The NFL has cleared the way for private equity investments in team franchises. This decision comes as PE interest in professional sports continues to rise. In other dealmaking news, M&A investors this week identified investment targets that offer industry-specific services and solutions. Discover the latest deals and insights below.
Platform investments
Phoenix Merchant and Caydan Capital support HCT Renewable Energy. HCT Renewable Energy, a staffing firm for the solar energy industry, announced it has secured $13 million in growth financing. The investment was provided by middle-market investment firm Phoenix Merchant Partners and lower-middle-market private equity firm Caydan Capital Partners. HCT will use the funds to accelerate its growth in the solar energy staffing market, according to a press release.
THL acquires majority stake in YA Group. THL Partners, a middle market private equity firm, has acquired a majority stake in professional services firm YA Group, according to a recent press release. YA provides forensic consulting, engineering and risk mitigation solutions to the insurance sector and public sector clients. The investment will help YA grow through strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives.
Citation Capital acquires majority stake in pest control company. Private equity firm Citation Capital announced it has acquired a majority stake in pest control company Aptive Environmental. The company’s CEO and leadership team will remain involved with the company. In a statement, Aptive CFO Mark Lawrence said Citation’s backing will advance the company’s M&A strategy.
Falfurrias management invests in cybersecurity company MOXFIVE. Falfurrias Management Partners, a middle market private equity firm, has announced a growth investment in MOXFIVE, a cybersecurity company. Falfurrias’ backing will fuel the company’s growth trajectory as it continues to provide enterprise clients with cyber risk mitigation solutions.
RF Investment acquires Rent-A-John. RF Investment Partners, which focuses on the lower middle market segment, announced its investment in Rent-A-John, a mobile sanitation rental company. The investment is RF’s first acquisition under its new mobile sanitation platform. RF said it will continue to seek additional acquisitions as it continues to build out the platform in the Southeast.
One Equity Partners acquires EthosEnergy. EthosEnergy, a service provider focused on rotating equipment in the energy, industrial and aviation sectors, will be acquired by mid-sized private equity firm One Equity Partners, according to a recent announcement. EthosEnergy was founded in 2014 as a joint venture between the John Wood Group and Siemens Energy AG. The company offers aftermarket MRO services and other maintenance solutions.
Addons
Madison Capital’s Go Store It and Frontrange’s Snapbox merge their self-storage operations. Go Store It Self Storage and Snapbox Self Storage announced their merger this week, creating one of the largest privately owned self-storage companies in the United States, according to a press release to Growth in the mid-market segment. The combined company will manage over 10 million square feet of warehouse space in 23 states. In a statement, Go Store It CEO Ryan Hanks said the merger “represents a transformative step for both companies and provides the combined company with a more robust platform for growth and operational efficiency.” Go Store It is a portfolio company of Madison Capital Group Holdings and Snapbox is a portfolio of FrontRange Capital.
CORE Industrial’s PrecisionX acquires MSK Precision. PrecisionX Group, a precision metal manufacturing platform backed by CORE Industrial Partners, has announced the acquisition of MSK Precision Products. MAK provides precision machining and assembly services. PrecisionX was founded in 2023 and has already made four acquisitions.
Longshore Capital’s Blue Wheel acquires Day One Digital. Blue Wheel, a digital commerce and marketplace agency backed by private equity firm Longshore Capital Partners, has acquired Day One Digital, an Amazon Vendor Central agency. Day One provides sales support, supply chain accounting and category management. The investment expands Blue Wheel’s customer base and service capabilities across the Amazon 1P landscape, according to a press release.
Fundraising
CenterOak Partners raises $1.1 billion for Fund III. Dallas-based private equity firm CenterOak Partners announced this week that it had raised $1.1 billion for its oversubscribed Fund III. In a statement, Jason Sutherland, co-managing director of CenterOak, said the firm’s “thematic investment approach and differentiated sourcing enable us to find attractive entry points into large and fragmented categories.” The firm focuses on the business services, industrial services and consumer services sectors.
Insights
NFL paves the way for PE investment. The owners of the National Football League voted this week to allow private equity investments. Several private equity firms have already agreed to buy shares in NFL teams. In an announcement from the NFL, the league said private equity firms will be allowed to buy up to a 10% stake in an NFL team. Funds managed by Arctos Partners, Ares Management, Sixth Street and a consortium of several investors have been pre-screened to make their first investments in NFL teams. The NFL noted that the private equity investments will not result in any changes in the management of team franchises.
Plocamium Holdings aims to create value in Southeast Asia. A new report from investment and financial services firm Plocamium Holdings has identified Southeast Asia as a key market for value creation opportunities. A press release said the firm has identified Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines as high-growth markets in the region for strategic investors. “Private equity activity in Southeast Asia is not only thriving, but also developing rapidly,” said Lily Raaka, head of research at Plocamium, in a statement.
Middle Market Growth is conducted by the Association for Corporate Growth. For more information about the organization and membership, visit www.acg.org.
