companies. On closing the transaction, CEO and Founder, Bob Horner said “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the Markey’s team and are looking forward to the next chapter of growth for Ironman Sound.”
Established in 1959, Markey’s is a leading provider of event technology services including rental & staging for live events, in-house support services for convention centers and hotels, on-site corporate services, production services, computer rental and creative services. As an employee-owned business, Markey’s prides itself on exceeding customer expectations and proactively responding to the needs of its customers.
Griffin Personnel Group, Inc. has sold substantially all of its assets to DISA Global Solutions, Inc.
Griffin Personnel Group, Inc., located in O’Fallon, Missouri, is a leading provider of employment verification, background check, credentialing, fingerprinting and contract security services. The Company was founded in 1989 by Thomas Griffin. For over 30 years, GPG has been serving large corporate customers primarily in the healthcare sector but has also a variety of others including food & beverage, IT services, utilities and financial services. On closing the transaction, CEO and Founder, Tom Griffin, said “We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the DISA team and are looking forward to the next chapter of growth for Griffin Personnel.”
Since 1986, DISA has been an industry leading provider of drug & alcohol testing, background screening, compliance for DOT/Transportation, and occupational health services. More than 40,000 companies, including 1 out of 4 Fortune 500 companies, use DISA for their employee screening and compliance needs, and DISA has a proven track record of helping employers effectively manage their screening and compliance, regardless of the industry.
Vidya Holdings has acquired substantially all the assets of Dedicated Converting Group, Inc.
Dedicated Converting Group is a Midwest-based converter of coverboard panels, foam padded panels, and other specialty paperboard products. With two manufacturing facilities in the Midwest, the Company is uniquely positioned to leverage its proximity to both customers and suppliers.
Vidya is the investment vehicle for the Patel family, formerly the owners and operators of Flexo Converters, a paperboard converter for foodservice bags and packaging, which was acquired by Novolex in July 2021.
Classic Equine Equipment has been acquired by Morton Buildings
Classic Equine Equipment is a Midwest-based designer and manufacturer of equestrian stabling products, including stall systems, doors, and other barn components.
Founded in 1903, Morton Buildings is the largest post-frame manufacturing and construction company in the United States and a strong player in the equestrian barn market.
Inclusion Technologies LLC has sold substantially all of its assets to MGP Ingredients
Inclusion Technologies, LLC is a manufacturer of functional sensory ingredients sold to food OEMs primarily in the baked goods and snack foods sectors.
Founded in 1941, MGP Ingredients is a producer and supplier of specialty wheat protein and starch food ingredients and a variety of distilled products.
Intelica CRE has acquired substantially all the assets of James Real Estate Services, Inc.
Intelica CRE (“Intelica”) is a commercial real estate services firm providing commercial brokerage, property management, appraisal and consulting services.
Founded in 1982, James Real Estate Services, Inc. (“JRES”) is a diversified real estate advisory firm with a foundation of commercial and residential appraisal, appraisal review, market analysis, brokerage, and investment advisory services in Denver, Colorado.
MAR Graphics has sold substantially all of its assets to Qualfon
MAR Graphics is a provider of variable imaging, direct mail and integrated digital marketing products and services to a variety of print distributors, mailers and agencies.
Qualfon, founded in 1995, provides full customer lifecycle management including lead generation, end-to-end integrated marketing, multichannel customer engagement, and fulfillment.