• Skip to main content

  • Home
  • News
    • New Funds
    • New Financings
    • People On the Move
    • Trends and Strategies
  • Transactions
    • New Platforms
    • New Add Ons
    • New Exits
  • Briefly
  • 2025 Salary Survey
  • Member Center
Please enter your username/email.
Please enter your password.
Login
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
PEP-logo-v9
Flag-small-6-28-24-120x73

June 8, 2026

Private equity's news leader since 2007

Chicago, Illinois

pep-superman-header-80x105-1

"There is a right and a wrong in the universe, and that distinction is not hard to make."

Superman

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Webinars
  • Store
  • FAQs
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
Search

Transactions

Arcline’s Arxis Closes $890 Million Dual Buy

June 4, 2026 by John McNulty

Arxis, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has expanded through the acquisitions of Omnetics Connector and MagCanica. The combined purchase price for both companies is approximately $890 million, representing 12 times the estimated FY 2027 adjusted EBITDA of Omnetics and MagCanica.

Omnetics designs and manufactures micro-miniature and nano-miniature connectors and interconnect systems used in aerospace, defense, space, medical, and industrial applications. The company’s Nano-D-Sub and Micro-D-Sub connectors — compact, high-density interconnect devices built to the D-subminiature standard — are specified in critical defense and space platforms where size, weight, and the consequences of failure are governing constraints. The company’s connectors are found on long-tenured programs, where established suppliers hold qualification positions that are highly difficult for competitors to displace.Omnetics, led by President Gary Jacobs, was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Minneapolis. “Arxis shares our deep commitment to innovation, quality, and the customers who rely on us,” said Mr. Jacobs. “Joining Arxis gives us the resources and platform to accelerate investment in our products, our technology, and our people, while continuing to deliver high performance and reliability to our customers.”

“Omnetics is exactly the kind of business we built Arxis to own,” said Kevin Perhamus, the president and CEO of Arxis. “For over 40 years, the company has been the trusted standard in Nano- and Micro-D-Sub connectors for applications where failure is not an option, earning preferred-source positions on long-tenured programs that are highly difficult to replicate.”

MagCanica designs and manufactures non-contact torque sensors that measure torque on rotating shafts without physical contact — a key distinction for high-speed and high-temperature applications where conventional contact-based measurement would be impractical or unreliable. The company’s magnetomechanical sensor systems operate at rotational speeds exceeding 140,000 rpm and have been certified to military specifications for production deployment on hovercraft turboshaft engines for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy in collaboration with Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin.

MagCanica’s sensors are also installed across every major motorsport series — Formula 1, Formula E, IndyCar, NASCAR, the WEC Hypercar class, IMSA GTP, and cross-country rally — in applications where real-time torque data is used for powertrain management. San Diego-headquartered MagCanica, led by Co-founder and President Sami Bitar was founded in 2000.

“MagCanica’s non-contact torque sensors are highly complementary to our existing military flexible driveshaft capabilities and address a growing need across aerospace and defense for real-time monitoring of mission-critical rotating systems,” said Mr. Perhamus. “We see clear runway to cross-sell this technology alongside the Arxis portfolio where operators require precise visibility into performance under heavy loads.”

Rajeev Amara
Rajeev Amara

“The addition of Omnetics and MagCanica reinforces the power of the Arxis–Arcline partnership in creating a repeatable engine of value creation for Arxis as a next-generation industrial compounder,” said Rajeev Amara, the CEO of Arcline. “Arcline provides Arxis with institutional capabilities that complement Arxis’ operating expertise, including research-driven market mapping, proprietary sourcing access, disciplined underwriting, and capital allocation expertise. These capabilities, which are difficult for a standalone strategic acquiror to replicate, expand Arxis’ addressable acquisition universe and strengthen its ability to acquire high-quality businesses with leading positions on long-duration platforms.”

The global aerospace and defense connectors market, the primary end market for Omnetics, was valued at $4.3 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. Mordor identifies sustained investment in defense-platform electrification, space applications — growing at an 8.3% CAGR within the connector market — and avionics modernization as the primary demand drivers. The miniaturization requirements that define Omnetics’ Nano- and Micro-D-Sub product line are amplified by the proliferation of small satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and next-generation wearable soldier systems, all of which place a premium on the density and reliability that sub-miniature connectors provide.

Today, with the acquisitions of Omnetics and MagCanica, Arxis has completed 34 acquisitions, operates 72 manufacturing facilities, employs approximately 5,750 people, and generates annual revenue of $1.6 billion. Arxis is headquartered near Hartford in Bloomfield, Connecticut.

Arcline’s build-up of Arxis began in July 2019 with the acquisition of Integrated Polymer Solutions. The firm’s electronics strategy accelerated in November 2020 with the acquisition of Evans Capacitor, a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of high-reliability capacitors, followed in December 2020 by the acquisition of Ohmega Technologies, a California-based producer of embedded thin-film resistive materials.

In January 2021, Arcline formed Quantic Electronics by combining Evans Capacitor, Ohmega Technologies, and newly acquired TRM Microwave. Quantic expanded rapidly through a series of acquisitions that included Planar Monolithics (March 2021), Union Technology (June 2021), BEI Precision (August 2021), and ECI Transcon (September 2021).

In July 2022, Arcline formed Qnnect through the acquisition of Custom Interconnects, establishing it as a second electronics platform alongside Quantic. The firm’s largest transaction followed in April 2024 with the $1.8 billion acquisition of Kaman Corporation, adding a major aerospace and defense components manufacturer.

By late 2025, Arcline had assembled a collection of electronics, aerospace, and engineered components businesses and in October 2025 reorganized IPS, Quantic, Qnnect, Kaman, and several other holdings into a single corporation called Arxis. The company filed for an initial public offering in March 2026 and began trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker ARXS in April 2026, raising approximately $1.0 billion.

Arcline makes control investments in companies with recurring revenue models across sectors such as defense and aerospace, industrial and medical technology, life sciences, and specialty materials. The firm targets companies with EBITDA ranging from $10 million to $100 million and enterprise values of up to $1 billion. In March 2023, Arcline closed its third fund with $4.5 billion in capital commitments, following its $2.75 billion second fund closure in January 2021.

William Blair & Company was the financial advisor to Arxis on the Omnetics transaction, and Vermillion Capital was the financial advisor to Omnetics. Kroll Securities was the financial advisor to MagCanica.

The acquisition of MagCanica closed on June 1, 2026, and the Omnetics transaction is expected to close before the end of the third quarter.

Filed Under: Add-on, Transactions

Metatron Closes First Buy with Green Circuits Acquisition

June 4, 2026 by John McNulty

Metatron Private Equity, a new investment platform formed by Reichmann Segal Capital Partners, has acquired Green Circuits, a provider of electronics manufacturing services, from Evolve Capital, which acquired the business in 2018.

Green Circuits is a provider of high-mix, high-complexity printed circuit board (PCB) services, including design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and box-build integration, to companies operating in the aerospace and defense, medical technology, industrial, and advanced technology sectors. The company is recognized across the EMS industry for its quick-turn model, which can deliver same-day turns on printed circuit assemblies.

Charles Reichmann
Charles Reichmann

“We believe Green Circuits is uniquely positioned to capitalize on increasing demand for domestic electronics manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, and high-complexity production capabilities,” said Charles Reichmann, co-CEO of Metatron. “We are excited to support the company’s next phase of growth through strategic investment, operational and geographic expansion, and customer growth and diversification. We are thrilled to partner with Michael and the incredible Green Circuits team.”

Green Circuits, led by CEO Michael Hinshaw Jr., was founded in 2006 and operates from a 60,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in San Jose, California.

“We are truly fortunate to join Metatron as we move to the next chapter at Green Circuits,” said Mr. Hinshaw. “Charles and Jarrad share our passion for the sectors we serve and our drive to provide unrivaled service. Their support will enable Green to better serve our customers with investments in footprint, talent, and capabilities.”

Metatron Private Equity makes control investments in North American-based companies with $5 million to $50 million in EBITDA. Sectors of interest include industrials and manufacturing, healthcare, business services, financials, consumer staples, utility and infrastructure services, energy and energy services, and technology. The firm was formed by Reichmann Segal as its primary investment vehicle and the acquisition of Green Circuits is Metatron’s first platform and Reichmann Segal’s third overall platform investment and its second in the electronics manufacturing services sector.

Jarrad Segal
Jarrad Segal

“Green Circuits represents exactly the type of platform investment we seek to partner with through Metatron Private Equity,” said Jarrad Segal, co-CEO of Metatron. “The company has an exceptional reputation in the EMS industry, a highly skilled industry-leading management team, and a differentiated customer offering in one of the most important technology ecosystems in the world.”

Evolve Capital acquired Green Circuits in 2018 with capital support from Praesidian Capital. During its eight-year hold, the company’s revenue doubled and EBITDA increased by 2.5x. This resulted in a 3.5x return on Evolve’s invested capital. Evolve invests in businesses with $2 million to $5 million in EBITDA. Sectors of interest include light manufacturing and assembly, healthcare services, and industrial services. The firm was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dallas.

“Praesidian was a valued partner throughout our ownership of Green Circuits,” said Ryan Shultz, a partner at Evolve. “Their collaborative approach and support contributed meaningfully to the company’s success.”

Praesidian is a provider of senior and subordinated debt, along with growth capital, to lower middle-market businesses with revenues of $5 million to $100 million and EBITDA of $1 million to $15 million. The firm’s sectors of interest are varied, although it prefers light manufacturing and consumer companies. Praesidian invests in companies based in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and selectively in Northern Europe. Since its founding in 2002, Oklahoma City-headquartered Praesidian has invested approximately $1 billion in more than 100 businesses in the U.S. and Europe.“We are pleased to have partnered with Evolve Capital and the Green Circuits management team to support the company’s growth,” said Jason Drattell, founder and managing partner at Praesidian. “We are proud to have supported a strong outcome for all stakeholders and appreciate the collaboration throughout the investment.”

Reichmann Segal was founded in 2024 by Charles Reichmann and Jarrad Segal in partnership with the Reichmann family, a prominent name in Canadian business. Headquartered in Toronto, the firm invests in North American businesses across industrial products, business and industrial services, infrastructure services, essential consumer products, distribution, and healthcare services.

Lincoln International was the financial advisor to Green Circuits and Evolve on this transaction. Debt financing was provided by a lender syndicate led by National Bank of Canada and including Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, Meridian Credit Union, Export Development Canada, Bank of America, Citibank, and MGG Investment Group.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Align Launches New Platform with Buy of Heritage Imaging

June 4, 2026 by John McNulty

Align Capital Partners (ACP) has acquired Heritage Imaging, a provider of mobile diagnostic imaging services to hospitals and healthcare facilities in underserved and rural markets across 14 states.

Boise, Idaho-headquartered Heritage Imaging delivers mobile diagnostic imaging to hospitals, community clinics, and local healthcare centers that cannot cost-effectively maintain full-time imaging capacity in-house.

Formerly known as MRI Mobile, the company was founded in 1989 and has grown into a multi-modality platform covering PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), nuclear medicine, ultrasound, echocardiography, and additional imaging services. Each Heritage mobile unit arrives fully staffed with certified technologists, allowing rural and community facilities to offer advanced diagnostic capabilities without the capital expense of permanent equipment installation.

The company’s focus on underserved markets addresses a structural gap in rural healthcare access. Critical access hospitals — small facilities that receive enhanced Medicare reimbursement to maintain services in rural areas — often lack the patient volume to justify dedicated imaging equipment but face patient populations with significant diagnostic needs. Heritage’s mobile model bridges that gap, reducing patient travel time and enabling earlier diagnosis for communities where the nearest full-service imaging center may be hours away.

Heritage has completed three add-on acquisitions since 2024, building out its geographic coverage and service-line depth. Now, in partnership with ACP, the company plans to continue pursuing acquisitions, with an initial focus on adjacent outsourced imaging models and expansion into new imaging modalities.

“Heritage was established to help hospitals provide the best possible experience and outcomes for patients, no matter where they live,” said Dr. Steve Coppess, the CEO of Heritage. “While we have significantly expanded our reach over the years, we are excited to partner with ACP to further extend our impact. ACP’s operational resources and proven track record of successful M&A make them a great fit to help us reach our goals faster.”

The U.S. diagnostic imaging centers industry is a stable, recurring-revenue sector driven by aging demographics, rising chronic disease prevalence, and growing demand for outpatient and mobile imaging as health systems manage cost and capacity. According to IBISWorld, the U.S. diagnostic imaging centers industry had a market size of $26.3 billion in 2026, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7% between 2021 and 2026. Within that market, mobile and outsourced imaging represents an increasingly important model as smaller facilities seek to offer advanced modalities without proportional capital investment.

Rob Langley
Rob Langley

“Heritage has built a strong reputation as a trusted imaging partner to hospitals operating in rural America,” said Rob Langley, a managing partner at ACP. “The company’s history of M&A, long-term customer relationships and operational reliability aligns well with ACP’s experience of partnering with differentiated, route-based service providers. We’re excited to back this dynamic team with additional resources and ultimately improve access to healthcare.”

Align Capital Partners invests between $20 million and $60 million in North American-based companies with EBITDA ranging from $3 million to $15 million and enterprise values of up to $150 million. Its sectors of focus include software and tech-enabled services, professional business services, industrial services, specialty manufacturing, and specialty distribution. In November 2022, ACP closed its third fund, Align Capital Partners Fund III LP, above its target, with $620 million in capital commitments. The firm has offices in Dallas and Cleveland.

Cascadia Capital was the financial advisor to Heritage on this transaction.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Got Any Quarters? Periscope Invests in Amusement Connect

June 2, 2026 by John McNulty

Periscope Equity has made an investment in Amusement Connect, a Kansas City-headquartered cashless payment platform used in the amusement and family entertainment industry.

Amusement Connect designs, manufactures, and supports cashless card systems used by operators of arcades, family entertainment centers (FECs), bowling centers, skating rinks, bar-cades, and restaurants.

The company’s core product pairs RFID (radio-frequency identification) game card readers and self-service kiosks with a cloud-native software suite covering point-of-sale, redemption management, analytics, and mobile payment capabilities. The integrated system allows operators to replace coin-operated machines with card-based transactions, centralize venue management, and access real-time performance data across locations.Amusement Connect’s product line addresses a market historically dominated by legacy coin-operated equipment and fragmented management tools. The company’s pricing model and U.S.-based customer support have made it attractive to independent route operators and smaller FECs that previously lacked access to the technology systems available to large national entertainment chains. The company’s newest product, MobileMech, retrofits existing coin-operated machines with digital payment capability, allowing operators to modernize legacy equipment without full hardware replacement.

Frank Licausi, a route operator and family entertainment center owner in Kansas City, co-founded Amusement Connect in 2017 with longtime friend and automotive executive John Tarpley. The two built the company after experiencing what they described as high costs, outdated technology, and poor customer service from legacy card system vendors. Amusement Connect scaled from its founding to more than 800 customers and 3,000-plus locations without institutional capital, funding growth through operating cash flow.Today, Mr. Licausi serves as CEO, and Mr. Tarpley serves as chief customer and brand officer. Tom Jayroe serves as president and has been with the company throughout its growth.

“As a longtime route operator and family entertainment center owner, I saw a clear market opportunity,” said Mr. Licausi. “Route Operators and smaller FECs couldn’t access the technology systems that larger FECs had, resulting in owners leaving revenue on the table and struggling to maximize profitability for their venues. John and I set out to bridge the gap and drive innovation in specialty payment solutions for the entire amusement industry, and we’re excited to say we’ve made an impact. We’re proud of what we’ve created, and we’re thrilled to have Periscope’s support in our next chapter.”

“Looking ahead, this partnership is about accelerating what we build for our customers,” said Mr. Tarpley. “We have spent the last several years engineering an award-winning cashless platform — from our card readers and kiosks to our cloud-based software and our new MobileMech device. Periscope gives us the resources to push product innovation even further and faster. Our customers will see the benefit in better tools, more features and the same dependable US-based support they count on every day.”

The indoor amusement center market is in a sustained expansion driven by growing consumer spending on experiential entertainment, increased demand for weather-independent leisure venues, and the rapid adoption of digital payment and venue management technology. According to Grand View Research, the global indoor amusement center market was valued at $54.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $121.5 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9%. Arcade games represented the largest product segment, accounting for 26% of revenue in 2025. The shift from cash and coin to cashless card and mobile payment systems is accelerating across the FEC segment as operators seek to improve transaction speed, reduce cash handling, and capture revenue from guests who carry no cash.

Joe McIlhattan
Joe McIlhattan

“John and Frank have already established Amusement Connect as a trusted provider of payment solutions for the amusement industry nationwide, and we see tremendous global potential,” said Joe McIlhattan, a principal at Periscope. “The business checks every box in Periscope’s mandate: founder-led, tech-enabled, mission-critical to its customers, and offers a wide variety of achievable value creation levers. We’re proud to back a company with such a strong reputation for innovation and customer service, and we are excited for the growth ahead.”

Periscope Equity makes control buyouts of founder- or management-led technology-enabled business services companies that have revenues from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA from $2 million to $10 million.

Steve Jarmel
Steve Jarmel

“Amusement Connect represents exactly the kind of company we look to partner with: a founder-led business with a differentiated, award-winning product, a loyal and growing customer base of more than 800 venues and 3,000-plus locations, strong unit economics, and a clear path to geographic and product expansion,” said Steve Jarmel, a partner at Periscope.

The buy of Amusement Connect is the first platform investment for Periscope Equity III LP, the firm’s $370 million third fund, which closed in August 2025. The firm’s two earlier funds closed in December 2020 with $225 million of capital and in July 2018 with $104 million of capital. Since raising its first institutional fund in 2018, the Chicago-based firm has raised approximately $700 million in committed capital across three funds, made 11 platform investments, and completed 28 add-on acquisitions.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Kingswood and Seneca Exit Lind Marine

June 2, 2026 by John McNulty

Kingswood Capital Management and co-investor Seneca Partners have sold Lind Marine, a provider of marine services, to Tallvine Partners.

Lind Marine provides dredging, shipyard, salvage, marine environmental remediation, tug and barge services, and bareboat charters of vessels and cranes throughout the San Francisco Bay, Mare Island, and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers.

In addition to its service capabilities, Lind Marine also mines and sells sand, gravel aggregates, and oyster shell calcium, and operates Moose Boats, a manufacturer of aluminum catamarans and monohull vessels used by law enforcement, fire departments, military, and commercial customers. The company employs more than 120 people and operates out of its shipyard base on Mare Island, which features a 400-foot drydock supporting vessel repair and new construction.

 The company operates a fleet of more than 40 vessels, including more than 25 barges and six tugboats, and moves in excess of 1 million tons of sand, aggregate, and gypsum annually for construction and infrastructure customers across Northern California.

Lind Marine was founded in 1906 as Agricultural Lime and Compost, an oyster shell operation, and today is headquartered north of San Francisco in Vallejo, California.

Kingswood and Seneca acquired Lind Marine in January 2022 in partnership with Christian Lind and Aaron Lind. The transaction marked the company’s first partnership with institutional capital after more than a century of family ownership. During the four-year holding period, Kingswood focused on operational modernization, management support, and capability expansion. Jon Slangerup, a veteran maritime and logistics executive, was brought in as chief executive officer at the time of the acquisition to complement the Lind family’s operational leadership.

Alex Wolf
Alex Wolf

“We are proud of what we achieved through our partnership with Christian and Aaron and the entire Lind Marine team over the last four years,” said Alex Wolf, founder and managing partner of Kingswood Capital. “This is an excellent example of how we partner with founder families as they take on their first institutional capital, working with them and company leadership to evolve their businesses and deliver a good outcome for everyone involved.”

“The Lind family founded and built a multi-generational business with deep customer relationships and a strong reputation across the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Michael Niegsch and Andrew Kovach, partners at Kingswood Capital, in a released statement. “Together, we were able to build on that foundation by making key investments in the business, bringing in additional operational expertise, and most importantly, supporting Christian and Aaron in their vision for the company. We’re confident Lind Marine is well-positioned for continued growth.”

Mr. Lind has served as president of Lind Marine since 2000 and will continue to lead the business as CEO under Tallvine’s ownership. He and his brother, Mr. Lind, represent the third generation of family leadership at the company.

The acquisition of Lind Marine is Tallvine’s second acquisition under its North American marine infrastructure platform and follows its September 2025 acquisition of Donjon Marine, a New Jersey-headquartered provider of dredging services, salvage operations and emergency response, heavy-lift and towing capabilities, and environmental remediation. The company has additional facilities in Pennsylvania, Texas, and New York.

Thomas Lefebvre
Thomas Lefebvre

“The acquisition of Lind Marine marks an important step in scaling our North American marine infrastructure platform,” said Thomas Lefebvre, a partner and CEO of Tallvine Partners. “Lind Marine is highly complementary to this platform, expanding its geographic footprint into the West Coast and diversifying the customer base. We are thrilled to partner with Christian Lind and the Lind Marine team and look forward to supporting the company’s expansion plans.”

“Lind Marine will play a key role in broadening our platform’s capabilities. We look forward to partnering with the Lind Marine team to support the company’s continued growth, invest in fleet additions, execute strategic acquisitions in the region, and foster the sharing of capabilities and expertise across the platform,” said Victor Sosa, a partner at Tallvine.

The U.S. dredging services industry is a modest but stable market underpinned by federal waterway maintenance contracts, port-deepening programs, and environmental remediation mandates. According to IBISWorld, the U.S. dredging services industry had a market size of $2.5 billion in 2026. Federal investment through the Army Corps of Engineers and the bipartisan infrastructure law has promoted growth for dredging companies in recent years, with port modernization and coastal resiliency projects generating sustained demand for operators with specialized equipment and environmental expertise.

Kingswood Capital was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Los Angeles. The firm focuses on middle-market companies undergoing operational, financial, or market-driven transitions, targeting businesses with revenues of at least $100 million across industrials, consumer, aerospace and defense, healthcare, and distribution. Kingswood’s most recent fund, Kingswood Capital Opportunities Fund III LP, closed in July 2024 at $1.5 billion, bringing the firm’s total assets under management to approximately $3.2 billion.

Seneca Partners makes majority or minority investments of $3 million to $40 million in North American-based companies with revenues from $5 million to $100 million and EBITDA of $2 million to $20 million. The firm is industry agnostic but has specific interest in specialty finance, direct-to-consumer, manufacturing, industrial services, healthcare services, and IT services. Seneca is based in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe.

Tallvine Partners was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in Miami. The firm invests in North America-based middle-market infrastructure opportunities across energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, and communications. Tallvine’s four partners — Mr. Lefebvre, Chucri Hjeily, Mark Clark, and Mr. Sosa — each bring two decades of infrastructure investing experience.

Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor to Kingswood, and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal counsel.

Filed Under: Exit, Transactions

LongueVue and Swaney Group Club Up on Apex Dental Buy

June 2, 2026 by John McNulty

LongueVue Capital (LVC), in partnership with Swaney Group Capital (SGC), has acquired Apex Dental Laboratory Group.

Apex operates a network of 16 dental laboratories across 12 states, employing approximately 400 people. The company’s services span the full range of restorative, cosmetic, pediatric, and surgical dental products — crowns, bridges, full arches, dentures, veneers, aligners, surgical guides, and implants — all manufactured in the United States. Every restoration is produced domestically, a deliberate point of differentiation in a market where offshore outsourcing has become common.

The company’s brand portfolio sets it apart from most regional lab competitors and includes Kinder Krowns (3D-printed pediatric crowns), Snap-On Smile and Lumineers (cosmetic veneers), and SurgicalGuides.com (surgical implants). Waco, Texas-headquartered Apex is led by co-founder and President Kay Hayden.Apex built its national footprint through 22 acquisitions and three de novo laboratory openings since its 2015 founding. The company positioned itself as an acquisition platform for regional dental labs, offering founding operators the ability to retain their local brand identity and customer relationships under Apex’s national infrastructure.

“We are thrilled to partner with LVC and SGC as Apex enters its next phase of growth,” said Ms. Hayden. “LVC and SGC are the ideal partners to help us achieve our long-term vision given their deep experience in healthcare manufacturing, collaborative, partnership-oriented approach, and strong track record of operational value creation. We look forward to working together to build on Apex’s momentum and further strengthen our customer experience and brand reputation as we execute on our strategic plan.”

Ryan Nagim
Ryan Nagim

“We are excited to add Apex to our expanding healthcare portfolio,” said Ryan Nagim, a managing partner at LVC and head of healthcare. “Dental laboratories play a critical role in enabling high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. Apex’s commitment to innovation, domestic manufacturing, and service excellence aligns well with our strategy of partnering with healthcare businesses that deliver meaningful value to both patients and providers.”

With the close of the transaction, Bill Braun has joined LVC as an operating partner and will take the role of executive chairman of Apex. He previously served as CEO and president of DDS Lab, one of the largest national dental laboratory platforms in the United States.

“Apex has assembled a strong foundation for growth with a talented team,” said Mr. Braun. “I look forward to partnering with management, LVC, and SGC to elevate the value proposition to our customers, accelerate growth, and further strengthen Apex’s position as a leading national dental laboratory platform.”

The U.S. dental laboratory industry is large, fragmented, and under consolidation pressure from both private equity platforms and dental service organizations. According to IBISWorld, the U.S. dental laboratory industry had a market size of $7.6 billion in 2026. IBISWorld notes that the industry is highly fragmented, with 4,375 businesses operating in the U.S., and that the rise of dental service organizations is shifting market power toward large, centralized groups — prompting lab consolidation and driving demand for scaled, technology-enabled platforms with the capital and infrastructure to serve DSO (dental service organization) accounts.

Globally, the market is on a stronger growth trajectory: according to Grand View Research, the global dental laboratories market was valued at $24.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $40.8 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%, driven by rising demand for restorative and cosmetic procedures and rapid adoption of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) and 3D-printing technologies.

LongueVue was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in New Orleans, with an additional office in West Palm Beach, Florida. The firm invests in middle-market companies with sales of $15 million and above and EBITDA of $3 million and above, with a focus on healthcare, business services, transportation and logistics, energy services, and niche manufacturing. LVC has raised more than $800 million in committed capital across five funds, including its most recent flagship, LongueVue Capital Partners IV LP, which closed in 2022 at $365 million.

The LongueVue transaction team included Mr. Nagim, Austin Rees, Mr. Braun, Baker Saslow, Hutton Johnston, and Brennan Louviere.

Swaney Group invests in U.S.-based manufacturing and industrial businesses with a focus on healthcare manufacturing. The firm deploys the Swaney Group Operating System, a proprietary operational improvement model, across portfolio companies from day one. Swaney Group was founded in 2022 by Managing Partner Paul Swaney and is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida.

“As both investors and operators, our team is designed to work shoulder-to-shoulder with management teams to drive sustainable performance improvement,” said Mr. Swaney. “Apex is a compelling platform with significant opportunity to scale, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, drive efficiency through operational excellence and continued investments in technology and talent and enhance its reputable high-touch service model.”

Abacus Finance was the senior secured credit facilities administrative agent and lead arranger in a senior debt financing to support LongueVue’s buy of Apex. Abacus also made an equity co-investment in the transaction. The Abacus transaction team included Tim Clifford, Eric Petersen, Greg Scanlon, and Jeremy Pak.

Tim Clifford
Tim Clifford

“We are always happy to support investments from LongueVue in one of their core industry verticals,” said Tim Clifford, CEO and founding partner of Abacus Finance. “As in past transactions, our success was a function of our speed, structural flexibility, and certainty of close – key aspects of what we call our Total Partnership Approach.”

Abacus specializes in financing sponsor-led transactions in the lower middle market. Since inception, the firm has closed more than $3.5 billion in financings and targets private debt investments of up to $60 million in companies with EBITDA between $2 million and $15 million. In October 2025, Abacus closed its first Small Business Investment Company vehicle, Abacus Finance SBIC Fund I LP (Fund I), with $262.5 million in capital. The firm secured $87.5 million in private commitments and leveraged the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBIC program to reach its hard-cap target.

Brown Gibbons Lang was the financial advisor to Apex on this transaction.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

GI Partners Acquires Facilities Manager HES

June 2, 2026 by John McNulty

GI Partners has closed a majority investment in HES Facilities Management (HES), a Tennessee-based provider of janitorial, facilities management, and groundskeeping services to K-12 school districts and other higher education institutions across the United States, and a portfolio company of Nautic Partners.

The HES management team, including chairman Buddy Helton and chief executive Charlie Spencer, reinvested alongside GI and retained an equity position in the company.

HES provides outsourced custodial, grounds, and maintenance services to educational institutions, operating in more than 30 states. Its customer base spans K-12 school districts and college and university campuses, markets that share common operational needs — large physical plants, high foot traffic, health and safety standards, and budget constraints that favor outsourced service contracts over in-house staffing.

The company’s services include daily custodial cleaning, specialized deep-cleaning programs, groundskeeping and landscaping, preventive maintenance, and facilities management oversight. HES was built as an education-only platform from its founding, distinguishing it from generalist commercial facilities contractors that serve multiple end markets.

HES — the initials stand for Helton Education Services — was founded in May 2020 by Mr. Helton and Mr. Spencer in partnership with Nautic Partners. The duo had previously worked together for more than a decade building the education facility services segment of GCA Services, a former Nautic Partners portfolio company, before joining the firm as co-founders of the new platform. HES made its first acquisition in May 2020, adding SMS, a Tennessee-based regional operator founded in 2007 that served K-12 and higher education customers in Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. In December 2020, HES added WFF Facility Services and Clean-Tech, a higher education-focused operator. Over the six years since its founding, HES has now expanded to operate in more than 30 states.

“Partnering with GI Partners represents an exciting opportunity for HES,” said Mr. Spencer. “Their experience in scaling service-driven organizations aligns well with our long-term vision and strengthens our ability to invest in our people, enhance operational excellence, and expand across K-12 and higher education, and selectively into adjacent end markets. We look forward to the growth and value we will create together.”

Jeff Shue
Jeff Shue

“HES has established a high-quality platform in a resilient end market, supported by strong customer relationships and a service-first culture,” said Jeff Sheu, a managing director and head of services investments at GI Partners. “We’re pleased to partner with the HES leadership team to support the next phase of growth through continued investment in people, processes, and scalable infrastructure.”

Outsourced facility management is a growing segment of the broader facilities services market, driven by institutional customers’ preference for specialized expertise, cost efficiency, and regulatory compliance support over internal staffing. According to Grand View Research, the global facility management services market was valued at $1.7 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.3 trillion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3%. Outsourced services accounted for 61.5% of global market revenue in 2024, the dominant delivery model, as organizations across healthcare, government, and education increasingly contract out non-core building operations to specialized providers.

“HES is proud to announce our new partnership with GI Partners as we enter an exciting new chapter of growth,” said Mr. Helton. “This partnership positions us to accelerate our strategic initiatives and continue building value at scale across our markets. With GI Partners’ support and expertise, we are confident in our ability to expand our reach while maintaining the service excellence that defines HES.”

GI Partners makes control equity investments in companies with enterprise values up to $2 billion that are active in the healthcare, IT infrastructure, services, and software sectors. In June 2021, the firm held a final closing of GI Partners Fund VI LP at an oversubscribed $3.9 billion. GI Partners was founded in 2001 and is based in San Francisco, with five additional offices across the US and in London.

Nautic Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that invests in companies within the healthcare, industrial, and outsourced services sectors. Nautic targets majority equity investments ranging from $50 million to $400 million in companies with enterprise values between $100 million and over $1 billion. In October 2024, the Providence, Rhode Island-headquartered firm closed its latest fund, Nautic Partners XI LP, with $4.5 billion in limited partner commitments, surpassing its initial target of $3.75 billion.

Baird was the financial advisor to HES and Nautic Partners on this transaction, and Rothschild & Co was the financial advisor to GI.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Marsh Reveals 2025 Transactional Risk Causes

June 1, 2026 by John McNulty

Marsh Risk, the transactional risk practice of insurance broker Marsh, has published its 2026 Global Transactional Risk Insurance Claims Report, drawing on its 2025 global claims data. In North America, Marsh clients reported 289 new transactional risk claims in 2025, a 9% decrease from the prior year, while policy proceeds paid to clients exceeded $412 million, a 39% increase. For the first time, most paid losses came from claims reported more than one year after closing — a finding the firm says underscores the value of representations and warranties insurance beyond the typical one-year seller indemnity window.

Financial statement breaches remained the single largest cause of loss at 26% of claims, down from 33% in 2024, with compliance with laws and tax breaches rounding out the top three categories. The three categories combined accounted for 56% of all North America claims. Steven Hong, North America chief claims officer for Marsh Risk’s transactional risk practice, and Craig Schioppo, global head of transactional risk at Marsh Risk, authored the findings.

Download the 2026 Global Transactional Risk Insurance Claims Report HERE.

Filed Under: Briefly

PE-Backed SRS Acquiom Gets Two New Board Members

June 1, 2026 by John McNulty

SRS Acquiom, the Denver-based platform providing M&A transaction administration and bilateral and syndicated loan agency services, has appointed Sallie Krawcheck and Philip Vasan as independent directors to its board. The additions come as the company scales its platform across North America and Europe.

Ms. Krawcheck is co-founder and former chief executive of Ellevest, a digital investment platform, and previously held senior leadership roles at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Smith Barney, U.S. Trust, Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. Mr. Vasan is co-head of fundamental equity investing at BlackRock and has previously served as CEO of the Credit Suisse Private Bank in the Americas, as well as global head of lending and liquidity at BlackRock.

SRS Acquiom was founded in 2007 by Paul Koenig, who serves as CEO, and provides escrow, paying agent, shareholder representation, and loan agency services to support mergers and acquisitions and syndicated lending transactions. Lovell Minnick acquired a majority stake in the company in 2018 and closed a single-asset continuation vehicle for the company in January 2026, with Carlyle AlpInvest as the lead investor.

Filed Under: Briefly

Bregal Keeps Seeing Green at Latest Roll Up

June 1, 2026 by John McNulty

Juniper Landscaping, the Bregal Partners-backed commercial landscaping platform headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida, has acquired Hilton Head Landscapes, a landscape maintenance and installation company serving commercial and residential customers across South Carolina’s Lowcountry region. Founded and led by Nicholas Welliver, Hilton Head Landscapes provides recurring maintenance and installation services to customers across Hilton Head and surrounding coastal markets. The acquisition is Juniper’s second in the Lowcountry, following its 2024 acquisition of Davis Landscaping, and adds density to a portfolio that now spans more than 34 branch locations across Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

Founded in 2001 and backed by Bregal Partners since January 2022, Juniper has grown from a 15-branch Florida operator into one of the Southeast’s largest commercial landscaping platforms under CEO Brandon Duke. Bregal, founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, invests in middle-market consumer and business services companies and has $1.25 billion of committed capital.

Filed Under: Briefly

Eagle Merchant Keeps Building Puget Collision

June 1, 2026 by John McNulty

Puget Collision, the Eagle Merchant Partners-backed collision repair platform operating under the CARSTAR and Fix Auto USA franchise systems, has acquired six Fix Auto USA locations operated by Richard Fish across San Diego and Orange Counties, California. Mr. Fish has operated within the Fix Auto USA network since 2011, growing from two to six locations, and was named Franchisee of the Year in 2022. The acquisition brings Puget’s total footprint to 72 locations across Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and Colorado. CEO Joe Morella founded Puget in September 2022 and has since scaled it through acquisitions of franchise operators with strong carrier relationships and OEM certifications. The company is headquartered in Kent, Washington.

Eagle Merchant Partners, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Atlanta, invests in lower middle market franchise, consumer, and commercial services companies and closed its second fund in May 2025 at $415 million. Drew Foster led the Eagle deal team.

Filed Under: Briefly

Bridget Meller New Biz Development Leader at Mosaic

June 1, 2026 by John McNulty

Mosaic Capital Partners, the Charlotte, North Carolina private equity firm focused on employee ownership buyouts of lower middle market companies, has hired Bridget Meller as vice president of business development. Ms. Meller will lead the firm’s business development function, creating and managing relationships with intermediaries, business owners, and capital providers across the United States. She joins from Capitala Group, where she held a business development role, and previously held a similar position at Clearlake Capital. She earned a B.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of South Carolina.

Mosaic was founded in 2013 and invests in companies with $5 million to $15 million in EBITDA through ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) and EOT (employee ownership trust) transactions. The firm has completed 17 platform investments across its two funds and manages $370 million in total assets. Its most recent fund closed in November 2025 at $205 million.

Filed Under: Briefly

Scholl’s Moves into Performance Athletics with Purchase of VKTRY

May 28, 2026 by John McNulty

Scholl’s Wellness Company, the Yellow Wood Partners portfolio company that operates the Dr. Scholl’s brand, has acquired VKTRY Gear, a maker of aerospace-grade carbon fiber performance insoles.

VKTRY Gear makes full-length carbon fiber insoles engineered to improve athletic performance by maximizing energy return and reducing lower-leg injuries. The product line spans over-the-counter offerings — the Gold and Silver VK insoles, calibrated across five degrees of flexibility based on athlete weight and sport — as well as the Platinum VK, a custom-orthotic option combining the carbon fiber baseplate with a personalized fit. Athletes at more than 600 professional and collegiate programs use VKTRY insoles. The brand has also expanded into recovery footwear with the VKTRY Recovery Clog.The company sells primarily through direct-to-consumer and e-commerce channels, with a social media following of 1.6 million. Independent research from the Korey Stringer Institute and Harvard Mass General has been cited in support of the product’s performance claims. Among the brand’s notable endorsers: All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, who wore VKTRY insoles while leading the NFL in rushing yards.

VKTRY Gear was co-founded by Matt Arciuolo, a board-certified pedorthist, with his wife Felicia Arciuolo in 2015. The company’s origins trace to Arciuolo’s work as the certified pedorthist for the USA Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton teams, where he developed an early carbon fiber prototype that contributed to the team’s 2010 gold medal — their first in 62 years. The company received its U.S. and international patents that same year it was founded. Today, the company is led by CEO Steve Wasik and is headquartered in Milford, Connecticut.

Dana Schmaltz
Dana Schmaltz

“VKTRY represents the type of differentiated, family-owned brand that we have found success partnering with at Yellow Wood,” said Dana Schmaltz, a partner at Yellow Wood. “Matt and his team have built an authentic connection with athletes and consumers through their differentiated performance insoles that deliver tangible performance benefits. The VKTRY product lines fits well with our overall goal to position Dr. Scholl’s as the lead innovator and go to solution for consumer wellness leading to better performance, recovery, confidence and comfort, starting at one’s feet. We look forward to leveraging the Dr. Scholl’s scale and resources to build upon VKTRY’s momentum and continue to accelerate the existing growth across the portfolio by introducing new customers to the benefits of performance insoles.”

Scholl’s Wellness — headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey — is the parent company of the Dr. Scholl’s brand, which William Mathias Scholl founded in Chicago in 1906. The brand operates across mass, drug, food, specialty, and e-commerce retail channels, selling insoles, inserts, skincare and foot grooming products, and first-aid foot solutions in more than 50 countries. Meghan Davis has served as CEO since February 2025, succeeding Jay Rogers.

Yellow Wood acquired the Dr. Scholl’s brand in the Americas from Bayer AG in 2019 for $585 million and formed Scholl’s Wellness Company as a standalone entity under that transaction. In 2021, Yellow Wood acquired the Scholl brand for markets outside the Americas from Reckitt Benckiser, reuniting global rights to the brand under a single owner for the first time in more than three decades. The VKTRY acquisition represents the latest add-on to the Scholl’s platform.The broader shoe insoles market is on a steady growth trajectory. According to Grand View Research, the global shoe insoles market is projected to grow from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $9.7 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. Grand View notes that carbon fiber insoles represent one of the faster-growing material segments, with that category expected to expand at a 6.2% CAGR through the same period. The sports and athletic sub-segment — where VKTRY competes — continues to outpace the broader market, supported by rising participation in fitness activities and increased consumer focus on injury prevention.

Tad Yanagi
Tad Yanagi

“Partnering the strong brand and scale of Dr. Scholl’s with VKTRY’s high-growth, direct-to-consumer business represents a unique opportunity to extend customer lifecycle and capture new demographics for both businesses,” said Tad Yanagi, a partner at Yellow Wood. “VKTRY’s viral e-commerce business and hyper-loyal customer base brings a dynamic new aspect to the Dr. Scholl’s platform. We are excited to work closely with the VKTRY and Dr. Scholl’s teams to capitalize on customer acquisition and innovation opportunities that we believe will drive material expansion across business lines.”

Yellow Wood invests in consumer brands and companies that operate in the mass, drug, food, specialty, value, club, and e-commerce channels, and have EBITDA from $10 million and $50 million. In April 2022, Yellow Wood closed Yellow Wood Capital Partners III LP at its hard cap with $750 million of limited partner capital commitments. Fund III was oversubscribed and included commitments from many of Yellow Wood’s long-time limited partners. Yellow Wood’s earlier fund closed in July 2017 with an oversubscribed $370 million of committed capital.

Filed Under: Add-on, Transactions

Diamond Chemical Adds Nyco Products

May 28, 2026 by John McNulty

A century-old Midwest specialty chemical manufacturer is joining forces with one of the more established names in institutional cleaning chemistry. Diamond Chemical Company, a Graycliff Partners portfolio company, has acquired Nyco Products Company, a manufacturer of specialty cleaning chemicals for janitorial, food processing, healthcare, and education markets.

Nyco was founded in 1920 in Chicago by Vince Nyhan as the Nyhan Company, initially selling bottled water and powdered cleanser before building the business into a broad specialty chemicals platform. Today, the company manufactures more than 450 stock and custom formulations across cleaners, disinfectants, sanitizers, and floor care products for distributors serving facility maintenance, janitorial, food processing, healthcare, and education end markets.

The company’s nationally recognized proprietary brands include Marvalosa, e.logical, Chem-Prix, and Zing. It also operates Building Better Brands, a private chemical branding program that helps distribution customers develop their own labeled product lines.

A group of Nyco employees — including CEO Bob Stahurski Sr., Bob Houston, and Jim Shea — purchased the business in 1985. The company has been headquartered near Chicago in Countryside, Illinois since 1998, when it relocated operations to a new 65,000-square-foot facility.

Mr. Stahurski, built the company’s distributor relationships and trade presence over decades, including serving as president of ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) in 2009. He is retiring in connection with the transaction. “The sale of our business to another dynamic company preserves our history and culture while ensuring that our customers continue to receive the same high level of quality, reliability, and service,” said Mr. Stahurski. “In addition, we are excited to gain access to Diamond’s full line of product innovations.”

Diamond manufactures soaps, detergents, and warewash chemicals for hospitality, food service, commercial laundry, and other institutional and industrial end markets, serving more than 1,000 customers across laundry, warewash, housekeeping, floor care, sanitizing, and pool care applications.

A vertically integrated operation, Diamond produces over four million pounds of product weekly from facilities on the East and West coasts. It manufactures its own blow-molded containers and operates automated filling lines, on-premises rail siding, company-owned trucks, and bulk storage to support supply continuity and quality control.

Diamond was founded in 1930 by Jacob Diamond and is today headquartered in Rutherford, New Jersey. Wesley Alves has served as CEO since October 2025, succeeding Harold Diamond — the founder’s grandson — who now serves as a partner and strategic adviser.

Wesley Alves
Wesley Alves

“This combination is a transformative step for Diamond,” said Mr. Alves. “Nyco brings deep formulation expertise, a strong brand portfolio, and a Midwest manufacturing footprint that complements our coastal operations. Together, we can offer customers and distributors broader product availability and stronger national service.”

Graycliff invested in Diamond in July 2024. The Nyco acquisition adds a Midwest manufacturing node and an established specialty chemicals distributor network to a platform Graycliff positioned from the outset for add-on acquisitions. The combined company carries more than 200 years of operating history between the two businesses.

“Diamond and Nyco are exceptional businesses with deeply loyal customer bases built over generations,” said Matt Smith, a principal at Graycliff. “We’re excited that the Nyco team is joining Diamond and look forward to supporting the team and the combined organization in this next phase of growth.”

The global industrial and institutional (I&I) cleaning chemicals market generated approximately $80 billion in revenue in 2024, according to Grand View Research, and is projected to reach $167 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%. Grand View cites disinfectants and sanitizers as the fastest-growing product category within the market, expanding at an 8.4% CAGR through that period, driven by heightened hygiene standards across healthcare, food processing, and hospitality environments. North America held a 33% revenue share of the global market in 2024, reflecting the region’s broad institutional customer base and stringent regulatory requirements.

Graycliff Partners, formed in December 2011 as a spin-off from HSBC Capital and headquartered in New York, makes lower middle market investments in niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and industrial services businesses. The firm invests between $10 million and $50 million per company, targeting EBITDA between $4 million and $20 million, and manages dedicated equity and credit funds. Its most recent private equity fund, Graycliff Private Equity Partners V LP, closed in October 2023 at its hard cap of $600 million in limited partner commitments.

Filed Under: Add-on, Transactions

PestCo Pushes Deeper into Arizona with Purchase of University Termite & Pest Control

May 28, 2026 by John McNulty

University Termite & Pest Control, a family-owned pest management company serving residential and commercial customers across Arizona since 1974, has been acquired by PestCo Holdings, a national pest control platform backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners.

University Termite offers pest, termite, and weed control services to residential and commercial accounts across the state of Arizona, including schools, hospitals, food preparation facilities, and other sensitive environments. The company employs an integrated pest management (IPM) approach — a method that uses monitoring, prevention, and targeted treatment to manage pest populations with minimal environmental impact. It is one of three pest control companies with the infrastructure to service all of Arizona.

Rick Rupkey Sr. co-founded the company in Tucson in December 1974, with early roots near the University of Arizona. Ryan Horn and his wife, Krista Horn, purchased the business in 2020 after Mr. Rupkey’s death in 2019. Ryan Horn has worked in the pest management industry since 1996.

“After contemplating for years and speaking to many companies about selling University, we felt the most comfortable with PestCo,” said Ryan and Krista Horn in a releases statement. “The PestCo team is very patient and thorough; we never felt an ounce of pressure. We are very pleased with the decision to work with PestCo and their assurances to take care of our valued employees and customers.”

PestCo was formed in late 2021 by Thompson Street in partnership with industry executive Jay Keating, who serves as CEO, with the explicit purpose of consolidating the fragmented pest control industry. Its first acquisition, Presto Pest Control in Telford, Pennsylvania, closed in November 2021. Since then, PestCo has grown through more than 20 acquisitions across the mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Texas, and Southwest, including Pointe Pest Control, United Pest Solutions, Green Mango Pest Control, Arizona’s Best Choice Pest & Termite Services, and Southwest Exterminating, among others. The University Termite acquisition marks the company’s third entry into Arizona. PestCo is headquartered in St. Louis.“We’re excited to continue our growth in the great state of Arizona,” said Mr. Keating. “The University team brings tremendous commercial expertise in addition to a strong residential program. Our goals remain the same as with any acquisition – earn customer loyalty and create opportunities for our employees.”

The U.S. pest control industry generated approximately $29.7 billion in revenue in 2026, according to IBISWorld, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.4% over the prior five years. IBISWorld projects continued growth over the next five years, with demand sustained by a highly fragmented provider landscape — more than 34,000 businesses operate in the sector — that continues to invite consolidation by national platforms.

Dan Cooper
Dan Cooper

“Thompson Street is pleased to back PestCo’s continued growth in the Southwest with the acquisition of University Termite & Pest Control, a well-established provider with a strong regional footprint,” said Dan Cooper, a managing director at Thompson Street.

Thompson Street is a St. Louis-based firm that makes equity investments of $50 million to $250 million in companies with EBITDA between $5 million and $50 million. Sectors of interest include healthcare and life science services, software and technology services, business and consumer products and services. Its most recent fund, Thompson Street Capital Partners VI, closed in August 2022 at more than $1.5 billion, exceeding its target. Mr. Cooper led the Thompson Street deal team.

Filed Under: Add-on, Transactions

Arsenal Takes Majority Stake in Velcro, Acquires Interest in the iconic Hook-and-Loop Brand From Cripps Foundation

May 28, 2026 by John McNulty

Arsenal Capital Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Velcro Companies, the New Hampshire-based owner of the VELCRO brand and the original inventor of hook-and-loop fastening technology, from the Cripps Foundation. The Cripps Foundation will continue as a significant minority shareholder.

Velcro Companies is the global developer and manufacturer of the hook-and-loop fastening systems that bear the VELCRO brand — one of the few commercial trademarks to become a common noun in everyday language.

The company’s products fasten, bundle, organize, and secure across a breadth of applications that few specialty materials businesses can match: medical devices, data centers, personal care, apparel, transportation components, industrial assembly, defense equipment, and consumer goods. The product portfolio spans the full spectrum from commodity hook-and-loop tape to highly engineered specialty fastening systems designed for demanding end-use environments.

Velcro holds more than 370 patents and numerous trademarks, including the VELCRO trademark itself. The company operates globally with approximately 2,400 employees and manufacturing in multiple countries.

Jeremy Stein
Jeremy Steinfink

“The VELCRO brand is one of the most iconic brands in both industrial and consumer fastening technologies, with decades of innovation and a best-in-class product portfolio,” said Jeremy Steinfink, an operating partner at Arsenal. “We commend the Cripps Foundation for decades of committed stewardship, and we look forward to partnering with the foundation alongside the management team in this next phase of growth.”

Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral founded the company in 1952 after observing how burdock burrs clung to fabric during a hike and developing a nylon-based fastening system that replicated the mechanism. Gabriella Parisse serves as CEO, having assumed the role in November 2021 as the company’s first female chief executive. Ms. Parisse joined Velcro in 2018, serving as chief growth officer before her promotion, and brings more than 30 years of global experience in consumer goods and B2B, including 26 years at Johnson & Johnson. Velcro is headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Gabriella Parisse
Gabriella Parisse

“We are excited to partner with Arsenal, building on the strong results our team has delivered and the enduring strength of the VELCRO brand,” said Ms. Parisse. “With a talented organization and solid momentum, we are well positioned to accelerate growth and unlock the full potential of our company and brand.”

The Cripps family, through its private equity vehicle Cohere Limited and subsequently the Cripps Foundation, has been the principal owner of Velcro since the 1970s, when Sir Humphrey Cripps — a British industrialist and philanthropist — became a major shareholder and chairman. The foundation took the company fully private in 2009. The Arsenal transaction marks the first time in more than five decades that the Cripps family will not hold a controlling interest in the business, though it will retain a significant minority stake.

Ryan Bermnan
Ryan Bermnan

“Velcro is a strong fit with Arsenal’s focus on building market-leading, specialty materials businesses,” said Ryan Berman, a managing director at Arsenal. “The company is at the forefront of the next generation of hook & loop technologies and especially well-positioned to meet the globally evolving needs in fasteners. We look forward to supporting the team through continued investment in innovation and product development.”

Arsenal Capital Partners invests in middle-market specialty industrial and healthcare companies that have $100 million to $500 million of enterprise value. Since its founding in 2000, New York City-headquartered Arsenal has raised total capital of $10 billion, closed more than 300 platform and add-on acquisitions, and exited more than 36 portfolio companies. Its most recent funds, Arsenal Capital Fund VI and the Arsenal Growth Fund, closed in August 2022 at a combined $5.4 billion.

Piper Sandler was the financial advisor to Arsenal, and Kirkland & Ellis served as its legal counsel. Greenhill, a Mizuho affiliate, was the financial advisor to Velcro and Mayer Brown served as legal counsel.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Salt Creek Launches New Medical Device Platform with MML Buy

May 21, 2026 by John McNulty

Salt Creek Capital has acquired MML Diagnostics Packaging, a provider of contract manufacturing and packaging services to original equipment medical device manufacturers.

MML manufactures and packages in-vitro diagnostic devices, specimen collection products, and single-use medical devices for healthcare and medical technology customers. Specific products include flocked and foam specimen collection swabs, viral transport and diagnostic collection kits, wound care dressing packages, and custom reagent formulations used in laboratory testing, infectious disease diagnostics, and point-of-care medical applications.

The company also provides medical-grade pouching, kitting, labeling, and sterile barrier packaging services for single-use medical devices and diagnostic products supplied to healthcare and medical OEM customers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MML produced more than 22 million COVID-19 specimen collection kits.

MML is headquartered near Portland in Troutdale, Oregon, and operates a 27,000 sq. ft. FDA-registered and ISO-certified manufacturing and warehouse facility. The company also holds CE marks for its specimen collection products used in regulated medical applications in Europe.

MML was founded in 1964 by the Pestes family and has been led by its second-generation owner and CEO Dale Pestes for more than 30 years. With the close of the acquisition by Salt Creek, the company has named his son, Geoff Pestes, as the company’s new CEO. Geoff Pestes joined MML in 2014 and previously served as the company’s Vice President of Operations.

Geoff Pestes
Geoff Pestes

“MML’s reputation has been built over six decades on quality, reliability, and deep partnerships with our customers and employees. Our team is energized to continue that tradition while working alongside Salt Creek Capital to build on the strong foundation my family created,” said Geoff Pestes.

“Our family has been privileged to steward this business for two generations. In considering the next chapter, we sought a partner who shared our long-term perspective and our commitment to the employees and customers who have made MML what it is today,” said Dale Pestes. “Salt Creek Capital was the ideal choice, and we are confident the company is in excellent hands as Geoff steps into the CEO role.”

Jordan Stankowski
Jordan Stankowski

“MML’s 60-year track record reflects the exceptional leadership of the Pestes family and the dedication of a remarkably tenured team,” said Jordan Stankowski, a managing director and operating partner at Salt Creek. “In a market where quality and reliability are non-negotiable, MML has consistently delivered — earning perfect supplier ratings and the kind of long-term customer loyalty that can’t be manufactured. We are thrilled to support Geoff Pestes and the entire MML organization in this next chapter, and we look forward to helping the Company continue to deliver world-class service to its customers.”

Salt Creek Capital invests in North American-headquartered companies with revenues ranging from $5 million to $150 million. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, logistics, value-added distribution, B2B and B2C services, food and beverage, healthcare, retail, and hospitality. The firm is headquartered near Menlo Park in Woodside, California.

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

Boyne Invests in Local Boy Outfitters

May 21, 2026 by John McNulty

Boyne Capital has made an investment in Local Boy Outfitters, a consumer apparel and lifestyle brand. Coinvesting in this transaction alongside Boyne was Sisu Equity and Consumer Growth Partners.

Local Boy designs and sells apparel, headwear, and accessories centered on outdoor recreation and Southern lifestyle themes. The company’s products include graphic T-shirts, fishing shirts, shorts, outerwear, hats, and accessories sold through both specialty retailers and direct-to-consumer channels. Customers of the company are typically consumers engaged in fishing, hunting, boating, and other outdoor activities.

Columbia, South Carolina-headquartered Local Boy was founded in 2012 by CEO David Faulkenberry and Patrick Stamps. Mr. Faulkenberry remains a shareholder of the company in partnership with Boyne. Beginning in 2020, Local Boy experienced significant growth, and in 2022, after several consecutive years of doubling the business, the company hired Luis de la Mata as chief operating officer.

“We are thrilled to partner with Boyne Capital, who has a long track record of supporting entrepreneurs, scaling businesses, and funding growth initiatives,” said Mr. Faulkenberry. “Our customers can expect the same Local Boy they’ve always known—same people, same values, same commitment to quality and authenticity. This investment gives us additional resources to accelerate growth and better service our customers.”

Derek McDowell
Derek McDowell

“We look to partner with founders who have built something special,” said Derek McDowell, the managing partner at Boyne Capital. “Local Boy’s leadership, culture, and customer connection are exactly why we invested, and those elements will continue to guide the company’s growth. We look forward to supporting the team as they scale the platform and bring new products to market.”

Boyne Capital invests in lower middle-market companies with revenues of less than $100 million and EBITDA of $3 million to $15 million. Sectors of interest include healthcare services, manufacturing, consumer products, and business services. The firm was founded by Mr. McDowell in 2006 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

Last month, Boyne held the first and final close of BCM Fund III LP (Fund III) at its hard cap, with $355 million in limited partner commitments. Total commitments to Fund III and its parallel funds, including Boyne general partner group commitments, exceeded $400 million. Fund III exceeded its $275 million target and closed just 90 days after launch.

Roman Krislav
Roman Krislav

“Local Boy has done an exceptional job building a brand that resonates with customers through fresh, thoughtfully designed products with an authentic, grassroots identity,” said Roman Krislav, a managing director at Boyne Capital. “We see a significant opportunity to support the company by investing in product innovation, brand building, and disciplined channel expansion.”

Matrix Capital Markets, a division of Citizens Financial Group, served as financial advisor to Local Boy on the transaction, providing valuation advisory services, managing a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiating the transaction.

“Matrix’s extensive knowledge of our marketplace played a critical role in the success of our transaction,” concluded Mr. Faulkenberry. “They are truly best-in-class in what they do and their focus throughout the engagement was unwavering.”The Matrix deal team was led by Managing Director William O’Flaherty and included Managing Director David Shoulders, Vice President Matt Oldhouser, Analyst Hayden Daniel, and Analyst Bing Song Lin.

“It was a pleasure to work with David, Patrick, Luis, and the entire Local Boy team,” said Mr. O’Flaherty. “Local Boy is one of the fastest growing brands, not only in outdoor apparel, but in the broader lifestyle apparel category as well. They’ve built a model that breeds customer loyalty while also providing its team with incredible visibility into demand and market trends. I look forward to seeing the brand continue to thrive for years to come.”

Filed Under: New Platform, Transactions

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 405
  • Go to Next Page »

PEP_mainlogo_White

Private Equity Professional
c/o Sun Business Media
PO Box 6610
Evanston, Illinois 60204
Office Direct (847) 920-8010

[email protected]

News

  • Platforms
  • Add Ons
  • Exits
  • Funds
  • Financings
  • People
  • Strategies

Customer Help

  • Why Advertise?
  • PEP Media Kit

Memberships

  • Individual

Advertising

  • Why Advertise?
  • PEP Media Kit

© 2026 Private Equity Professional. All Rights Reserved.