Acquisition History / Search Funds / 2018
Search Fund Acquisitions in 2018
18 publicly known companies acquired by search funds in 2018.
- 1AspenRidgeacquired by Denali Capital Partners (per ESP listing; unverified) · Healthcare Providers · United StatesNo public source was found describing how AspenRidge Recovery, a Colorado drug and alcohol treatment provider, was acquired in 2018. PitchBook calls it PE-backed (founded 2015, Lakewood CO) and PrivateEquityInfo lists WSC & Company as owner, which may not reflect the ESP deal. ESP's listing names Ethan Castro (Kellogg) as former CEO under Denali Capital Partners; nothing found confirms that. Selle
- 2Automotive Business Solutions (ABS)acquired by Cambium Equity Partners (acquired via newly formed ABS Operations, LLC) · Financial Services · United StatesOn September 28, 2018, Cambium Equity Partners bought Automotive Business Solutions, a Westminster, Colorado company that administers repair and labor warranties, roadside assistance and tire warranties for the auto aftermarket. The buyer was a newly formed entity, ABS Operations, LLC. The sellers were co-founders Rick Ruel and Steve Halgren, who started ABS in 2001 and sold after roughly 17 years
- 3AW Site Services Holdingsacquired by Broadtree Partners (acquisition vehicle: AW Site Services, LLC) · Waste Management · United StatesAW Site Services is the vehicle Broadtree Partners used to buy Arwood Waste, a Jacksonville, Florida business that arranges dumpsters, portable toilets and other temporary site services through a vendor network. The seller was founder John Arwood. Talks began in early 2018 and, per court records, Broadtree built its own financial statements because Arwood kept no formal books. The deal was an asse
- 4Botanical Designsacquired by Monroe Hill Growth Partners · Business Services · United StatesEdward McDonnell bought Botanical Designs, a Seattle commercial plantscaping company, in 2018 through a traditional search fund (Monroe Hill) after about 10-12 months of searching from North Carolina. In an interview he describes the sourcing as a hybrid: he courted the founder directly before the deal became brokered. The seller was the founder of a one-branch business with about $11 million reve
- 5Craftsman & Unityacquired by Avon Growth Management (per ESP partner listing) · Manufacturing · United StatesESP lists Craftsman & Unity, a manufacturer of flat and rotary steel rule cutting dies for corrugated box makers, as a 2018 investment (the logo file is named British American Tooling). ESP's partner page names Graham Butler, a Harvard Business School graduate, as former CEO with the search fund Avon Growth Management since 2016. Searches found no press release, trade coverage or searcher write-up
- 6Emporos, Inc.acquired by Elk Capital Partners · Software · United StatesSoftware and Point of Sale solutions for pharmacies.
- 7HealthMark Groupacquired by Holland Course Capital · Business Services · United StatesProvider of health information management and technology services for medical clinics and hospitals.
- 8Kantola Training Solutions, LLCacquired by Ridgeway Growth Capital · Business Services · United StatesDevelops and produces market-leading high-quality anti-harassment online training courses, LMS and training tracking tools.
- 9Kivuto Solutions Inc.acquired by Legado Capital · eCommerce · United StatesSoftware distribution company that specializes in hosted electronic software delivery for education. Through its web-based solutions, the company offers a platform for institutions to distribute educational software.
- 10Lanaccessacquired by Sachem Partners · Security software · SpainVideo surveillance software solutions Source: https://searchfundsnews.com/spain-surpasses-75-sf-acquisitions-and-is-on-track-to-reach-100-by-the-end-of-2027/
- 11Lanaccess Telecomacquired by Sachem Partners · Security technology · SpainVideo-surveillance and AI video-security solutions for critical-infrastructure clients, 25+ years Backed by Istria Capital, MAYRIT Capital Partners, Bietou Capital, Blake Winchell, JB46, Scott Asen, Antonio Carranceja, Kinderhook Partners, Leon Bartolome, Vonzeo Capital. Registry shows Malinau Investments SL as sole shareholder of Lanaccess from 29 Jan 2019 with Di Cecco and Guillem as directors; sachempartners.com names them as Sachem's managing partners and lists the partner-investors. JB46/Relay give acquisition year 2018. Vonzeo link from existing mind map. Source: https://www.empresia.es/empresa/lanaccess-telecom/
- 12Mapexacquired by Transición · Industrial software · SpainBarcelona MES (manufacturing execution systems) software provider; EUR5.7M revenue 2018 Backed by ALZA Capital Partners, Alza Capital Partners, Bill Egan, Cabiedes Capital, Istria Capital, León Bartolomé, Relay Investments, WSC & Company. Source: https://searchfundsnews.com/mapex-enters-a-new-phase-of-growth-following-its-integration-into-the-proalpha-group/
- 13Navegate Logisticsacquired by Saltspring Capital · Business Services · United StatesSupply chain management software including tools for purchase order coordination and fulfillment and customs compliance.
- 14Paragon Legal Group, LLCacquired by Calyx Capital Partners · Business Services · United StatesProvides embedded attorneys on a project basis to assist with legal overflow work, hiring gaps, interim backfills and special projects.
- 15Peerless Events & Tents LLCacquired by Dunmore Capital Partners · Business Services · United StatesTexas-based party and event rental business providing rental tents, staging, flooring, and tables and chairs.
- 16Pentapackagingacquired by Ariol Capital · Plastic packaging · ItalyItalian plastic packaging firm, Bergamo (add-on to Repli) Source: https://capital-riesgo.es/en/articles/el-fondo-ariol-capital-vende-repli-a-la-multinacional-berlin-packaging/
- 17Stoqueacquired by Kinase Capital · IT SaaS · BrazilFirst international investment by AIJ Global, via Kinase Capital (supported by investors in South Africa, Brazil, Spain, USA).
- 18Ticketech Holdings Inc.acquired by Kata Capital Partners · Software · United StatesProvides integrated, data-driven parking management solutions to garages and parking lots, residential buildings, off-airport facilities, hotels and hospitals.