PE Weekly: As Q3 Approaches, Dealmaking Activity Jumps

Platform Investments

New Harbor Invests in MD Esthetics. New Harbor Capital announced its completed platform investment in MD Esthetics, a medical aesthetics and wellness company. The company establishes a platform for New Harbor’s medical aesthetics investment thesis, a press release said.

Sojourner Carves out Lornamead Assets. Sojourner Consumer Partners, a consumer-focused private investment firm, has acquired Lornamead North America assets from Lornamead and Lornamead Group Limited, according to a press release. The investment repositions the assets as a standalone entity and includes a portfolio of personal care brands including Yardley London and Aqua Net.

Argosy Acquires Heavy Equipment Colleges of America. Argosy Private Equity, a lower middle-market private equity firm, has acquired a controlling stake in Heavy Equipment Colleges of America (HEC). The company provides specialized heavy equipment, crane, HVAC and other training programs at four campuses across the country.

Brightstar Capital Acquires KZF Design. Brightstar Capital Partners has established an architecture platform following its acquisition of KZF Design. The company is an architecture, engineering and design firm.

SaaS Opportunity Acquires Celera Systems. Private equity firm SaaS Opportunity Capital (SOC) has acquired Celera Systems, a workflow software provider for financial services marketing and sales operations. The acquisition will allow Celera to bring its software solutions to a broader customer base, a press release noted.

Trilantic Backs Lifetime Quality Roofing. Trilantic North America, a middle-market private equity firm, announced its growth investment in Lifetime Quality Roofing and Storm Restoration this week. Backing from Trilantic will support the residential and commercial roof replacement service provider’s geographic expansion and growth via strategic M&A.

VeraNorth Launches Healthcare Fund with RN Express Backing. VeraNorth Capital Management announced this week the launch of VeraNorth Healthcare Private Equity Fund, L.P., a NAV-based liquidity fund focused on growth equity and control investing. The fund will target lower middle-market healthcare service providers, with its anchor acquisition of RN Express Registry. The company is a clinical staffing company and provider of nursing personnel in New York.

Angeles Equity Acquires Solid Surface Care. Angeles Equity partners has acquired a majority stake in Solid Surface Care, a provider of specialty maintenance and restoration services for commercial surfaces. Backing from Angeles will support investment in the company’s staff and technology, a press release said.

Exagon Impact Acquires SunRoof. Exagon Impact Capital, a renewable energy-focused private equity firm, has announced its acquisition of a controlling stake in SunRoof, a renewable energy platform operating in Mexico and Chile. The investment is from Exagon’s inaugural fund, Exagon Latin America Fund I.

HighPost Backs Equip Foods. HighPost Capital, a private equity firm focused on the consumer space, has made a “significant investment” in Equip Foods, according to a press release. Equip is a protein supplement brand with offerings including its flagship product Prime Protein.

Great Point Takes Majority Stake in Eutecma. Healthcare-focused Great Point partners has acquired a majority stake in Eutecma, a Germany-based developer of pharmaceutical packaging solutions for cold chain shipments.

Add-Ons

Godspeed’s BNP Associates Acquires Establish. Godspeed Capital Management-backed BNP Associates, an air transportation design and engineering firm, has acquired Establish, Inc. The company is a global consulting firm with a focus on warehousing and supply chain logistics, strengthening BNP’s existing suite of consulting services within the aviation, warehousing and logistics space.

Trinity Hunt’s Herringbone Acquires Hennessey Digital. Herringbone Digital, a digital marketing platform, has acquired Hennessey Digital, a digital marketing agency servicing law firms. The investment marks Herringbone’s first in the legal marketing space. Herringbone is a portfolio company of Trinity Hunt Partners.

Strategics

Slingshot Insights Acquires Noble Insights. Slingshot Insights, an expert network and investment research platform, announced its acquisition of Noble Insights, a global expert network. The acquisition broadens Slingshot’s sector coverage and enhances its offering for expert interviews, transcripts, surveys and research for institutional and individual investors, including private equity firms and asset managers.

Michaels Acquires JOANN Brands. The Michaels Companies announced its acquisition of the intellectual property and private label brands of JOANN, according to a press release. The investments expands Michaels’ existing product offering within fabric, sewing and other craft categories. Michaels is backed by Apollo Global Management.

Insights

Acqwired’s PE Deal Sourcing Platform Emerges from Stealth. Acqwired has emerged from stealth, officially launching its Deal Sourcing Operating System, according to a recent announcement. The platform offers provide equity investors a way to identify acquisition targets by automating key manual tasks.

Middle Market Growth is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.