Private Equity
One of Benesch’s core competencies is the representation of private equity firms, including leverage buyout firms, growth equity firms, mezzanine funds, and portfolio companies located both domestically and offshore, in the acquisition, financing, operation, and ultimate disposition of their assets and in the formation and ongoing operation of the fund itself.
Dedicated to fully understanding our clients, their businesses and their industries, we develop client-focused teams. These teams ensure first-class legal service and continuity of personnel, view business issues from our clients’ perspective, and assist in discovering the best legal services to address our clients’ needs, drawing upon the strengths of diverse, knowledgeable, and experienced lawyers.
Our Private Equity Group is comprised of attorneys with individual specialties that include corporate finance, subordinated lending, senior lending, including second lien lending, securities, recapitalizations, buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring. We have a successful track record assisting investment firms in reaching their business objectives, including fund formation and maintenance, solicitation of capital, acquisitions, management of portfolio companies, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, PIPEs, SPACS, and distressed investments. In addition, we have substantial experience taking private-equity-backed companies public, publicly-traded companies private and in the issuance of public debt. Furthermore, we are equally conversant in representing the company seeking an investment from or an acquisition by a private equity firm.
We believe that our private equity practice is differentiated from that of our competitors because of our focus on the middle market, our ability to represent portfolio companies post-acquisition on a responsive and affordable basis, our CEO-centric program, and our commitment to always staffing projects with teams led by senior attorneys that are actively involved in the process.
As a firm, we focus our practice on middle-market companies. This allows us to provide immediate value to private equity clients as we recognize changing market conditions, identify potential transactions, and proactively counsel portfolio companies in their day-to-day operations. We believe that our emphasis on middle-market companies makes us a value-added partner in today’s private equity marketplace.
We offer a strong CEO-centric program, where we team successful CEOs with private equity firms to create industry-focused transactions. We actively identify and qualify these CEOs before introducing them into CEO-centric private equity firms. In addition, we provide an ongoing program to attract managers who are considering MBOs of their operating companies.
Our ongoing representation of portfolio companies shows our ability to work with management and private equity owners in a cost-effective and responsive way.
Unlike many of our competitors, we staff our client matters with experienced attorneys that remain actively involved in the day-to-day decision-making process. We are committed to having an experienced partner involved in all transactions and to building a consistent service team that develops a true partnership with the client. In addition, our Midwest base allows us to provide this benefit at a competitive rate structure.
Although we have represented clients in transactions in almost every industry, we have specific experience in the packaging, plastics, specialty chemicals, consumer products, transportation and logistics, financial services, specialty printing, health care, communications, software, media, retail and distribution, manufacturing, and biotechnology sectors. Additionally, we have vertical industry knowledge with special practice groups for transportation and logistics (asset and non-asset based), retail and regulated health care as to long term care, assisted living, home health, institutional pharmacy, and managed care companies.
As a sophisticated player in the private equity marketplace, we know how to invest the institutional funds properly, how to help with ongoing governance, operational and financing issues, and ensure the proper exit. Through a dedicated team, we get the deal done in an efficient and effective manner while protecting the interests, and achieving the objectives, of our clients.
Representative Funds & Independent Sponsors Recently Worked With
- AEA Investors
- Altus Capital Partners
- Arcline Investment Management
- Arsenal Capital Partners
- Branford Castle Partners
- CapitalWorks
- Clarendon Capital
- Cyprium Partners
- Evolution Capital Partners
- Flexpoint Ford
- Gridiron Capital
- Headhaul Capital Partners
- Kidd & Company
- Kirtland Capital Partners
- Kohlberg & Company
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
- Linden Capital Partners
- McCarthy Capital
- Method Advisors
- Millpond Equity Partners
- Morganthaler Private Equity Partners
- Mountain Lake Capital
- MPE Partners
- New Mountain Capital
- Oak Hill Capital Partners
- Palladium Capital
- Prairie Capital
- Private Advisors
- Provariant Equity Partners
- Resilience Capital Partners
- Rockwood Equity Partners
- Rotunda Capital Partners
- ScaleCo Equity Partners
- Seven Point Equity Partners
- Sier Capital Partners
- Slate Capital Group
- Stellex Capital Management
- Stonehenge Partners
- Summerfield Capital Management
- Walnut Court Capital Consulting
- Weinberg Capital
- Wellspring Capital
Funds for Which We Have Recently Represented Portfolio Companies
- 3i Group (Hilite International; Q Holding)
- ABRY Partners (North American Dental Group)
- American Securities (Royal Adhesives & Sealants; Chromaflo Technologies; Henry Company; Marine Acquisition Corp., Trace3)
- Arsenal Capital Partners (Airnov; AvCarb; Carolina Colors; Eckhart; Fralock; Meridian Adhesives; Polymer Solutions Group; Polytek Development Corp.; Polyventive)
- Bain Capital (Dealer Tire)
- BV International (Risk International)
- Grey Mountain Partners (Mann Lake)
- GTCR Private Equity (Park Place Technologies)
- HGGC (Citadel Plastics)
- New Mainstream Capital (CORDENTAL Group)
- Olympus Capital (Homax Group, Inc.; Linex; Ennis-Flint; Pregis LLC; Vaco; Petmate; Rise Baking)
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Exal Corporation; Shearer’s Foods)
- Post Capital Partners (Invo Healthcare Associates, LLC; BHS Specialty Chemicals)
- Providence Strategic Growth (Pineapple Payments; Patron Technology, Inc.)
- Shore Capital Partners (SpecialDocs)
- Snow Phipps (ECRM)
- Summer Street Capital (Dwellworks)
- Thomas H. Lee Partners (HighTower)
- Warburg Pincus (Sterigenics; Consolidated Precision Products)
Experience
- Represented an independent sponsor fund in its acquisition of a provider of flood prevention and mitigation services and products.
- Represented Arsenal Capital Partners in its purchase of real estate and substantially all of the assets of a business that sells induction heat treatment of iso-statically molded carbonous/graphitic raw materials.
- Represented Stonehenge Partners in its sale of its portfolio company, PPM Technologies, a leading manufacturer of high-quality conveying, coating, and thermal equipment, to Duravant LLC (a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus and Carlyle).
- Represented Yusen Logistics in its acquisition of Taylored Services, a multichannel third-party logistics fulfillment organization, from private equity firm Saybrook.
- Represented Meridian Adhesives Group, a leading producer of high-performance advanced adhesives for electronics, infrastructure, and industrial end markets, in its sale to American Securities, a leading U.S. private equity firm.
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Represented a private equity backed buyer in connection with the acquisition of a leading manufacturer of electromagnetic components (including, without limitation, microwave and millimeter wave components, oscillators, amplifiers, frequency converters, and frequency multipliers for the industrial, aerospace, and military and defense sectors).
- Represented SC Holdings and other investors in their purchase of a Major League Pickleball team.
- Represented SC Holdings in its follow-on investment in Transmit.live.
- Represented manufacturing portfolio company of private equity sponsor in its disposition of its sealing applications and advanced technology systems division.
- Represented private equity backed portfolio company in its acquisition of a Georgia based Hospice.
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Represented a private equity fund in sale of a portfolio company’s U.S. assets and Philippine stock that provides shareholder communications services to publicly listed companies, including consulting, creative services, SEC Filing, document management technology, and more, to a strategic acquirer.
- Represented nation-wide employee benefits solutions company (private equity backed) in its acquisition of virtual healthcare and wellness company.
- Represented vascular surgeon and his physician practice in sale to national private equity backed platform of vein clinics.
- Represented a Cleveland, Ohio based private equity fund in its acquisitions of dining and nutrition services in healthcare communities in Arizona and Nebraska.
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Represented a private equity fund buyer in its acquisition of a provider of sports facilities management and advisory services.
- Represented a California private equity fund in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of a company located in Washington that provides continuing education services to dentists.*
- Represented a California private equity fund in the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of an upscale retail candy business with more than 60 locations in 27 states pursuant to a §363 sale out of
bankruptcy.* - Represented a Cleveland, Ohio based private equity fund in its acquisition of a Florida sports supplement company.*
- Represented a private equity fund in its purchase of assets of five companies, located in Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts, that provide credit related services to mortgage lenders.*
- Represented a private equity fund in its sale of a company that provides credit related services to mortgage lenders to a private equity fund for $320 million.*
- Represented a New York private equity fund in its acquisition of a distributor of corrugated products and packaging supplies in Florida.*
- Represented a California private equity fund in the platform acquisition of a Colorado-based fire protection services and fire safety systems company, as well as numerous add-on acquisitions in Texas, California, Colorado and Arizona.*
- Represented Aero 3, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“AeroRepair”), a portfolio company of Weinberg Capital Group (“Weinberg”), in the acquisition by GenNx360 Capital Partners.
- Represented Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions (“Lighthouse”) in its recapitalization by Amulet Capital Partners.
- Represented MOTIS Brands, an e-commerce leader in loading, hauling, mobility, automotive and recreational segments, in its sale to Prospect Hill Growth Partners, a private equity firm.
- Represented Rotunda Capital Partners in its sale of MacQueen Equipment, LLC, an industry-leading distributor of top-tier environmental and emergency equipment solutions.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a provider of prime and non-prime, flexible and semi-rigid PVC compounds, CPE, alloys, and zero halogen formulations.
- Represented physician group in sale of multi-provider/multi-office practice to private equity backed national network of dermatology practices.*
- Represented dental practice in its sale to a private equity backed dental service organization (DSO).*
- Represented Millpond Equity Partners in its acquisition of Financial Aid Services, LLC, a provider of consulting, staffing and compliance services for higher education institutions.
- Represented Stonehenge Partners in its significant minority investment into a leading consumer brand.
- Represented Arcline Investment Management and portfolio company Quantic Electronics in acquisition of Ticer Technologies, a manufacturer of high-performance, thin-film embedded resistor copper foil for digital and RF printed circuit boards.
- Represented Arcline Investment Management and portfolio company Quantic Electronics in acquisition of Transcon Technologies, a leader in the design, development and manufacture of custom electromagnetic components.
- Represented AML Rightsource, LLC, a Gridiron Capital portfolio company, in its acquisition of Blue Umbrella Holdings Limited and Blue Umbrella Limited, a provider of third-party compliance technology and due diligence services using custom automated workflows to corporate clients across a range of industries.
- Represented a private equity buyer in its acquisition of a materials handling business.
- Represented McCarthy Capital, a private equity firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, in its substantial minority investment in Smartlink, a provider of wireless infrastructure asset inventory and management, network services, network real estate and IT staffing.
- Represented MPE Partners in the recapitalization of DecoArt, a leading manufacturer of paints and finishes for arts, crafts, and home decorating applications.
- Represented Orbital Health in a $600,000 pre-seed venture capital investment leb by Comeback Capital and including Right Side Capital Management, EV Private Investments and GAM Investments.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a manufacturer of one-person installation boat docks and piers.
- Represented a private equity sponsor in its acquisition of a leading wholesale distributor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, parts and supplies in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
- Represented McCarthy Capital, a private equity firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, in its acquisition of CPaT Global, LLC, a provider of commercial aviation distance learning training materials and solutions and learning management system platforms.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a manufacturer of tie-down solutions for cargo control.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a company engaged in the planning, funding, constructing, and operating of broadband networks in rural Ohio.
- Represented Gridiron Capital in its acquisition of Erie Construction Mid-West, a direct-to-consumer home remodeling services provider.
- Represented the Buyer in its acquisition of a material handling engineering company engaged in the design, sale, repair, installation and rental of cranes, hoists, material handling equipment, parts, and related equipment.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a design leader in foodservice dinnerware, displayware, and tabletop accessories, with an emphasis on melamine.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a leading contract manufacturer of Class II and Class III medical devices.
- Represented the seller in the disposition of the world's leading manufacturer of Polygraph instrumentation and equipment to private equity.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of TouchMath.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of Pharmacy Development Services.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of Hands-On Learning, LLC.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of BrandRep.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of Science First.
- Representation of Millpond Equity Partners, LLC in the acquisition of Futuri Media.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a German provider of data and software-based anti-financial crime compliance solutions.
- Represented a leading private equity-backed supplier of RF and microwave components and subsystems specializing in high power and broadband solutions in its acquisition of a supplier of a broad range of RF and microwave components and subsystems for the military, aerospace, industrial and commercial markets.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a UK provider of data and software-based anti-financial crime compliance solutions
- Represented private equity backed Buyer in add-on asset purchase of a direct-to-consumer supplier and installer of storm grade windows.
- Represented leading provider of component parts for aircrafts in its stock acquisition of a leader in aviation safety and flight performance systems.
- Represented Dent Wizard, a portfolio company of Gridiron Capital and the largest national provider of automotive reconditioning services and vehicle protection products, it its sale to Dealer Tire.
- Represented Gridiron Capital in its acquisition of AML RightSource — a Cleveland-based provider of anti-money-laundering, Bank Secrecy Act and related financial crime-fighting services — from its prior private equity owner, New York’s Clarion Capital.
- Represented a private equity sponsor in its acquisition of the equity of a custom-printed packaging and labeling company.
- Represented the seller in its disposition of all the assets of a provider and installer of HVAC and refrigerated equipment in a private equity backed add-on transaction.
- Represented a private equity buyer in its acquisition of a manufacturer of waterproofing coatings systems.
- Represented buyer in its add-on acquisition of a third-party transportation logistics services business and a motor carrier services business.
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Represented private equity owned Buyer in a carve-out asset acquisition of a direct-to-consumer and retail home improvement and remodeling business.
- Represented the seller in its sale of the Company which is a payment processing service business.
- Represented the Seller in its disposition of a leading provider of glass and window fabrication systems and software solutions to private equity.
- Represented the seller in its disposition of its fire-sprinkler installation and service business to private equity.
- Represented private equity owned buyer in an add-on acquisition of a company that assembles and distributes data-loggers.
- Represented the sellers in their sale of SaaS technology offering end-to-end audience engagement and sales tools for radio broadcasters, TV Stations, and publishers.
- Represented a private equity portfolio company in the add-on acquisition of a provider of finance and accounting consulting and staffing services.
- Represented a private equity owned Buyer in an add-on acquisition of a manufacturer and distributor of laminated glass and polycarbonate products for light and heavy rail, locomotive, and military and commercial vehicle applications.
- Represented the founder in the sale of his die-cutting and non-metallic fabrication services business to private equity.
- Represented a small-business private equity fund in its growth investment in a NE-Ohio dental partnership organization.
- Benesch represented Rotunda Capital and its platform company, MacQueen Equipment, LLC, in its acquisition of Temco Machinery, Inc., which sells and services emergency response vehicles.
- Benesch represented Rotunda Capital in the sale of its HVAC wholesale distribution and supply platform, Munch's Supply.
- Represented the sellers in the sale of ALICE Training Institute, an active shooter training solution and preparedness education program for organizations.
- Represented the purchaser in the acquisition of a distributor and seller of customizable shoe inserts and antimicrobial shoe insert cushions.
- Represented the seller in the disposition of its engineered sealing solutions business.
- Represented a developer of technology for the early detection of neurodegenerative brain diseases in connection with offering of Series A Preferred Stock.
- Represented SWS Capital in connection with its strategic investment in RosmanSearch, Inc., a neurosurgical and neurological recruiting and staffing business.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a leading manufacturer of single-use bio-process components and systems including fittings, tubing, single-use assemblies, and fabrication.
- Represented one of the leading ice cream and yogurt franchises in the United States in its recapitalization of the company
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a car wash equipment distributor and installer.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of business assets related to the seller's food catering and serving products and accessories and entry into a supply agreement related thereto.
- Represented private equity owned buyer in an add-on stock acquisition of a company which sells science kits to professors and universities for student use.
- Represented Millpond Equity Partners in its acquisition of Futuri Media, a provider of SaaS technology offering end-to-end audience engagement and sales tools for radio broadcasters, TV stations, and publishers.
- Represented a private equity owned medical contract manufacturer in its add-on asset acquisition of a manufacturer of orthopedic implants.
- Represented the buyer in the acquisition of a manufacturer of conveyor systems and food processing equipment for the food production industry.
- Represented Slate Capital in its acquisition of Horizon Facilities, a provider of staffing services to rental car companies.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a non-asset based third-party, final mile logistics firm.
- Represented private equity fund in its sale of leading end-to-end provider of technology solutions for education to private equity owned technology company.
- Represented buyer in its acquisition of a national, full-service logistics business focused primarily on courier, warehouse management and distribution services.
- Representation of Gridiron Capital, LLC in the sale of Ramsey Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of service cranes, industrial and commercial winches and planetary gear drives.
- Representation of Gridiron Capital, LLC in its acquisition of Jacent Strategic Merchandising, the leading supplier and service provider of impulse merchandising solutions to the grocery, mass, drug and e-commerce retail channels, from Lariat Partners.
- Representation of Gridiron Capital, LLC in its initial platform acquisition of a provider of strategic impulse, in-line and check stand, merchandising products and solutions to retailers.
- Representation of CapitalWorks in the acquisition of Chemtron Corporation.
- Representation of CapitalWorks in its acquisition of GEM City Engineering Co.
- Representation of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) in its acquisition of Minnesota Rubber and Plastics, a manufacturer of highly engineered rubber and plastics solutions to global customers, from Norwest Equity Partners.
- Represented Gridiron Capital Partners in its acquisition of Remington Products Company, a leading specialty designer and manufacturer of branded and private label orthotic solutions, including foot beds/insoles, foot care products, orthopedic braces, sports supports and safety/ergonomic products. The target company was 100% owned by the Remington Products Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust, making for a complex structure.
- Represented Gridiron Capital Partners in its initial platform acquisition of Jacent Strategic Merchandising, a provider of strategic impulse, in-line and check stand, merchandising products and solutions to retailers.
- Represented Petmate, a portfolio company of Olympus Partners, in its acquisition of PetQwerks, a manufacturer and distributor of alternative rawhide pet chews and treats.
- Represented Evolution Capital Partners in the purchase of NexTech Partners, a distributor of refurbished voice and networking products.
- Represented a private equity fund in the sale of its portfolio company in the consolidated contract manufacturing space to a private equity controlled Canadian competitor for $91 million.
- Represented Evolution Capital Partners in the sale of its portfolio company Lewellyn Technologies, a market leading electrical and workplace safety services company, to Align Capital Partners.
- Represented a private equity fund in the recapitalization of its agriculture technology portfolio company.
- Represented a private equity owned company in the sale of its non-core apparel and signage business lines.
- Represented two private equity funds in a combined purchase of an education and training services company as well as several add-on acquisitions.
- Represented a private equity owned freight hauling and brokerage service business in the completion of several add-on acquisitions.
- Represented a private equity owned provider of technology and marketing support services in the car wash industry in its acquisition of a company specializing in point-of-sale business solutions to the automotive services industry.
- Represented a private equity owned specialty chemicals company in its acquisition of several add-on businesses.
- Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a provider of search engine optimization and other digital marketing services.
- Represented Ennis-Flint, a North Carolina-based portfolio company of Olympus Partners, in its acquisition of the thermoplastics pavement markings business from The Sherwin-Williams Company.
- Representation of LeafFilter, a provider of gutter guards for homeowners in North America, in its sale to Gridiron Capital, LLC.
- Represented Capitalworks, a private equity fund, in connection with its acquisition of Magna-Tech Manufacturing.
- Represented Inovar Packaging Group, a portfolio company of private equity sponsor AEA Investors, in its acquisition of Flexo-Graphics.
- Represented the buyer in its acquisition of a provider of construction services, including tunneling construction, infrastructure development, utilities construction, site development and facilities construction, and pipeline construction.
- Represented the seller in its disposition of a highly specialized Strategic Service Provider (SSP) of customized Information Technology products and services to private equity.
- Represented Provariant in its recapitalization of Midwest Equipment Sales (MWE). Provariant is a private equity sponsor consisting of four industry veterans. Its investment in MWE represents the first institutional capital in MWE since its founding and also represents the first platform investment for Provariant. MWE is a nationwide resource for compact equipment parts and accessories and outdoor power equipment.
- Represented Lombart Instruments, a portfolio company of Atlantic Street Capital, in its acquisition of Innova Medical Ophthalmics.*
- Represented Stone Point Capital and its Trident funds in the acquisition of a majority stake in Focus Financial Partners.*
- Represented Advancing Eye Care Holdings, a portfolio company of private equity sponsor Atlantic Street Capital, in its merger with Lombart Instruments and concurrent purchase of Marco Ophthalmic.*
- Represented PLNTF Holdings, a portfolio company of Atlantic Street Capital and Planet Fitness franchisee, in its acquisition of various Planet Fitness gyms throughout the U.S.*
- Represented Lombart Instruments, a portfolio company of Atlantic Street Capital, in its acquisition of the assets of Enhanced Medical Services.*
- Represented Alex Apparel Group, a portfolio company of Atlantic Street Capital, in its acquisition of SL Fashions.*
- Represented Canyon Healthcare Partners in its growth equity investment in InnovaTel.*
- Represented Stone Point Capital in its investment in Applied Systems.*
- Represented the seller in its disposition of a dealer of environmental and emergency products and services.
Articles and Presentations
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My Benesch My Team - Evolution Capital Partners
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