PE Weekly: M&A Roundup Oct. 9-15

Platform Investments

Getty Family, Koch Equity to Take Getty Images Private. Getty Images Holdings, a publicly traded visual content marketplace, announced the Getty Family and Koch Equity Development have entered into a restructuring deal that includes a $533 million equity investment in the business. Following the restructuring, Getty Images will become a privately held business.

ATL Acquires Precise Metal from Staple Street, Forms A&D Platform. ATL Partners acquired Precise Metal Products from Staple Street Capital and launched Precise Aerospace & Defense as a new aerospace and defense platform. Precise Metal Products manufactures complex precision metal assemblies for aerospace, defense, and high-technology customers.

Godspeed Backs GreenVest, Forms Environmental Platform. Godspeed Capital acquired GreenVest, a provider of ecological restoration, compensatory mitigation, stormwater management, resilience, and environmental consulting services. GreenVest serves public- and private-sector customers across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and will serve as Godspeed’s environmental infrastructure platform.

Llama Partners Acquires Fabspeed Motorsport. Independent private equity sponsor Llama Capital Partners announced its first acquisition, Fabspeed Motorsport, according to an announcement provided to ACG Insights. Fabspeed designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance aftermarket exhaust systems and other products for luxury sport vehicles.

Ara Partners Invests in Pacific Ag. Ara Infrastructure, the infrastructure-focused unit of Ara Partners, acquired a majority interest in Pacific Ag, North America’s largest crop residue supply and logistics company. Pacific Ag collects, stores, and distributes agricultural byproducts such as corn stover and wheat straw, supplying end markets including animal feed and mushroom production.

Mason Wells Acquires Canworks. Private equity firm Mason Wells acquired Canworks, a digital printing company specializing in direct-to-can decoration for beverage brands. Canworks serves customers across energy drinks, craft beer, ready-to-drink cocktails, cannabis beverages, kombucha, and other categories through a national manufacturing footprint.

Aurelius Carves out ECE from Nokia. Aurelius agreed to carve out Nokia’s Enterprise Campus Edge (ECE) business, which provides edge-computing software and solutions that enable enterprises to manage applications and data closer to end users and connected devices.

Mubadala Takes Clear Channel Private. Mubadala Capital completed its acquisition of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, an operator of out-of-home advertising assets including billboards, transit displays, and street furniture. The transaction results in Clear Channel Outdoor no longer being publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Add-ons

The Riverside Company’s SAFEbuilt Acquires NEIC. Lower middle-market investment firm The Riverside Company recently announced portfolio company SAFEbuilt will acquire Northeast Inspection Consultants (NEIC). The company provides building plan review and inspection services.

Grovecourt’s Guide Architecture Acquires MAIA Consulting. Guide Architecture, a healthcare-focused architecture, planning, and design firm, acquired MAIA Consulting, a healthcare-focused planning and design consultancy. Guide is backed by Grovecourt Capital.

CORE Industrial’s Fathom Announces Three Add-ons. Fathom Digital Manufacturing, a portfolio company of CORE Industrial Partners, acquired TCS Industries, TCS Electronics, and Precision Grinding & Manufacturing (PGM). The add-ons provide precision machining, electronics manufacturing, assemblies, and specialized finishing services for aerospace and defense customers.

Blackford Adds E.G. Middleton to Habco Platform. Blackford Capital announced this week that it acquired electrical contractor E.G. Middleton to expand its mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) platform Habco Partnership. E.G. Middleton serves government, industrial, transportation, and commercial customers.

Rockbridge’s FormtivGroup Acquires Saige Consulting. FormativGroup, a technology consulting platform backed by Rockbridge Growth Equity, acquired Saige Consulting, an AI and technology consulting firm. Saige provides technology strategy, software development, AI implementation, cloud, and data engineering services.

Permira’s The Knot Acquires Zola. The Knot Worldwide, a wedding technology platform and marketplace backed by Permira, entered into an agreement to acquire Zola, an all-in-one wedding planning and registry platform. Zola will continue to operate as a standalone brand within The Knot’s portfolio.

Strategics

Miller Thomson LLP Acquires Mogan Daniels Slager LLP. In what is believed to be the first law firm acquisition in Canada, Miller Thomson LLP announced its acquisition of Mogan Daniels Slager LLP (MDS). Based in Vancouver, MDS is a boutique law firm focused on private equity M&A and strengthens Miller Thomson’s middle-market M&A and private equity capabilities.

Accordion Acquires Stride to Boost AI PE Consulting. Accordion, a financial consulting and technology firm focused on private equity clients, acquired Stride, an AI-enabled data and analytics consultancy. Stride helps organizations implement artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making capabilities. The acquisition expands Accordion’s AI and data capabilities.

Exits

TA Exits Rocscience to Hexagon. Rocscience, a geotechnical and engineering software solutions provider, will be sold by its sponsor, TA Associates, the firm said. Publicly listed Hexagon AB will acquire the business for about $525 million.

Audax Exits Rensa Filtration. The middle-market private equity team at AEA Investors, along with British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), announced they have acquired Rensa Filtration from Audax Private Equity. Rensa provides mission-critical air filtration products and services for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing customers. In a separate announcement, Rensa announced its acquisition of Aero Filter, an air filtration distribution and services business.

Borgman Exits Continuus Technologies. Borgman Capital recently announced the sale of Contiuus Technologies, a data, AI, and cloud engineering and consulting firm. Permira portfolio company Acuity Analytics has acquired the company.

Rhône Exits Paragon Films to PE Buyers. Priavte equity firm Atlantic Ridge Capital and investment management firm Grafine Partners agreed to acquire Paragon Films from PE firm Rhône. Paragon Films is a manufacturer of specialty stretch films used primarily in the agriculture industry, serving customers with products designed for silage, hay, and other crop-protection applications.

Blackstone Exits ZO Skin Health to Galderma. Switzerland-based dermatology company Galderma agreed to acquire ZO Skin Health from its current owners, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and the Obagi family. The acquisition values the business at $1.5 billion.

Fundraising

Consonance Capital Raises $1.35 Billion. Consonance Capital Partners closed its third fund at $1.35 billion, exceeding its target, according to an announcement. The healthcare-focused private equity firm will continue investing in healthcare services, healthcare technology, pharmaceutical services, and related sectors.

Aphias Capital Raises $1.05 Billion. Ahias Capital, a lower middle-market private equity firm focused on healthcare and essential services, closed its oversubscribed inaugural fund with more than $1.05 billion in capital commitments. The firm exceeded its original fundraising target.

SEVA Raises $160 Million. Growth equity firm SEVA closed its second fund at $160 million, exceeding its target, according to a press release. The fund will continue SEVA’s strategy of investing in lower middle-market companies.

Insights

Bridgepoint, GFH, AIP Partner for Aircraft Leasing Platform. Middle-market investment firm Bridgepoint, banking institution GFH Financial Group, and alternative investment manager AIP Capital launched a strategic partnership to build a $1 billion commercial aircraft engine leasing and investment platform. The venture will focus on acquiring, leasing, and managing commercial aircraft engines, targeting growing aviation demand and the increasing need for engine-related aftermarket and leasing solutions.