Update: Consumer and Retail M&A Update – July, 2024

July, 2024

For Q1 2024, the median transaction value in Consumer & Retail was $30 million. For Q1 2024, strategic buyers accounted for 89% of transactions.

Select recent notable publicly announced M&A transactions:

–KAC Investments closed its acquisition of Herbal Brands for $8 million in March 2024.

–MNC Capital Partners announced its acquisition of Vista Outdoor for $3.2 billion in March 2024.

–ARB Corporation Limited closed its acquisition of ORW USA for $5 million in February 2024.

–Walmart announced its acquisition of VIZIO Holding Corporation for $2.5 billion in February 2024.

–Shoe Carnival closed its acquisition of Rogan Shoes for $50 million in February 2024.

Update: Automotive M&A Update – July, 2024

July, 2024

For Q1 2024, the median transaction value in Automotive was $34 million. For Q1 2024, the strategic buyers accounted for 98% of transactions.

Select recent notable publicly announced M&A transactions:

–Global Motor Trade Group announced its acquisition of Marshal Group for $1 million in March 2024.

–ARB Corporation Limited closed its acquisition of ORW USA for $5 million in February 2024.

–William Repny announced its acquisition of Workhorse Group (Indiana Manufacturing Facility) for $34 million in January 2024.

–Exro Technologies announced its acquisition of SEA Electric for $294 million in January 2024.

–Berkshire Hathaway closed its acquisition of Pilot Travel Centers for $2.6 billion in January 2024.

Robert Meyer joins Peakstone as Managing Director

July, 2024. Robert Meyer joins Peakstone as a Managing Director in Chicago, where he is responsible for transaction origination and execution. With over 20 years of investment banking and private equity experience, Robert has completed M&A and capital raising transactions totalling over $5 billion for middle market clients in industrial, consumer, business services and technology sectors.

Prior to joining Peakstone, Robert was a Managing Director in the Financial Sponsors group at Cowen. Previously, Robert was CFO for several software companies and Head of M&A for a publicly traded homebuilder. Earlier in his career, Robert was a senior member of the Industrials group at Lehman Brothers and Baird.

Robert received his BBA from The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and his MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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 served as exclusive financial advisor to MenuSys

July, 2024. Peakstone served as exclusive financial advisor to MenuSys.

Peakstone Recognized as Leading Lower Middle Market Industrials M&A Firm

June, 2024. We are pleased to announce that Axial named Peakstone as one of Axial’s 2024 Top Lower Middle Market Industrials M&A Advisors. For the news release and additional information, please CLICK HERE.

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. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com.

Peakstone served as exclusive financial advisor to Blue Ocean Partners, LLC

June, 2024. Peakstone served as exclusive financial advisor to Blue Ocean Partners, LLC (“Blue Ocean” or the “Company”) in connection with Blue Ocean’s acquisition of Majik Rent-To Own’s thirteen store locations. This event marks Blue Ocean’s fourth acquisition as the Company continues to execute its growth strategy.

Blue Ocean, based in Mountville, Pennsylvania, is a premier Rent-to-Own platform with a highly experienced management team with over 40 years of combined industry experience. The Company is actively seeking additional acquisitions in the Rent-to-Own sector.

Skyline Partners, LLC and Farragut Capital Partners, LLC provided debt and equity to support the transaction.

Blue Ocean CEO, William Short, said, “Peakstone’s unwavering commitment and perseverance throughout the process ensured that we found the ideal capital providers to support our strategy of pursuing additional acquisitions and new store growth. Our partnership with Skyline and Farragut provides Blue Ocean with substantial additional resources as we continue to expand our platform.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact:

Eric Dziedzic, Managing Director, eric@peakstone.com

Michael Dobin, Analyst, mdobin@peakstone.com

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. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com.

Peakstone Advises Timber Technologies LLC on its sale to Star Equity Holdings, Inc.

June, 2024. Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Timber Technologies LLC (“Timber Technologies” or the “Company”) in connection with its sale to Star Equity Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRR) (“Star Equity”), a publicly traded company. (Press release found here).

Timber Technologies, based in Colfax, Wisconsin, is a leading engineered wood products manufacturer specializing in glue-laminated products for post frame buildings. The Company provides timber products for the agriculture, industrial, infrastructure, and building construction (commercial and residential) industries.

Star Equity is a diversified holding company currently composed of two divisions: Building Solutions and Investments.  The Building Solutions division operates in three businesses including building manufacturing, structural wall panel and wood foundation manufacturing, and glue-laminated timber manufacturing.  Timber Technologies will add to Star Equity’s growth initiatives.

Timber Technologies co-owner, Dale Schiferl said, “A close friend of mine who had previous interactions with Peakstone on other deals, thought Peakstone would be a good fit to help sell our business. Peakstone was essential to completing this transaction. They executed on a well thought out strategy to sell Timber Technologies, provided great advice throughout, and guided the transaction to closing efficiently and smoothly.”

 

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact:

Steve Royko, Managing Director, 608-770-1009, sroyko@peakstone.com

Michael Dobin, Analyst, 847-609-9492, mdobin@peakstone.com

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. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com.

Peakstone Advises Tess Oral Health on its sale to ArchStar Capital

May, 2024. Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Tess Oral Health in connection with its sale to ArchStar Capital, LLC.

Founded in 1989, Tess Oral Health (Tess) is a leading manufacturer of personalized toothbrushes and other dental products for private practices and their patients. Headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, it serves over 2,400 clients nationally with tremendous opportunities for continued growth.

Rob Conner, CEO of Tess noted, “We engaged Peakstone to find a partner with the right background, reach and cultural fit to take our business to the next level, smarter and faster than we would achieve independently. Peakstone conducted a very thorough process providing us with options that allow us to find the right partner in ArchStar. We commend Peakstone in expertly positioning our business and advising us throughout the process.”

Founding ArchStar partner, Tom Mingo, noted “We are excited to utilize our resources and expertise in value creation to assist Tess Oral Health attain the next level of growth. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with their stellar team to enhance their already strong reputation and solidify their unique position as the leader in the oral care space.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

For additional information please contact:

Peter Melloni, Managing Director, 630-664-3457, pmelloni@peakstone.com

Jeff Temple, Managing Partner, 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. 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. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com.

About Tess Oral Health

Tess is a leading, USA manufacturer of brushes, personalized with our client’s logo to promote their practice. Tess continues to add other demanded dental products delivered direct to dental offices with fast turnaround on even custom orders. www.tessoralhealth.com

About ArchStar Capital

ArchStar Capital, based in the Midwest, invests in lower middle market companies, typically in partnership with founders and management teams. With a focus on establishing long-term partnerships, the company provides capital and operational support to businesses across various industries. The firm’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and management teams, fuel transformative growth, and deliver exceptional returns for investors. www.archstarcap.com

Peakstone exclusive advisor to PJ Woodlands

March, 2024.  Peakstone served as exclusive financial advisor to PJ Woodlands.

Matthew Norris joins Peakstone as Managing Director

March, 2024. Matthew Norris joins Peakstone as a Managing Director in Chicago, where he is responsible for transaction origination and execution. With over 15 years of investment banking and private equity experience, he has completed over 50 M&A and capital raising advisory assignments for middle market and large capitalization clients, mostly in the diversified industrial, manufacturing and oil and gas sectors.

Prior to joining Peakstone, Matthew was instrumental in building the Chicago-based investment banking practice at CIBC, working on US and cross-border transactions. Matthew began his finance career with Probel Capital Management, a Belgian-based private equity firm focused on oil and gas producers, and then worked with CIBC’s oil and gas investment banking group in Calgary, Canada before relocating to Chicago.

Matthew has an MBA from Georgetown University and a B.Comm. from Memorial 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.