2020 DEALS: A YEAR IN REVIEW A comprehensive list of covered by MiBiz in 2020.

Zeigler Automotive expects the new stores to add $350 Jeffrey Genzink became a shareholder in Integra purchased the assets of Steripod, a toothbrush JANUARY million in annual revenues. Motor Werks Auto Group Realty, which also hired all of Genzink Appraisal’s accessory brand, from Culver City, Calif.-based Bonfit n Traverse City-based Northern Radio of retained its stores in Barrington, Ill. The deal, which employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. America Inc. The acquisition includes a portfolio of Inc. sold off a pair of radio stations in separate will add an expected 5,000 new units of sales, was n BBC Distributing LLC in Kalamazoo acquired antibacterial toothbrush protectors, children’s prod- transactions, according to a report on InsideRadio. ucts and tongue cleaners. Terms of the deal were Zeigler’s largest to date, according to the company. Grand Rapids-based Premier Paper & Supplies, a Midwestern Broadcasting Co., also of Traverse City, Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. undisclosed. acquired rock station 97.5 WKLT for $450,000, while regional distributor of point of sale products, paper n Kalamazoo-based SalesPage Technologies Mt. Pleasant-based University n Wyoming, Mich.-based real estate appraisal firm supplies, and other non-durable goods. Premier LLC made its second acquisition in seven months purchased 94.3 WFCX for $500,000 to add it to the Genzink Appraisal Co. has been acquired by Denver, Paper & Supplies’ owners, Jim and Pat Bonander, with a deal for WCMU Public Radio network, InsideRadio reported. Colo.-based Integra Realty Resources, a commer- sold the company to retire. Grand Rapids-based Small SalesStation, a divi- cial real estate and consulting firm. The com- Business Deal Advisors LLC served as M&A adviser n Las Vegas-based private investment firm Crystal sion of Milwaukee, to the sellers. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. View Capital purchased the 398-unit Stowaway pany will operate from an office at 1009 44th St. SW in Wis.-based Celera Systems LLC. SalesStation, Mini Storage at 9879 Portage Road in Portage, Wyoming, its second in Michigan. In the deal, founder n Ranir, the oral care division of Perrigo Co. plc, which serves asset management firms outsourcing according to a report in Inside Self Storage. Berkadia data management and sales reporting, will maintain arranged a 10-year, fixed-rate $2.5 million acquisi- its primary office in Milwaukee. Terms of the deal were tion loan from CIBC World Markets, according to undisclosed. a statement. TRIBES PARTNER n Grand Rapids Cardiology merged with Advanced n The Association for the Blind and Visually Cardiac & Vascular Centers for Amputation Impaired became an independent subsidiary of Mary Prevention PLC, also of Grand Rapids. Led by cardiol- Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital on Jan. 1. The IN $17.5 MILLION ogist Dr. Ronald VanderLaan, Grand Rapids Cardiology nonprofit merger comes as ABVI Executive Director and its staff of 17 now practice under the Advanced Richard Stevens retired after 17 years at the orga- PURCHASE OF Cardiac & Vascular Centers brand name. The cardiol- nization. ABVI served more than 930 clients in the ogy practice continues to operate out of its office on 12-month period ending on Sept. 30, 2019and evalu- ICONIC MCKAY East Beltline Avenue as ACV Grand Rapids Cardiology. ated more than 500 patients in outreach screenings. Advanced Cardiac & Vascular Centers has 72 physi- n Niles-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lower cians and care professionals at two locations in Grand merged with South Bend, Ind.-based TOWER IN Rapids and one in Lansing. Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Joseph County, n Chicago-based firm DuneGlass effective Jan. 1. The Niles nonprofit served Berrien, GRAND RAPIDS Capital acquired a majority stake in and recapitalized Cass and St. Joseph counties in Southwest Michigan. Kentwood-based Grand Health Partners, a bariatric n Grand Rapids-based pallet management firm and general surgery practice that provides medical Kamps Inc. sold a and surgical weight loss. The deal marked DuneGlass’ majority interest to Los ribally owned Gun Lake Investments first investment. Angeles, Calif.-based and Waséyabek Development Co. n Grand Rapids-based public relations and investor private equity firm T partnered to jointly acquire McKay relations firm Lambert & Co. acquired - Freeman Spogli & Co. Tower in downtown Grand Rapids. based Casteel Schoenborn Investor Relations & Founder and CEO Bernie Kamps continues to lead the The two tribal non-gaming economic McCay Tower. MIBIZ FILE PHOTO Corporate Communications. The acquisition - company and remains a significant shareholder. Other development entities purchased the iconic erates Lambert & Co.’s growth strategy and boosts members of Kamps’ management team also partici- downtown building from Steadfast Property Holdings for $17.5 million in a deal that was com- its investor relations and financial services expertise, pated in the transaction. Kamps manages more than pleted Jan. 15 and brokered by NAI Wisinski of West Michigan. according to a statement. Lynn Casteel and Jeffrey 100 million pallets annually for more than 1,800 cus- The 18-story, 154,000-square-foot building at 146 Monroe Center St. NW — located at the Schoenborn, principals at Casteel Schoenborn, which tomers. Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC corner of Pearl Street in the core downtown business district — houses retail, office space, an is based in the Buffalo suburb of Williamsville, were in Grand Rapids was the legal adviser to Kamps, and event venue and luxury apartments on the upper floors. named managing directors of Lambert & Co. as part Lincoln International was lead financial adviser. Waséyabek Development is the non-gaming economic investment entity of the Nottawaseppi of the transaction. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP served as the Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians, while Grand Rapids-based Gun Lake Investments serves n Precise CNC Routing Inc., a family-owned and legal adviser to Freeman Spogli. Debt financing for in a similar function for the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, or Gun the acquisition was provided by Oaktree Capital operated manufacturer based in Wyoming, Mich., has Lake Tribe. been acquired by local investors David and Carey Management L.P., Adams Street Partners LLC and The deal marks a “rare co-investment” by the arms of two Native Comerica Inc. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Lefere. Precise CNC Routing employs 16-18 people American tribes based in Michigan, officials said at the time of the deal. and generates around $2 million in annual revenue. n Zeigler Automotive Group acquired three lux- Waséyabek Development was advised on the transaction by Dickinson Wright PLLC, while Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Grand Rapids- ury dealerships in the northwest suburbs of Chicago Rosette LLP advised Gun Lake Investments. As well, Barnes & Thornburg LLP provided legal based Calder Capital LLC served as the M&A adviser from Motor Werks Auto Group: Mercedes-Benz counsel to the tribes on the transaction. for former Precise CNC Routing CEO Rick Lemson. and Sprinter of Hoffman Estates, Infiniti of Hoffman Estates, and Jaguar Land Rover of Schaumburg. See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 14

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n Grand Rapids-based Auto-Wares Group of part of the deal, eMotion Controls became part of n Foxbright LLC, a Grand Rapids software and web Companies, a family-owned aftermarket parts dis- the Lifecycle Performance Services unit at Material services company, was acquired by Hannah Lawrence tributor and retailer, signed a definitive agreement to Handling Systems. Terms of the deal were not dis- from owners Catherine Ettinger and Paula Whisman. UFP INDUSTRIES acquire four retail automotive parts stores and their closed. Material Handling Systems was advised on Founded in 2002, Foxbright primarily works with inventories in metro Detroit and Kalamazoo from the deal by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the law schools to manage and improve their websites. Calder CAPS AN ACTIVE Kennesaw, Ga.-based Icahn Automotive Group LLC, firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Capital LLC represented Foxbright in the sale. Terms according to a statement. Auto-Wares rebranded the n Grand Haven-based Light Corp. acquired Most were undisclosed. YEAR FOR M&A locations to its Auto Value Parts Stores brand. Icahn Modest, a lifestyle and accessory brand based in n Muskegon-based marketing and branding firm Automotive retained all of its Pep Boys-branded loca- Stockton, Calif. The deal added products that will help Revel acquired Borns B2B. The deal “augments IN 2020 tions in Michigan and entered into a supply agreement Light Corp. better compete with the increasingly resi- and enhances” Revel’s capabilities, partner and CEO for Auto-Wares to supply those service centers, accord- dential design trends in the contract furniture industry, Jason Piasecki said. Revel serves small and mid-sized ing to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. according to a statement. Light Corp. President Marc manufacturers, primar- n Kalkaska-based American Waste signed a defini- Langeland said the acquisition poses “a major growth ily in West Michigan. rand Rapids-based wood products tive agreement to sell its solid and liquid waste busi- opportunity” for the company as it looks to break into Muskegon-based Left company UFP Industries Inc. nesses in Michigan and Pennsylvania to Toronto-based the residential and direct-to-consumer market. Terms Coast Capital Resources LLC brokered the deal, G remained an active serial acquirer GFL Environmental Inc., according to a statement. of the deal were not disclosed. which was financed by Community Shores Bank, in 2020. The deal was valued at $380 million, including $360 n Wayne, Pa.-based private equity firm Guardian also of Muskegon. Terms of the deal were undis- Combined, the deals UFP Industries million in cash, according to SEC filings. Owners Capital Partners partnered with the executive man- closed. Borns B2B staff moved into Revel’s offices (Nasdaq: UFPI) closed in the year were Michael Ascione and Edward Ascione joined GFL to agement team at Belding-based Flat River Group at Lake View Lofts on Western Avenue in downtown valued in excess of $284 million, accord- manage the American Waste businesses. LLC to acquire the company. Flat River Group, an Muskegon. Each company retains its brand, and Borns ing to an MiBiz analysis of the compa- n Grand Rapids-based Priority Health closed on a e-commerce products distributor, offers product B2B founder Randy Borns remains in business devel- ny’s securities filings. The firm reorga- deal to acquire Total Health Care Inc., a Detroit- sourcing, inventory management and high volume opment and creative roles after the transaction. nized its corporate structure and formally based HMO. Under the deal, the two health plans will direct-to-consumer drop-shipping. Flat River Group’s n Niles-based metal components manufacturer changed its name from Universal Forest operate separately and maintain their brand names. financial adviser was Houston-based Gulfstar Group, Modineer Co. Inc. broadened its capabilities and Products Inc. on Jan. 2, 2020. Priority Health continues to serve enrollees statewide, while Cleveland-based Jones Day acted as legal entered new end markets by acquiring the family- UFP Industries’ 2020 dealmaking and Total Health Care focuses operations in Detroit adviser. Guardian was advised on the deal by the law owned P-K Tool & Manufacturing Co. of Chicago. included: and surrounding communities. Terms of the deal were firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP of Philadelphia. P-K Tool serves customers in the powersports and • acquiring the operating assets of undisclosed, although the Grand Rapids-based Priority CIBC Bank USA provided senior financing in the automotive industries and offers tool design and Texas-based Quest Design & Fabrication Health established a $25 million foundation to support acquisition, while Centerfield Capital Partners pro- build, welding, laser cutting, machining and assem- and Quest Architectural Millwork in a health initiatives in the Detroit area. vided additional financing and minority equity. bly, according to a statement. The company employs deal valued at nearly $21.8 million. Quest n Comstock Park-based John Grace Construction n Atwater Brewery, a Detroit-based brewery with more than 950 people. Terms of the deal, which closed designs, fabricates and installs millwork LLC acquired Muskegon-based Port City a satellite taproom in Grand Rapids, was acquired by Jan. 31, were not disclosed. Modineer is owned by and casegoods for a variety of commercial Construction & Development Services LLC. The Chicago-based Molson Chicago-based Westbourne Capital Partners, a pri- uses, includ- Muskegon general contractor adopted the short- Coors Beverage Co. vate equity firm that works with family offices to invest ing builders’ ened name of Port City Construction. John Grace (NYSE: TAP). As part of in private companies; Oklahoma City-based family sales centers, Construction specializes in claim work. the deal, Atwater joined investment firm Hall Capital, the parent company of design stu- Executives say the deal allows the companies to the Tenth and Blake automotive supplier The Fred Jones Companies; and dios, hospi- expand their respective client bases and continue to Beer Co. division of an unnamed private investor. tality, corporate offices and health care, focus on their key service areas. Molson Coors, which n Holland-based Westside Auto Group Inc. according to a statement. owns and operates a n Hopson Flats GPA LLC, a subsidiary of Montrose, acquired All Auto Care, a Grand Rapids-based auto- • buying the assets of Rancho range of craft breweries across the country. Terms of Mich.-based Charger Holdings Inc., purchased the motive repair shop. The new ownership updated the Cucamonga, Calif.-based T&R Lumber the deal were not disclosed. Atwater was advised on 42-unit mixed-use Hopson Flats apartment building renamed All Auto Services facility at Ball Avenue and the deal by Arlington Capital Advisors. Co. for nearly $19.2 million. The deal at 212 Grandville Ave. SW in Grand Rapids for $8 mil- Leonard Street, as well as purchased new equipment, included T&R Lumber’s affiliates, Sullivan lion from East Lansing-based Krimson LLC, formerly n Parchment-based Advia Credit Union picked according to a statement. The transaction was com- & Mann and Kelmar Creations. T&R is a known as Maplegrove Property Management LLC. up nearly 3,500 members in a merger with Saint pleted in November 2019 and announced in February manufacturer and distributor of products The deal also included a small surface parking lot at 207 Clair-based Riverview Community Credit Union. 2020. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. for the nursery industry, including grow- Grandville Ave. SW, adjacent to Custer Office. Bloomfield Riverview Community Credit Union has a single office ing containers, pots, trays, wooden stakes, Hills-based Income Property Organization was the in Saint Clair with 3,479 members and $30.3 million in trellises, tree boxes and other supplies. broker on the deal. An affiliate of Maplegrove Property total assets as of Sept. 30, 2019, according to a quar- • acquiring Matthew, N.C.-based Fire purchased the building in 2015 for almost $9.4 million, terly financial report to federal regulators. MARCH n Retardant Chemical Technologies according to city property records. n Charlotte-based Spartan Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: Allegan-based Perrigo Co. plc (NYSE: PRGO) LLC for $5.9 million. The company devel- SPAR) divested its emergency response division to acquired the oral product line from Stamford, Conn.- ops fire retardants and water repellents Milwaukee-based REV Group Inc. (NYSE: REVG) in based High Ridge Brands Inc., which filed for bank- and found a niche in new and cost-effi- a $55 million cash deal, which was effective Feb. 1. The ruptcy in December 2019. The $113 million cash deal cient technologies for wood preservation. FEBRUARY deal allowed Spartan Motors to refocus its business on follows a bidding process and auction held Feb. 20 in • investing $5.3 million into a 50-50 n Easy Ice LLC, a Marquette-based commercial e-commerce, electrification and autonomous technolo- U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The acquisition joint venture to form Milan, Italy-based ice machine rental and servicing company, has been gies, according to a statement. Under the transaction, was completed April 2 after court approval. The acqui- Enwrap Logistic & Packaging S.r.l. acquired by private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Spartan Emergency Response and its brands Spartan sition could contribute more than $100 million in net The company provides mixed material Co. of Los Angeles, Calif. Co-founders Mark Hangen Fire Apparatus and Chassis, Smeal Fire Apparatus, sales to Perrigo in the first full year and builds on the industrial packaging and logistics ser- and John Mahlmeister and the Easy Ice management Ladder Tower, and UST became part of REV’s Fire & July 2019 acquisition of Grand Rapids-based Ranir vices through eight locations in Italy. team continue to oper- Emergency segment. REV Group also purchased the Global Holdings LLC for $750 million. • acquiring the assets of Atlantic ate the company. Terms rights to the “Spartan” name and logo, which it is licens- n Grand Rapids-based Steelcase Inc. (NYSE: SCS) Prefab Inc., Exterior Designs LLC and of the deal were not ing back to Spartan Motors for its RV chassis business. divested coated steel manufacturer PolyVision Corp. Patriot Building Systems LLC, all based disclosed. Easy Ice was Spartan later changed its name to and of Atlanta to an affiliate of Industrial Opportunity in New Hampshire. The trio of companies advised in the deal by moved its headquarters from Charlotte to Novi, Mich. Partners, an Evanston, Ill.-based private equity firm. combine to serve the commercial and Los Angeles-based FocalPoint Securities LLC and n A division of the Bay Mills Indian Community in The $74 million deal allowed Steelcase to focus on multifamily construction markets in the Austin, Texas-based law firm Queen, Saenz + Schutz the eastern Upper Peninsula acquired Four Season’s “disciplined portfolio management in pursuit of northeastern states. The deal values were PLLC. Varagon Capital Partners and Madison Market Inc., a grocery store in Brimley. The tribal growth.” Steelcase planned to use $41 million of the not yet disclosed in corporate filings. Capital provided debt financing. Freeman Spogli was council approved Bay Mills Enterprises moving proceeds to pay off a note and use the remainder to • acquiring all of the outstanding equity advised by Philadelphia, Pa.-based Morgan, Lewis forward with the deal on Jan. 27. The 5,160-square- invest in growth strategies, according to a filing with in Bartow, Fla.-based pallet manufacturer and Bockius LLP. Previously, Easy Ice was a portfolio foot IGA-affiliated store is directly across the street the Securities and Exchange Commission. PolyVision PalletOne Inc. for $232 million. The com- company of New York-based Saratoga Investment from the 160-acre Brimley State Park, located along makes a CeramicSteel product used in chalkboard pany operates 17 manufacturing facili- Corp., which invested in the company in 2014 and Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior, about 15 miles south- and whiteboard surfaces and architectural cladding. ties throughout the southern and eastern recapitalized it in 2017. west of Sault Ste. Marie. Bay Mills Indian Community Steelcase acquired PolyVision in 2001 for approxi- regions of the country and also makes a n Lowell-based eMotion Controls Co., an auto- Tribal Chairman Bryan Newland said the acquisition mately $176 million, including $103 million in debt, variety of other specialized industrial pack- mation controls system integrator and software com- will help the tribe toward its goal of “diversifying our according to SEC filings at the time. aging solutions, such as bins and crates. pany, was acquired by Mt. Washington, Ky.-based business holdings.” The tribe planned to retain all cur- n Howard Miller Clock Co. of Zeeland divested Material Handling Systems Inc., a provider of auto- rent employees of the store. Terms of the deal were its wood furniture manufacturing division, Alexis mation systems to the material handling industry. As not disclosed. Manufacturing Co., to , N.Y.-based Roll &

14 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com Hill Furniture LLC, according to a statement. Alexis brands in the Lansing and Flint areas, according to a LLC, a Holland-based paper and packaging com- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Manufacturing operates a 30,000-square-foot facility statement. The deal also coincided with the purchase pany. Through the deal, New-Indy added Shoreline n Holland-based Collision Consolidation Co. LLC in Walker and has manufactured complex wood com- of six repair locations in Indiana. The Boyd Group oper- Container’s two facilities in Holland that produce cor- acquired Stonewall Road Automotive Group, a ponents and wood seating for 75 years. The company ates non-franchised collision repair centers under the rugated packaging products, and a Zeeland facility Grand Rapids-based multi-state operator of MAACO serves the residential and hospitality market and also Gerber Collision & Glass brand, and operates sev- that distributes protective and specialty packaging automotive repair centers. Stonewall Road Automotive supplies to other OEMs in the fine furniture industry. eral brands that sell automotive glass. Terms of the materials. Shoreline’s chief operations officer, Bob Group operates five locations in metro Detroit, four Howard Miller Clock owned the company since 1983. deal were not disclosed. Zuker, remains with the company. Ernst & Young in Maryland and one in Ohio, according to a state- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. n Stevensville-based Boelcke Heating Co. was Capital Advisors LLC served as the financial adviser ment. The company will continue to operate under n Grand Rapids-based Charter Capital Partners acquired by employee John Nedoba. The sale allowed to Shoreline Container. Terms of the deal were not the Stonewall Road Automotive Group name. The was the M&A adviser for Hancock-based Keweenaw former owner Dave Boelcke to retire from the com- disclosed. company employs 120 people. Grand Rapids-based Financial Corp., the parent company of Superior pany. Grand Rapids-based Calder Capital LLC served n Patten Monument Co. in Comstock Park, a cem- M&A firm Calder Capital LLC represented Stonewall National Bank & Trust, in the $42 million acquisition as the M&A adviser to Boelcke in the sale. Terms of etery headstone provider, acquired Campbell Murch Road Automotive in the sale. Terms of the deal were of North Star Financial Holdings Inc., the Bingham the deal were not disclosed. Memorials Inc. in Mattawan, a 125-year-old manu- not disclosed. Farms-based parent company of Main Street Bank facturer and engraver of cemetery memorials. Todd n Byron Center-based SurfacePrep, a private in suburban Detroit. The combined bank will have 11 Sokolowski owned Campbell Murch Memorials since equity-backed abrasive products distributor, acquired offices in the Upper Peninsula and 1984 and sold the company to retire. He was repre- Sacramento, Calif.- with more than $800 million in total assets. Grosse APRIL sented in the deal by Deal Advisors based Temple n Pointe Farms-based Olejniczak Advisors LLC, a Grand Rapids-based public relations and inves- LLC in Grand Rapids. Terms of the transaction were Associates Inc., financial services industry strategic consultant, and tor relations firm Lambert & Co. acquired Holland- not disclosed. a distributor of based ad agency Fairly Painless Grand Rapids-based law firm Warner Norcross + n New York-based managed technology solutions loose abrasives and blast equipment. The deal marks Advertising Inc. The deal gave Judd LLP also advised Superior National on the deal. provider BCM One Group Holdings Inc. acquired the 10th strategic acquisition for SurfacePrep in the Lambert & Co. added comple- n Kalamazoo-based Michigan Mobile Canning nexVortex Inc., a Herndon, Va.-based phone last 18 months, according to a statement. Dallas- mentary capabilities in creative LLC was acquired by Manchester, N.H.-based Iron service provider with an office in Grand Rapids. BCM based private equity firm CenterOak Partners LLC services and advertising. Fairly Heart Canning Co., according to a report in indus- One plans to maintain the Grand Rapids office, led by formed SurfacePrep as a platform company out of its Painless continues to maintain its try trade publication Brewbound. Both companies Mike Nowak, according to a statement. Terms of the November 2018 acquisition of GNAP LLC. Terms of current brand. Founded in 1992, provide mobile beverage canning services for brew- deal were not disclosed the Temple Associates deal were not disclosed. eries, cideries, wineries, distilleries and other bever- Fairly Painless serves regional and n Grand Rapids-based BlueWater Partners LLC age companies. Founded in 2013, Michigan Mobile national clients in the automotive and manufacturing, served as financial adviser to Monroe, Wis.-based Canning operated from locations in Kalamazoo and consumer products, education, financial services, non- Orchid Monroe LLC in its deal to acquire Carter Indianapolis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. profit and retail sectors. The firm employs 12 people. MAY Terms of the deal, which closed in early March, were Motor Co., a Chicago-based designer and manufac- n Industrial scales and weighing systems supplier n Caledonia-based Aspen Surgical Products Inc., not disclosed. turer of electric motors, gear motors, rotary converters D.C. Martin & Sons Scales Inc. of Wyoming, Mich. a producer of disposable surgical products, acquired and tachometers. Orchid Monroe is a manufacturer of n Jackson-based Melling Engine Parts acquired has been acquired by Columbus, Ohio-based Mettler- Precept Medical Products, an Arden, N.C.-based components for electric motors, generators and trans- Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD). D.C. Martin Performance Springs UK Ltd. of Blackpool, England. maker of personal protection equipment in health The company was renamed Melling Performance care. The acquisition adds to Aspen’s product portfo- & Sons Scales operated as a family-owned business See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 16 since its founding in 1955 and has grown to serve mul- Springs Ltd., and management and sales staff stayed lio. Aspen, with facilities in Caledonia and Las Piedras, tiple industries including food processing, pharmaceu- on under the new ownership, according to a state- Puerto Rico, also received about 200,000 square feet of ment. Performance Springs is a designer and manu- tical, discrete manufacturing, agriculture and distri- manufacturing and distribution capacity with Precept’s formers. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. bution. The company facturer of automotive and industrial springs. Family- manufacturing facility in Agua Prieta, Mexico, and dis- employs 19 people owned Melling Engine Parts is a supplier to the original tribution warehouses in Douglas, Ariz. and Richmond, locally. Mettler-Toledo equipment and performance aftermarket segments. Va. Precept designs, manufactures and markets pro- is a multinational man- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. tective medical apparel for infection control. The com- JUNE ufacturer of scales and n Pallet management firm Kamps Inc., based in pany’s products include surgical face masks, non-sur- n Family-owned investment firm Coastal Group analytical instruments. Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Grand Rapids, acquired wood products wholesaler gical isolation gowns, lab jackets, scrubs, coveralls, has acquired Bogalusa, La.-based Veecor Co. Inc., Calder Capital LLC represented the company in the D&H Bark Inc. of Manton in Wexford County. D&H patient gowns, lab coats and cold therapy packs. a honeycomb packaging manufacturer, and moved sale. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bark has been in operation for more than three Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Aspen Surgical is the company’s operations to Holland. Two Veecor n Holt-based Business Management Resources decades and specializes in wood products ranging a platform company of -based Audax Private employees also moved permanently to the Holland Inc., a provider of managed accounting services to from hardwood, red pine, and cedar barks; animal Equity. area to remain with the company, while another is restaurant chains, was acquired by Cincinnati, Ohio- bedding; colored mulches; and landscape chips. For n Lansing-based communications firm 7C Lingo working remotely on a contractual basis, accord- based accounting and advisory firm Clark, Schaefer, Kamps, the acquisition will allow the company to capi- LLC acquired 2b Inclusive LLC, a professional ing to a spokesperson. The acquisition and launch Hackett & Co. Business Management Resources talize on ongoing growth nationally in its pallet and development training firm also based in Lansing. Tedi of Coastal Honeycomb LLC could lead to 12 new founder James Back and three employees joined recycling divisions. The addition allows Kamps to pro- Parsons, managing partner of 2b Inclusive, planned to jobs in Holland to produce the company’s lightweight Clark, Schaefer, Hackett’s East Lansing office. Terms duce bark and mulch at a higher volume, as well as stay on with 7C Lingo, where he will serve as the vice packaging materials, according to a statement. Coastal of the deal were not disclosed. expand its customer base. Terms of the deal were not president of professional development and training, Group’s holdings also include Coastal Automotive, n Dykstra IT LLC, a provider of fully managed infor- disclosed. according to a statement. Parsons also will oversee Coastal Container and TKP Investments. With the mation technology services, merged into Quantum n Ada-based design and development firm 2B a new initiative, 7C Pros, aimed at professionals just Veecor deal, the company’s packaging services now Leap Inc., a telecommunications provider. Staff Studio Inc. was acquired by Plymouth, Mich.-based starting a career in the C-suite. 7C Lingo President and span design, testing, corrugated, honeycomb, pack- from Dykstra IT moved into Quantum Leap’s facility Studios LLC. 2B Studio’s founder Bruce CEO Fathy Shetiah said the deal allows the company aging supplies and foam. Terms of the Veecor deal on 44th Street in Grand Rapids and founder Drew Sienkowski remained as president of the company, to expand its services and client base. Terms of the were not disclosed. Dykstra became a partner. Quantum Leap often used which has eight employees. Innovation Studios deal were not disclosed. n The assets of Lansing-based H2O Hydroponics Dykstra IT when installing phone systems. The merger is led by Herman Grewal, who ventured into the n Grand Rapids-based Charter Capital Partners LLC have been acquired by Denver-based expanded Quantum Leap’s client base and will help design business after owning and operating res- served as M&A adviser to Oakdale, Minn.-based GrowGeneration Corp. (Nasdaq: GRWG), a chain to drive growth. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. taurant franchises. Sienkowski worked with Grand Supply Chain Services, a provider of automatic iden- of specialty hydroponic and organic garden centers n Construction management firm The Christman Rapids-based Small Business Deal Advisors LLC. tification and data capture and factory automation, in with 27 locations. GrowGeneration previously acquired Co. of Lansing acquired MEDCO Construction, The Business Law Group served as legal adviser its sale to Santa Monica, Calif.-based Sole Source the assets of Grand Rapids Hydroponics Inc. in the construction arm of Dallas-based health system to 2B Studio, while Rhoades McKee PC advised Capital LLC. The deal allowed Supply Chain Services September 2019. The company cited Michigan’s legal- Baylor Scott & White Health. Baylor Scott & White Innovation Studios. founder Chip Emery to retire from the company. Sole ization of cannabis for recreational use, including the Health operates the largest nonprofit health care sys- n Kalamazoo-based National Flavors LLC was Source focuses on acquiring industrial lower middle ability to grow up to 12 plants within a residence, as tem in Texas. MEDCO served as the in-house con- acquired by Cleveland-based private equity firm The market companies in North America. a driver for its continued push into the market. Terms struction partner for Baylor Scott & White for more Riverside Co., according to a statement. National n Full-service machine shop Grand Rapids Electric of the H2O deal were not disclosed. than 55 years and built medical centers for the com- Flavors is a producer of flavors used in beverages, Motor Service LLC was acquired by individual inves- n The $21.9 million merger of Muskegon-based pany. Christman Co., which generates more than $1 frozen desserts, baked goods, confections and pro- tor Brent Pelishek, according to a statement. EMS sells Community Shores Bank Corp. into Sparta-based billion in annual revenues and maintains an office in cessed fruits. The company became part of the spe- and repairs electric motors, gearboxes and pumps. ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc. closed after Grand Rapids, planned to expand its services in Texas cialty ingredients portfolio for Riverside, which typi- The company provides on-site service for customers earning shareholder approval. The two banks con- and surrounding areas with the acquisition. Terms of cally invests in lower middle market companies. Terms who need assistance in the installation, alignment solidated in the fourth quarter with Community Shores the deal were not disclosed. of the deal were not disclosed. or troubleshooting of electric motors. EMS has six taking on the ChoiceOne name. At the close of the deal n Chicago-based Boyd Group Inc. acquired eight n Ontario, Calif.-based New-Indy Containerboard full-time employees and three part-time employees. ChoiceOne had 29 offices in West and Southeastern collision repair centers in Michigan under the Vision LLC, a joint venture between the Kraft Group and Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Small Business Deal Michigan with about $1.5 billion in assets. Community Collision and McFall’s Collision & Frame Service Schwarz Partners LP, acquired Shoreline Container Advisors LLC represented the company in the sale. Shores had about $220 million in total assets with

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three offices in Muskegon County and one in Grand Home. Luxury Living has a worldwide network of 80 Haven in neighboring Ottawa County. retailers and directly owned stores in Milan, Paris, New n A pair of Indiana cooperatives formed a strategic York, Los Angeles and Miami. The company generated joint venture to acquire an Allegan County agricultural NEOGEN COMPLETES 6 INTERNATIONAL about $104 million in revenue, down from a reported retail business owned by CHS Inc. Crawfordsville, $139 million in 2017, and employs 250 people. Terms of Ind.-based Ceres Solutions and Avon, Ind.-based ACQUISITIONS, 1 BOLT-ON DEAL the deal with Haworth were not disclosed. Co-Alliance LLP closed on the deal in September n Wyoming, Mich.-based C.G. Witvoet & Sons for the business located at 4671 E. Washington St. Co., a fourth-generation family-owned custom sign in Hamilton, southeast of Holland. It was renamed maker, was acquired by JBLR & Associates LLC, Endeavor Ag & Energy LLP. ansing-based Neogen Corp. bolstered its international business with a series of deals a Jackson-based investment group. C.G. Witvoet & through the first half of 2020. Sons, founded in 1932, operates from two facilities in L With the recent global acquisitions, the food and animal safety products manufacturer the Grand Rapids area and serves as a manufacturer now operates from nine domestic and 15 international company-owned locations, clustered in and wholesaler of interior retail store décor, signage JULY Europe, Latin America, South America, Australia, China, India, Australia and Canada. and displays. The company had been looking for a n Grand Rapids-based TG Manufacturing Group According to an analysis by MiBiz of securities filings by Neogen (Nasdaq: NEOG), the company partner with additional resources to help scale up, acquired the gaming machine integration division invested nearly $16.8 million over seven deals, six of which were international. The deals included: CFO Pete Musser said in a statement. Terms of the of Turnkey Fabrication LLC, which operates in a • acquiring Argentina-based Productos Quimicos deal, which was finalized in June, were not disclosed. 20,000-square-foot facility in Grand Rapids and supplies Magiar S.A., a longtime distributor in South America. C.G. Witvoet & Sons was advised on the deal by Grand businesses in the gaming sector across North America. Neogen paid $3.8 million for the firm’s Argentina busi- Rapids-based M&A firm Calder Capital LLC. ness and $1.5 million for the business in Uruguay, effec- The new division is called TG Integration LLC. TG n Greenville-based FabX Industries Inc. acquired Manufacturing Group will now manufacture complete tively taking over the distribution of its products in the Elite Tooling LLC in Kalamazoo. Shane Smith, integrated gaming machine assemblies following two two countries who founded Elite Tooling in 1996 at the age of prior acquisitions of Grand Rapids-based A2Z Powder • buying Milan, Italy-based Diessechem S.r.l., a dis- 18, remained with the company as president. Elite Coating and the metal fabrication division from Turnkey tributor of food and feed safety diagnostic products, for Tooling serves pharmaceutical, medical and aero- Fabrication. Terms of the latest deal were not disclosed. $3.5 million. space manufacturers in the Kalamazoo area with a n Harbor Springs-based Walstrom Marine Inc. • purchasing U.K.-based Abtek Biologicals Ltd., a focus on low-volume, high-precision and fast turn- acquired Traverse City-based Traverse Bay Marine Inc. developer and supplier of culture media supplements and around work. The acquisition enables FabX Industries from longtime owner James Rautio, according to a report microbiology technologies, for $1.4 million to accelerate to expand its reach into high-precision machining and in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Walstrom, a dealer for growth in Neogen’s global microbiology product portfolio. makes Kalamazoo a “strategic location to service our high-end freshwater boats including Sea Ray, Tiara • acquiring the food safety assets of Australia-based customers in Northern Indiana,” owner Gopi Ganta Yachts, Chris Craft and Pursuit Boats, adds new brands Cell BioSciences, a supplier of food safety and industrial microbiology products, for $3.8 million. said. A machining and fabrication service provider, with the deal, including Lund Boats, Sea Doo and Crest • acquiring Chile-based Magiar Chilena, a distributor of food, animal and plant diagnostics, FabX Industries is the parent company of Aquest Pontoons. The deal also included Traverse Bay Marine’s for $400,000. Machining & Assembly and LaserTec. Terms of the location at U.S. 31 in Traverse City, according to the report. • acquiring the U.S. rights to StandGuard Pour-on, which combats horn fly and lice within deal were undisclosed. Grand Rapids-based Calder n Private equity-backed CloudAccess LLC, a domestic beef cattle, from global animal products supplier Elanco Animal Health Inc. for nearly Capital LLC advised Elite Tooling in the transaction. Traverse City-based cloud hosting provider that also $2.4 million. The deal was mandated by the Federal Trade Commission for Elanco to move for- n Covington, Ky.-based manufacturer ProMach Inc. operates an office in Poland, has completed the add- ward with its $7.6 billion acquisition of Bayer Animal Health GmbH. Neogen’s purchase was enhanced its packaging machinery capabilities with the on acquisition of Miller Media Inc., a 30-year-old finalized on July 31, 2020. purchase of Holland-based Fogg Filler Co. LLC, a third- Bloomfield Hills-based web development and search generation family-owned company. Over six decades, engine optimization company. The deal will allow Fogg Filler has grown to become a leader in rotary fill- teams at both companies to expand service offerings, and enhance the performance of VMWare’s AI-driven vRe- Theaters LLC for $1.1 million to AP Gibsonton LLC. ing systems for the food and beverage industry. Owner according to a statement. Terms of the deal were not Ben Fogg will continue to lead the team of more than alize platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. disclosed. CloudAccess is a portfolio company of New 170 employees at the company’s 107,000-square-foot n York City-based Cloud Equity Group, a private equity Grand Rapids-based FormulaFolios Investments location in Holland. A platform company backed by Los and investment management firm focused on compa- LLC merged with Chicago-based Brookstone Capital AUGUST Angeles-based private equity firm Leonard Green & nies in web hosting and cloud-based infrastructure. Management in a deal that will create an investment n Grand Rapids-based Acrisure LLC acquired the Partners LP, ProMach is a provider of complete pack- n adviser firm with more than $6.5 billion in assets. The Private equity-backed Heartland Home Services insurance practice of Tulco LLC, a Pittsburgh, Pa.- aging machinery solutions, engineering and integration merged firm will keep the Brookstone name and retain the services for food, beverage and pharmaceutical compa- acquired Jenison-based First Call Plumbing Inc. A based provider of artificial intelligence and machine- Grand Rapids-based FormulaFolios brand for continued nies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. family-owned provider of residential plumbing services learning technology, in a $400 million deal. The with a 20-year market history, First Call Plumbing joins oversight of its asset management division. Brookstone acquisition matches the global reach of Acrisure with n Grand Rapids-based VNN Inc., a high school the Macomb-based Heartland Home Services plat- intends to maintain both headquarters in Chicago and Tulco’s AI expertise and follows a year-long part- sports communication platform, carved out a foot- form, which has Grand Rapids. Formed in 2011, FormulaFolios serves nership between the firms, which previously formed hold in Washington state with its acquisition of Lynden, completed four hundreds of financial advisers and thousands of cli- Altway Insurance, an AI-backed insurance broker- Wash.-based Washington Prep Athletics Network. strategic acqui- ents nationwide. At the end of 2019, the firm managed age initially focused on individual health benefits. The Similar to VNN, WPA Network has become the largest sitions, includ- $3.64 billion in assets. FormulaFolios also maintains an deal was structured as a -for-stock trade, with provider of data management tools for athletic direc- ing a prior deal office in Costa Mesa, Calif. A year ago, Clearwater, Fla.- Tulco becoming a significant minority shareholder in tors throughout Washington. VNN has partnerships for Grand Rapids-based Vredevoogd Heating & based AmeriLife Group acquired a majority stake in Acrisure. Grand Rapids-based Varnum LLP advised with roughly 10 percent of the high school sports pro- Cooling. Heartland Home Services is a portfolio com- Brookstone. AmeriLife is backed by Boston, Mass.-based Acrisure on the deal. grams in the U.S., but was only connected with three pany of North Branch Capital LLC, an Oak Brook, Ill.- private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. schools in Washington. With the deal, VNN is now n based private equity firm. Terms of the First Call deal, n A partnership of Mason Asset Management Kalamazoo-based National Flavors LLC, a pro- connected with 35 athletic conferences in the state, which closed June 15, were not disclosed. and Namdar Realty Group acquired the majority of ducer of flavors or roughly 85 percent of the schools in Washington. n Lansing-based Liquid Web LLC, a private equity- the assets of Grand Rapids-based Goodrich Quality and extracts for Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the food and backed hosting and application services provider, Theaters Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in n Flint-based Patriot Supply Inc., which does business beverage industry, acquired GSB & Associates Inc., acquired Fishers, Ind.-based ServerSide Inc., a web February. The $12 million deal, which includes 12 theater as Capitol Supply and Service and has locations in a Kennesaw, Ga.-based company specializing in flavor development and managed cloud services company, locations in Michigan, seven in Indiana, two in Missouri Grand Rapids and Lansing, was acquired by Fremont, development. The deal was the first bolt-on acquisition according to a statement. ServerSide founder and CEO and one in Illinois, took effect on July 13, according to Ohio-based Style Crest Inc. Capitol Supply is a building for National Flavors since becoming a platform com- Steve Oren and the company’s team remained in place a statement. That includes West Michigan locations in products distribution and HVAC installation and servic- pany for The Riverside Co., a Cleveland, Ohio-based after the acquisition. Terms of the deal were not dis- Ada/Lowell, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo, Holland, Battle ing business for the manufactured housing industry. The private equity firm. GSB’s portfolio of liquid and pow- closed. Liquid Web is a portfolio company of Chicago- Creek, Hastings and Cadillac. The buyers, both based in company had completed several rounds of shareholder dered flavors, masking agents and flavor enhancers based Madison Dearborn Partners LLC. Great Neck, N.Y. and doing business under Goodrich over the years complements National Flavors’ existing library of fla- n A long-standing partnership turned into the sale of a Theater Newco LLC, a Delaware corporation, are work- and was ready to find a significant business unit for Blue Medora Inc., a venture ing with theater operator VIP Cinemas to manage the vors, according to a statement. Terms of the acquisition long-term strategic part- capital-backed Grand Rapids-based software developer. 21 locations. The sale, which was approved by the U.S. were not disclosed. ner to grow the business, After partnering with software virtualization giant VMWare Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, n Via its Italy-based Poltrona Frau Group, Holland- according to a statement. Inc. (NYSE: VMW) for several years, the Palo Alto, Calif.- did not include a theater in Oswego, Ill., which was sold in based Haworth Inc. acquired Luxury Living Group, For Style Crest, a provider based software company acquired Blue Medora’s True a separate $4.95 million deal to Downers Grove, Ill.-based an Italian furniture maker and interior design company of HVAC and manufactured home products and services, Visibility Suite team and products. The deal was finalized Tivoli Enterprises Inc., according to court records. As that produces and distributes high-end furniture in Italy. the deal allows the company to expand its installation and on July 7 for an undisclosed sum. Blue Medora’s True well, court records indicate that Goodrich Quality Theaters The company works under licensing agreements with servicing capabilities to a new state. Southfield-based Visibility Suite contains solutions that easily integrate into sold its 50-percent stake in Florida-based Gibsonton such brands as Fendi Casa, Bentley Home and Bugatti and private investment firm Cascade

16 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com Partners LLC advised Capitol Supply on the deal. populations. TurnKey offers 340B audit and compliance n Perrigo Co. plc acquired three skin care and hair services and established Elevate340B to consult with loss brands from Paris-based Sanofi for approximately hospitals to grow their use of 340B programs. Terms of $62 million. In the 12 months leading up to June 30, the deal were not disclosed. the three treatments generated combined sales of n Grand Rapids-based law firm Miller, Johnson, $23 million. The Snell & Cummiskey PLC acquired Detroit-based law deal, which was firm Lusk Albertson PLC in a deal that closed Aug. announced in 31. Lusk Albertson focuses its practice on the educa- August and closed Oct. 30, fits with Perrigo’s transfor- tion sector. The combined firm will have 105 attorneys mation into a self-care company and boosts its skin- practicing at three offices statewide, and “represents care and personal hygiene product portfolio, accord- an opportunity for Miller Johnson to establish an even ing to a filing. stronger foothold in the greater Detroit market,” accord- n A wholly owned subsidiary of Kalamazoo-based ing to an announcement of the deal. Terms of the deal Midwest Fastener Corp. acquired most assets were not disclosed. Lusk Albertson partner Kevin Sutton of Hy-Ko Products Co., a manufacturer of num- will lead the Detroit office as managing member. bers, letters, signs, keys and accessories based in n Grand Rapids-based Waséyabek Development Northfield, Ohio, according to a statement. The new Co., the non-gaming eco- company, Hy-Ko Products Company LLC, retained nomic development arm all previous employees. A manufacturer of nuts, bolts, of the Nottawaseppi anchors, deck and drywall screws and specialty fas- Huron Band of the teners, Midwest Fastener expands its product capabil- Potawatomi, closed on a deal on Aug. 20 to acquire ities and enters a new North American market in the Re-source Industries Inc., a family-owned manu- deal. The buyers were represented by Grand Rapids- facturer based in Muskegon. Previous owners Paul based law firm Rhoades McKee PC. and Randi Kuyt remained with the company, which n Grand Rapids-based Surge Cardiovascular has was renamed RSI of West Michigan. The company been acquired by Sycamore, Ill.-based MED Michigan is a high-volume manufacturer of parts for a range Holdings LLC, an affiliate of medical device specialty of products, including ATVs, autos, snowmobiles and distributor MED Alliance Solutions, according to a archery bows, and employs 44 people. RSI offers CNC statement. Surge Cardiovascular is a medical device machining and rapid prototyping and operates from a company that designs, develops and manufactures more than 40,000-square-foot facility on South Getty cardiopulmonary bypass cannula and cardioplegia Street in Muskegon. Grand Rapids-based Calder delivery systems as well Capital LLC sourced the deal for Waséyabek. as blood management, n Grand Rapids-based private equity firm Blackford organization and tem- Capital sold Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Ellison Bakery, perature management a maker of cookies and other baked goods. Blackford products. MED Alliance Capital sold Ellison Bakery to Tilia Holdings, a had been the exclusive Chicago-based private investment firm founded in distributor of Surge Cardiovascular’s products since 2017 that invests in the food supply chain. Blackford 2012. Capital acquired Ellison Bakery in 2017. Terms of the n Brown & Brown of Michigan Inc., a subsidiary of sale to Tilia Holdings were undisclosed. Daytona, Fla.-based Brown & Brown Inc., acquired n Traverse City-based investment firm Boomerang substantially all of the assets of Grand Rapids-based Catapult LLC sold Taste the Local Difference, a insurance agency Buiten & Associates LLC, accord- food marketing agency, to individual investor Jody ing to a statement. The Buiten & Associates team con- Trietch, according to a report in the Traverse City tinues operating from its Grand Rapids office under Record-Eagle. Trietch serves as CFO of Boomerang the leadership of Paul Buiten. Catapult, which bought the organization from n Muskegon marketing and advertising firm Ignite Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities merged with New School, an agency also based in in 2018. Under Trietch’s leadership, the company looks Muskegon. The merger expands New School’s mar- to expand its services beyond Michigan, according keting capabilities and capacity. The merged agency to the report. maintained its office in Muskegon and all existing staff. Justin Young joined the organization as senior program manager, and Ignite founder Larry Young serves as senior marketing specialist. SEPTEMBER n M. J. Van Damme Inc., a construction firm based n Grand Rapids-based BlueWater Partners served in Gwinn, Mich. about 20 miles south of Marquette as exclusive financial adviser to Douglas Corp. of in the Upper Peninsula, was acquired by Scottsdale, Minneapolis, Minn. in its sale to Aludec USA Inc. Ariz.-based private equity firm Eberhart Capital LLC, Douglas is a designer and manufacturer of product according to a statement. The $20 million to $50 million identification and user interface products for the auto- deal adds trucking and quarry expertise to Eberhart’s motive, truck, marine, agriculture and construction existing construction portfolio. M. J. Van Damme Inc. industries. Spain-based Aludec designs and manu- employs 130 people and provides specialized construc- factures exterior and interior automotive parts. Terms tion support services to the mining, farming and civil of the deal were not disclosed. construction industries. The firm also repurposes vari- n Brent Slagell and Jim Zawacki — part of the own- ous wastes into materials used on construction projects. ership group of Lowell-based Big Boiler Brewing — n Grand Rapids- acquired Castle Brewing in Greenville under the entity based SpendMend Hophog LLC. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. LLC, which provides n Pro-Vision Video Systems, a West Michigan spending visibility producer of body-worn cameras and rear vision and and audit recovery services to the health care industry, video recording systems used worldwide, acquired St. acquired two related companies, TurnKey Pharmacy Petersburg, Fla.-based Zone Defense LLC. Aligning with Solutions and Elevate340B, both based in Draper, Pro-Vision’s products, Zone Defense develops, engineers Utah. The company rebranded the firms as SpendMend and manufactures advanced vision systems for automo- Pharmacy, which will focus on compliance, optimization tive and fleet industries. Pro-Vision is owned by Boston- and growth services for 340B programs in the health based private equity firm JMC Capital Partners. care industry. The 340B program requires drug mak- n Grand Rapids-based medical and biotechnology ers to provide discounted medication to hospitals and clinics providing care to uninsured or vulnerable patient See 2020 M&A DEALS ROUNDUP on page 18

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manufacturing firm Medbio LLC acquired Orchard n A long-stand- the portfolio of “immersive automotive experiences” for Illinois-based company that services the e-commerce Park, N.Y.-based Polymer Conversions Inc., which ing New Buffalo ice the firm. industry as a wholesaler of toys, games and other specializes in contract medical device manufactur- cream and yogurt n An employee group took a majority ownership consumer products. Optimum Fulfillment sells to the ing involving thermoplastic injection molding. Medbio shop Oink’s Dutch position in investment advisory firm Red Cedar likes of Amazon, Walmart and Target, according to a officials say Polymer Conversions is “highly comple- Treat was sold to Investment Management LLC. Under the terms of statement. Flat River Group will continue to operate mentary” and expands the company’s “geographic an individual inves- the deal, Delta Dental of Michigan subsidiary The Optimum Fulfillment’s facility in Peru, Ill. presence.” Terms of the deal were undisclosed. tor Michael Schimanski. Grand Rapids-based Small 4100 Group Inc. issued 51 percent of its common n Grand Rapids-based TTS Logistics, a transporter Philadelphia, Pa.-based private equity firm Graham Business Deal Advisors advised former owner Roger shares to Bridge & Vine LLC, a Michigan company of specialty produce, was acquired by LaFayette, Partners owns a majority stake in Medbio. Vink on the deal. owned by a core group of six Red Cedar Investment La.-based Dupré Logistics, an energy and chemi- n Ceresco, Mich.-based Integrated Manufacturing n Grand Rapids-based engineering consultant professionals. The 4100 Group retained a 49 percent cal trucking firm, according to a statement. The deal Concepts LLC was acquired by individual investor Tom Foresight Management acquired Sustainable equity stake in Red Cedar. John Cassady was named marks the entry into a new market for the privately held Tilma. The Calhoun County company manufactures tube Research Group LLC, a long-standing pioneer in the CEO of the new ownership structure that took effect Dupré, which aims to grow its “asset light business fabrication and bending products, serving a variety of realm of sustainable business practices. Sustainable Oct. 1. He also remains chief investment officer at Red unit” to $200 million in sales by 2024. TTS Logistics’ 15 different industries. Terms of the sale were undisclosed. Research Group founder Bill Stough was the inau- Cedar, which employs 13 people and has $1.4 billion employees Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Calder Capital LLC gural inductee of the Michigan Sustainable Business in . have joined advised Integrated Manufacturing Concepts in the deal. Hall of Fame. n Schoolcraft-based LNS Manufacturing Inc. the team at Dupré, n Walker-based snack food maker Cheeze Kurls Inc. n Grand Rapids-based office technology solutions acquired Grand Rapids-based Van’s Pattern Corp., a which will maintain the company’s offices in Grand was acquired by Kilroy Partners, a Boca Raton, Fla.- provider Applied Imaging has grown its presence in family-owned manufacturer with 60 years of experience Rapids and Mount Pleasant. Dupré operates 750 based private investment firm. Former Cheeze Kurls co- Florida through the acquisition of Tampa Bay-based in polystyrene patterns and prototypes. Van’s Pattern trucks and employs more than 1,100 drivers, according owners, President Timothy Dedinas and Vice President Upstream Office Solutions. The acquisition gives operates out of a 40,000-square-foot facility at 11 Sweet to a statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Robert Franzak, retained a minority ownership and remain Applied Imaging a total of 14 offices spread through- St. NW on Grand Rapids’ north side, where it uses CNC- in advisory roles with the company. Kilroy Partners will out Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Terms of the deal, controlled cutting machines to create detailed patterns n Ada-based Century Technology Group Inc., a fam- maintain the company’s Grand Rapids operations. which was finalized in late August, were undisclosed. and prototypes for the auto industry in addition to special ily office that provides tech companies with growth capi- Franzak described Kilroy Partners as the right buyer for tal, administrative resources and managerial consult- n Rosemont, Ill.-based Brennan Investment Group tool manufacturers and foundries. The deal was bro- Cheeze Kurls, as previous potential buyers have proposed ing, acquired custom software and app developer Grand established a joint venture equity partnership with Saudi kered by Hudsonville-based NuVescor Group. closing the plant and moving operations out of state. Rapids-based Mutually Human. Century Technology Arabia-based investment firm Arbah Capital to acquire n Denver-based GrowGeneration Corp., which Group plans to invest in strategic sales and marketing to 557,000 square feet of light industrial and flex space, operates specialty retail hydroponic and organic grow Mutually Human, in addition to recruiting outside including two sites in West Michigan. The properties gardening stores throughout the country, recently talent and adding complementary development capa- include 5460 Executive Parkway in Cascade Charter acquired Michigan’s Big Green Tomato, a hydro- bilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Township, which is occupied by Tesla Tool and Die, and ponic equipment store with locations in Taylor and n PE-BACKED 1865 Industrial Drive in Grand Haven, which is occupied Battle Creek. Big Green Tomato has a strong com- Holland-based Major Brands Oil Co. acquired by Lakeshore Fittings Inc. Global real estate services mercial operation and generates around $16 million Central Oil Co., a Roseville-based distributor that firm JLL Capital Markets connected Brennan and in revenue. With the deal, GrowGeneration now owns specializes in industrial and commercial lubricants HIGH STREET throughout Southeast Michigan and parts of Ohio. Arbah, as well as helped the newly formed joint venture and operates six stores across Michigan. Central Oil offers next-day delivery for coolants, lubri- equity partnership secure $22.9 million in debt financ- cants, oils and speciality chemicals and gives Major INSURANCE ing via a 5-year floating-rate loan with Wintrust Bank. Brands Oil a foothold in the metro Detroit region. NOVEMBER Terms of the deal were not disclosed. PARTNERS n Building products dealer and manufacturer OCTOBER Zeeland Lumber & Supply Co. was acquired by CONTINUES n Cascade Charter Township-based Hart & Cooley US LBM Holdings LLC, one of the largest specialty DECEMBER LLC, a manufacturer of air distribution products for both building product distributors in the country. Zeeland n Fruitport-based medical device supplier Motion residential and commercial HVAC clients that was for- Lumber & Supply operates three manufacturing Dynamics LLC, a portfolio company since 2016 of DEAL STREAK merly owned by Johnson Controls International plc, facilities and three building material yards scattered Los Angeles-based private equity firm Vance Street sold to Miami-based global private equity firm H.I.G. throughout Michigan and Northern Indiana. With the Capital, completed its first add-on acquisition with a Capital, which will now operate it as its own entity. Hart deal, US LBM now operates 16 locations in Michigan. deal for ViaMed Holdings LLC. The Easton, Mass.-based & Cooley manufactures grilles, registers, diffusers, flex n Minneapolis, Minn.-based engineering and environ- igh Street Insurance Partners, a ViaMed manufactures miniature precision components air duct systems, air filtration components, chimneys sys- mental consulting firm Barr Engineering Co., which Traverse City-based agency platform and subassemblies for medical device manufacturers in tems and other components. The company will maintain has offices in Kentwood and Ann Arbor, acquired Grand H backed by private equity, completed the neurovascular, peripheral vascular and orthopedic its headquarters at 5030 Corporate Exchange Blvd. SE, Rapids-based King & MacGregor Environmental Inc. a series of nationwide acquisitions in 2020. markets. The deal complements Motion Dynamics’ capa- near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. King & MacGregor specializes in natural resource con- Since forming in 2018 with backing from bilities and allows the company to “simplify the supply sulting and environmental services, particularly wetland Detroit-based private equity firm Huron n Marne-based DeWys Manufacturing Inc. acquired chain” for device manufacturers, President Chris Witham and water body assessments, the design of constructed Capital, High Street Insurance Partners Grand Haven-based metal fabricator ReFab LLC. said in a statement. Terms of the transaction were not wetlands and environmental reviews and permitting. has completed 15 Established in 1977 as a one-person metal shop, DeWys disclosed. Motion Dynamics was advised by Chicago- Terms of the deal were not disclosed. acquisitions and Manufacturing, provides custom metal fabrication ser- based Vedder Price LLP, while Attleboro, Mass.-based continues to pur- vices. The deal allows DeWys Manufacturing to expand n Grand Rapids-based private equity firm Auxo Coogan Smith LLP served as legal adviser to ViaMed. its core capabilities — cutting, forming and welding — sue an acquisition Investment Partners n Caledonia-based Aspen Surgical Products Inc. while also facilitating quicker turnaround times and the strategy. acquired Elmhurst, completed its third acquisition in less than a year with ability to meet the evolving needs of clients. The company’s 2020 deals included: Ill.-based GC Dies, a a deal for Coralville, Iowa-based Protek Medical • Ken Bleeker Insurance Agency in n Ludington-based Foam Works LLC, a young busi- steel rule die cutting Products Inc. The acquisition “strengthens Aspen’s Martin, Mich. ness specializing in spray foam and cellulose insula- manufacturer with a broad portfolio of medical and patient and staff safety • Trust Shield Insurance Group of tion, sold to an individual investor. Foam Works was 37,500-square-foot products sold into hospital and surgery center mar- Schoolcraft, Mich. founded in 2017 by Dann and Julie Van Dyke, who facility. The manufacturer employs 50 employees and kets,” according to the company. Protek Medical • Gates-Cole Associates in New together own property maintenance and construction specializes in flat corrugated, rotary corrugated and Products produces single-use ultrasonic probe covers Hartford, N.Y. company Cottage Works Corp. The couple ultimately flat steel rule die production. and needle guides used in tissue biopsies, fluid aspi- • Tall Pines Insurance Services of decided to sell Foam Works to focus on their other n Chicago-based private equity firm Westbourne ration and vascular procedures, as well as protective Boonville, N.Y. business. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. Grand Capital Partners completed a strategic investment covers for medical instruments and equipment. Terms • an unspecified book of business in Rapids-based Small Business Deal Advisors LLC in Grand Rapids-based Proos Manufacturing, which of the deal were undisclosed. Aspen Surgical is a plat- Verona Beach, N.Y. advised the VanDykes on the sale. specializes in designing and manufacturing material form company of Boston-based Audax Private Equity. • Capital Insurance Group of n Traverse City-based Hagerty Insurance Agency handling solutions. The investment, made to sup- n -based private equity firm ASGARD Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Inc., an insurer of classic cars and high-end automo- port Proos Manufacturing’s rapid growth in domestic Partners & Co. acquired a controlling interest in • Tracy, Driscoll & Co. Inc. in Bristol, biles, acquired the California Mille car rally from the and international e-commerce fulfillment, was made Angstrom Technology, a Grand Rapids-based Conn. founding Swig family, according to a statement. The in partnership with Samson Investment Partners, company that designs, builds and maintains modular • Millennium Alliance Group LLC in California Mille travels a route along northern California’s which is based in New York and Dallas, in addition to cleanrooms for clients in North America. Angstrom Long Island, N.Y. mountains and coastal roads and is limited to 65 cars a group of additional family offices. Terms of the deal Technology’s management team will continue to lead Terms of the deals were not disclosed. annually. The deal follows Hagerty’s 2019 acquisition were not disclosed. the company. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. of Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, a 25-year-old n Belding-based Flat River Group, a toy and game Grand Rapids-based M&A firm Charter Capital family-run car show in Greenwich, Conn., and bolsters distributor, acquired Optimum Fulfillment, an Partners represented Angstrom Technology in the

18 JANUARY 4, 2021 / MiBiz Visit www.mibiz.com transaction. Dickinson Wright PLLC served as legal adviser to Angstrom, while Richmond, Va.-based McGuireWoods LLP advised ASGARD Partners. n Albion-based Caster Concepts Inc., which TETRA THERAPEUTICS’ SALE OFFERS designs and manufactures industrial casters and wheels for a variety of industries, expanded into HEALTHY RETURNS FOR INVESTORS the aerospace and defense sectors with a deal for Los Angeles-based Aerol Co. Inc. The acquisition included Aerol’s line of aluminum casters specifically designed for the aerospace tooling industry, which rand Rapids-based Tetra Therapeutics Inc.’s sale to Japanese pharmaceutical company bolsters Caster Concepts’ product line of heavy-duty Shionogi & Co. Ltd. provides a final pathway toward bringing to market potential new drugs industrial casters, wheels and polyurethane tread. to treat Alzheimer’s disease and a form of autism, as Caster Concepts plans to close Aerol’s southern G California operations and move it to its home facil- well as generates a handsome return for financial backers. ity in Albion. The company also plans to outsource Investors in a $7.2 million Series A capital round Tetra the production of aluminum castings to a foundry in raised in 2016 got a return of five times their original West Michigan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. investment, according to founder and CEO Mark Gurney. n Greenville-based Participants in an earlier July 2013 debt offering got an FabX Industries Inc., ROI that’s close to 13 times their investment, he said. a provider of machin- “We returned a lot of capital to Michigan,” said Gurney, ing and fabrication who started Tetra Therapeutics in 2011 and methodically services, acquired Fort built and led the company down the R&D pathway toward Wayne-based Guide Engineering LLC in a deal that an exit for investors. closed Oct. 31. Guide Engineering specializes in design- “This is a tremendous win for West Michigan, both ing and manufacturing automation, assembly and test for our investors and stakeholders,” Gurney told MiBiz systems primarily for the automotive industry. The acqui- for a July report. sition adds capabilities to FabX, which is focused on Tetra’s merger into Shionogi & Co. Ltd., first high-quality, cost-effective and value-added machining announced in May 2020, could ultimately reach a trans- and fabrication services. FabX President Gopi Ganta will action value of $500 million if certain regulatory and sales now take on the CEO role at Guide Engineering, where milestones are met over the years. former co-owner Scott Taylor will serve as president. Under the deal, Shionogi & Co. acquired Tetra’s port- Mark Gurney, founder and CEO The deal allowed two of Taylor’s partners to transition to folio of drug compounds for treating Alzheimer’s disease, of Tetra Therapeutics. retirement. Grand Rapids-based mergers and acquisi- Fragile X syndrome and other brain disorders associated MIBIZ FILE PHOTO: ADAM BIRD tions firm NuVescor Group advised Guide Engineering on the deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. with cognitive or memory conditions. Tetra became a wholly owned subsidiary of Shionogi, which obtained global rights to all of Tetra’s drug n Chicago-based Factorial Holdings acquired 26 compounds, including one known as BPN14770 for Alzheimer’s. existing Burger King restaurants in the Grand Rapids area, where it plans to construct 10 new locations of The deal represents one of the largest exits to date for a startup company formed and the fast food chain over the next five years. Factorial nurtured in West Michigan and supported by local investors. Holdings specializes in buying restaurant companies Michigan-based investors in Tetra included Grand Angels and its Ka-Zoo Angels where founders are interested in transitioning. The firm affiliate, Kalamazoo-based Apjohn Group LLC, Muskegon Angels, Traverse City-based invests in family-owned companies with $500,000 to Northern Michigan Angels, Ann Arbor SPARK, the Michigan Economic Development $5 million in annual earnings. Corp.’s Invest Michigan fund, and the Bioscience Research & Commercialization n Troy-based Secure Investors Group Inc. acquired Center at Western Michigan University, plus local high net worth individuals. South Michigan Insurance Agency Inc. and Donald The deal followed a March announcement that Shionogi & Co. increased its equity stake E. Thornton Insurance Agency, both based in Lawton. in Tetra to 50 percent, which included an to complete a structured of the The deal brings the two firms additional services that remaining equity in Tetra if certain conditions were met in the company’s Phase 2 trial of its include retirement savings, retirement income tactics, BPN14770 compound in treating Alzheimer’s disease. mortgages and investments. The two agencies provide Advisers on the March equity deal included Cooley LLP, Honigman LLP and Nomura auto, home, farm, commercial, life and health insurance Securities International Inc. policies. Secure Investors Group — a financial services and insurance firm started in 1997 — has offices in Troy and Albion. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. LLC acquired Grand Rapids-based Innovative Air Solutions LLC (VAS), a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based pro- n Muskegon-based Betten Baker Auto Group acquired the Buick franchise from Witt Buick, also Medical Systems Inc., a reseller of acute care and ducer of air circulation systems for indoor vertical farming. technical products for hospitals. The deal will “further located in Muskegon. Witt Buick will continue its busi- The acquisition was a strategic one for Pipp Horticulture, ness as Witt Sales, Service & Collision and will provide deepen and expand Convergint’s presence within the a division of Pipp Mobile Storage Systems, Inc., pre-owned sales, service and collision repair while health care market in the United States,” according retaining all of its current staff. With the acquisition, to a statement. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. which specializes in vertical farming and space optimi- Betten Baker’s location at 2474 Henry St. in Muskegon Grand Rapids-based investment bank BlueWater zation solutions. “We have gotten to know the VAS team Partners LLC served as the exclusive financial adviser will now offer every GM brand on the market. Terms well in recent years, as they have been an integral part of the deal were not disclosed. and Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey PLC, also of Grand Rapids, was the legal counsel to Innovative of our horticulture business, and their products are the n Grand Rapids-based public relations and investor Medical Systems, which gained access to Convergint’s relations firm Lambert & Co. formed a joint venture ideal addition to our Mobile Vertical Grow Rack Systems,” global network to broaden services to clients. with 9th Wonder, a Houston, Texas-based marketing said Craig Umans, President and CEO of Pipp. “We look n Lighthouse Group, a Grand Rapids-based insur- and brand strategy firm. The joint venture and capital forward to integrating their leading technology into our investment in 9th Wonder can accelerate the growth of ance and employee benefits agency, has been acquired both companies, according to a statement. Lambert & by Alera Group, a Deerfield, Ill.-based independent continually expanding product offering to better serve the Co. co-founder and CEO Jeff Lambert called 9th Wonder insurance firm that has more than 90 locations across fast‐growing vertical indoor farming industry.” a “perfect complement to our offerings in PR, inves- the U.S. Joining Alera Group “will open avenues for n Texas-based Mueller Industries Inc. announced that tor relations, crisis communications and diversity con- growth like never before, both for our clients and our sulting.” Under the deal, Lambert will join 9thWonder’s firm,” said Tom Helmstetter, group president and CEO it signed a definitive agreement to purchase the flexi- board. The joint venture includes an investor group led of Lighthouse, which has eight offices in Michigan. ble duct business from Grand Rapids HVAC contractor Terms of the deal were undisclosed. MarshBerry by Monika Mantilla, a fund manager who invests in Hart & Cooley Inc. Greg Christopher, CEO of Mueller minority, women-led and diverse-owned companies, Capital Inc., a Woodmere, Ohio-based strategic con- and entrepreneurs located in low or moderate-income sulting and M&A advisory firm, served as financial advi- Industries, said the acquisition, which is expected to close communities. Terms of the deal were undisclosed. sor to Lighthouse Group in the transaction. in late January 2021 will “expand our footprint in the air n Schaumburg, Ill.-based Convergint Technologies n Walker-based Pipp Horticulture acquired Vertical quality and climate control systems markets.”

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