Peakstone Moved!

April, 2020. We moved! Please note our new address and phone number: 550 West Van Buren Street, Suite 1460, Chicago, IL 60607. New main office number is 312-357-5900. All direct dial numbers remain the same.

Martin W Johnson joins Peakstone as Managing Director

April, 2020. Martin W Johnson is a Managing Director at Peakstone Group where he is responsible for transaction origination and execution.

Martin is a leader in Central Louisiana. A long-time member of the banking community, Martin served in every position from teller to President. As Regions Bank President of Central Louisiana, he was responsible for not only the consumer and commercial divisions of the bank, but he was also the market leader for Regions Mortgage, Regions Insurance, and Morgan Keegan Investment Banking, a subsidiary of Regions Bank.

Martin was with Regions Bank for 4 years. Prior to Regions, he was a Senior Vice President with Capital One Bank, which acquired Hibernia Bank in 2005. Mr. Johnson was with Hibernia/Capital One for 20 years.  Since 2012, he has been involved in international trade and finance in China and Tanzania.  In addition, Martin has done mission work in Haiti with the National Baptist Convention of America.  He recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program.

Martin has served as Chairman of the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority, the England Authority dba Alexandria International Airport, the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, the Central Louisiana Business League, and the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. He has also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Foundation Board and as a board member on the State of Louisiana Commerce and Industry Board, CHRISTUS Health Central Louisiana, and the Louisiana State University of Alexandria Foundation.

Since February 2009, Martin has served as the Chief Financial Advisor of the Louisiana Home and Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention.  He currently serves as a board member for the Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project, CHRISTUS Health Louisiana and The Southern University System Foundation.  He is the National Baptist Convention of America Chairman of the Commission on Community and Economic Development and serves as a Deacon at St. Matthew Baptist Church.  Martin lives in Alexandria, Louisiana with his wife and daughters.

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Peakstone Advises Just Manufacturing on sale to Zurn

February, 2020. Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Just Manufacturing in its sale to Zurn (www.zurn.com).

Just Manufacturing is a third-generation, family-owned designer and manufacturer of engineered stainless-steel sinks for commercial and industrial applications. Just Manufacturing has 135 employees and operates out of a 175,000 square foot facility in Franklin Park, IL.

Paul Just, Just Manufacturing CEO and President, said, “My brother Matt and I were very happy with the guidance and direction provided by Peakstone. The end result was the successful sale of our company. We would like to thank the Peakstone team for simplifying a complicated process and for relentlessly pushing the deal through to a successful conclusion.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact the following:

Steve Royko, Managing Director, 608-236-4490, sroyko@peakstone.com

Mark Horita, Managing Director, 312-346-7308, mhorita@peakstone.com

Jeff Temple, Managing Director, 312-346-7301, jtemple@peakstone.com

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Peakstone Advises on Sale of Branded Baby Products Company

February, 2020. Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Planet Wise, Inc. in its sale to 365 Holdings. (www.365-holdings.com)

Founded in 2003, Planet Wise is a family-owned business that designs, develops and markets, cloth diapers and natural parenting products. Planet Wise markets some of the leading brands in the cloth diaper market, including Nicki’s Diapers, Best Bottom Diapers, and Imagine Baby Products.

365 Holdings is a private investment company that owns and operates vertically integrated, digitally native, direct-to-consumer brands. “We are excited to add Planet Wise and its related brands to the 365 Holdings family. This transaction is a prime example of our thesis for investing in micro-brands”, said Kelcey Lehrich, 365 Holdings Partner and CMO.

Nicki Maynard, CEO of Planet Wise, said, “Peakstone, in particular Steve Royko, was dedicated in helping us transition our business to the best possible partners. We appreciated his personal service, patience, professionalism and drive to finalize our deal.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact the following:

Steve Royko, Managing Director, 608-236-4490, sroyko@peakstone.com

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Peakstone Advises Pentegra System, LLC

February, 2020. Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Pentegra System, LLC.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact the following:

Jim Breen, Managing Director, 312-543-3881, jbreen@peakstone.com

Jeff Temple, Managing Director, 312-346-7301, jtemple@peakstone.com

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Peakstone Advises CALco Pallets on its Sale to Strength Capital

January, 2020. Peakstone served as the exclusive financial advisor to CALco Pallet Company in connection with Strength Capital’s investment in the Company.

Founded in 2007, CALco is a vertically integrated, full-service wooden pallet manufacturer selling both new and recycled pallets to a diverse customer base throughout the Midwest. In addition to its state-of-the-art pallet manufacturing capabilities, CALco owns a captive hardwood sawmill where it produces lumber for internal use and outside sales and produces landscape mulching from scrap pallets.

“Peakstone did an exceptional job driving value for us and I can’t say enough good things about Andy Savarie” said Matt Calhoun, owner of CALco Pallets. “We’re excited to be partnering with Strength Capital on this next phase of CALco’s growth.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact the following:

Andy Savarie, Managing Director, 312-560-5199, asavarie@peakstone.com

Jeff Temple, Managing Director, 312-346-7301, jtemple@peakstone.com

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Timothy Masek joins Peakstone as Managing Director in Michigan

December, 2019. Timothy Masek has joined Peakstone as a Managing Director focusing on the manufacturing and industrial sector. Tim brings substantial depth to Peakstone’s Industrial banking practice, having both managed and acquired several manufacturing businesses. Tim is based in Grand Rapids and expands Peakstone’s presence in Michigan.

Prior to joining Peakstone, Tim founded CODI Ventures LLC, a private investment firm focused on acquiring under-performing manufacturing companies. Tim began his career with TMB Industries, a Chicago buyout firm, where Tim was a key member in mergers, acquisitions, and portfolio company management. Tim has been either President and or CEO of numerous manufacturing companies, including Transportation Technologies, Wright Plastics, Heckethorn Manufacturing, Fuel Systems, Bostrom Seating, and others. Tim has completed over 45 acquisitions during his time at TMB Industries and CODI Ventures.

Tim has a Bachelor of Administration from Dominican University.

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. The team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Peakstone Publishes Industry Reports

December, 2019. Peakstone has published twelve industry reports, which can be accessed through the links below.  We deliver sector knowledge, experience, and relationships to every client.  We welcome a chance to open dialogue with companies in these sectors to exchange information and viewpoints.

Automotive

Consumer & Retail

E-Commerce

Food & Beverage

Industrials & Manufacturing

Infrastructure

IT Services

Packaging

Pet

Restaurant

Technology & Software

Transportation & Logistics

About Peakstone

Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising for middle market clients. Our team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com.

Update: Food and Beverage M&A Update – December, 2019

December, 2019

For 2019 YTD, strategic buyers accounted for 92% of Food and Beverage M&A transactions. During 2018, strategic buyers accounted for 91% of the transactions.

Select recent notable publicly announced M&A transactions:

– Pepsico announced plans to acquire Better For You Brands for an undisclosed amount.

– Anheuser-Busch announced plans to acquire Craft Brew Alliance for $289 million.

– Pernod Ricard acquires Castle Brands for $277 million.

– The Hershey Company acquires ONE Brands for $401 million.

– Atkins acquires Quest Nutrition for $1 billion.

Update: IT Services M&A Update – December, 2019

December, 2019

In 2019 YTD, strategic buyers accounted for 90% of IT Services M&A activity; during 2018, strategic buyers accounted for approximately 90% of the transactions.

Select recent notable publicly announced M&A transactions:

– Open Text Corporation acquires Carbonite for $850 million.

– RealPage acquires Buildium for an undisclosed amount.

– Workday acquires Scout RFP for $540 million.

– Proofpoint acquires ObserveIT for $230 million.

– PTC acquires Onshape for $470 million.

– MJ23 UK Acquisition acquires Cision for $1.5 billion.

– Roku acquires dataxu for $150 million.

– Cerner Corporation acquires AbleVets for $75 million.

– Apex Systems acquires Intersys Consulting for $67 million.