FOCUS just completed its exciting third consecutive record-breaking year in 2018. We closed 28 deals across 10 industry segments and hosted an annual conference for our 43 Global M&A partner firms. In 2018 we continued to demonstrate the firm’s proven expertise, both across the wide range of sectors we cover, and in the depth of strategic services we deliver on behalf of our clients.

Looking ahead to 2019, we anticipate a very healthy climate for M&A deal making opportunities. We agree with widespread opinions that the changes to the tax code and large levels of undeployed cash will help drive a robust M&A environment for the year ahead. According to Deloitte US: “Corporate and private equity executives focused on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) anticipate further acceleration of deal flow in 2019—both in the number of transactions and in their size—which would further extend several years of record M&A activity.”

In 2019, continued confidence in deal making offers buyers and sellers an expanding climate for success. While the signs are favorable in the near term, we acknowledge that these conditions may not last forever. Picking the absolute top of the market is a precarious goal for both buyers and sellers.

To explore the possibilities in your market segment, please contact our FOCUS bankers directly via the contact information provided with each deal listed in the new report.

Below is a chronological list of FOCUS deals closed in 2018:

2018 FOCUS Transactions in Chronologic Order

Sell Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
A software company’s product simulates the flow and reactions of particles suspended in gases or liquids—a technique used primarily in the petroleum refining industry. The investor purchased 77 percent of the company. Details remain private.

Buy Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
A cloud security firm acquired an IT expert business. Details remain private.

Sell Side Deal in the Waste Management Industry
SEA/SUE, Inc and its two businesses, Anderson Rubbish Disposal and Moorpark Rubbish Disposal, have been acquired by Waste Management, Inc.

Buy Side Deal in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry
ncgCARE, a national network of provider partners in behavioral healthcare, purchased Grace Harbour, Inc.

Buy Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
FutureTech Holding Company, a leader in IT and IT-enabled services with strategic holdings in the financial and technology sectors, purchased Emergys, LLC, a leader in SAP enterprise solutions.

Sell Side Deal in the Automotive Industry
Ramona Tire & Service Centers has been acquired by GB Auto Service, Inc., a portfolio company of Greenbriar Equity Group, LP.

Sell Side Deal in Business Services Industry
A full-service business process outsourcing (BPO) company specializing in sales, development, lead generation, and marketing of automation services was purchased by a service group. Details remain private.

Buy Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
FutureTech Holding Company, a leader in IT and IT-enabled services with strategic holdings in the financial and technology sectors, purchased A2U, a leading full-service IT solutions provider specializing in healthcare IT.

Sell Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
The Testing Services Division of Orasi Software, Inc., a software reseller and professional services company, was acquired by QualiTest Group.

Corporate Finance Deal in the Information Technology Learning Industry
Learning Tree International received $5 million in financing from a private investor (the “Investor”). Learning Tree provides training for IT professionals and managers, offering both instructor-led classroom training and online training.

Cross-Border Buy Side Deal in the Advanced Automation Industry
ICAPE Group, located outside of Paris, France—a producer of printed circuit boards and customized technical parts they manufacture in China—purchased DIVSYS, a fabricator of printed circuit boards, located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Sell Side Deal in the Telecom Industry
John Staurulakis, Inc. (JSI), a full-service consulting firm providing operational, financial, management, regulatory, marketing, and strategic assistance to independent community-based communications providers, was purchased by Stone-Goff Partners.

Buy Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
FutureTech Holding Company, a leader in IT and IT-enabled services with strategic holdings in the financial and technology sectors, purchased PDS, one of the leading information technology and engineering consulting firms in the western US.

Sell Side Deal in the Automotive Industry
Travelers Body & Fender Works was purchased by Caliber Collision.

Buy Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
Projekt202, LLC, a mobile IT application development firm, purchased ORA Interactive.

Sell Side Deal in the Business Services Industry
Noyes Air Conditioning, a commercial air conditioning maintenance company serving the mid-Atlantic region, was purchased by an undisclosed strategic buyer.

Sell Side Deal in the Telecom Industry
American Telephone Company, LLC, an end-to-end telecom consulting management company offering customers a broad range of services, was purchased by Windstream Holdings Inc.

Sell Side Deal in the Automotive Industry
Evans Tire & Service Centers has been acquired by GB Auto Service, Inc., a portfolio company of Greenbriar Equity Group, LP.

Sell Side Deal in the Telecom Industry
Southern Diversified Technologies, Inc. (SDT), providing engineering and construction services for fiber optic networks, was purchased by UniTek Global Services.

Sell Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
A cybersecurity firm was purchased by another firm through one of their portfolio companies. Details remain private.

Sell Side Deal in the Advanced Automation Industry
TSS Technologies, Inc. (TSS), a manufacturing leader specializing in contract manufacturing, machining, and custom automation, was purchased by Resilience Capital Partners.

Corporate Finance Deal in the Business Services Industry
FOCUS Holdings USA Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust has obtained financing from Eagle Bank in connection with its acquisition of FOCUS Investment Banking LLC.

Sell Side Deal in the Advanced Manufacturing Industry
Burnhart Holdings (WEC Group), a steel fabrication company, was purchased by investment fund Amari UK, Inc.—a cross-border transaction and winner of the 2018 M&A Worldwide Deal of the Year Award at M&A Worldwide Rainmaker MIAMI Summit.

Buy Side Deal in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry
ncgCARE, a national network of provider partners in behavioral healthcare, acquired Carolina Outreach, headquartered in Durham, NC.

Buy Side Deal in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry
ncgCARE, a national network of provider partners in behavioral healthcare, purchased Therapeutic Interventions, located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Sell Side Deal in the Information Technology Industry
Tempus Nova, Inc., a project-based consulting firm specializing in Google enterprise solutions, G Suite implementations, cloud computing, and application development, was acquired by Renovus Capital Partners.

Sell Side Deal in the Outdoor Recreation Industry
Kialoa Canoe Paddles, Inc., a firm offering a collection of products for being in, on, and around the water, was acquired by Werner Paddles.

Buy Side Deal in the Government, Aerospace, and Defense Industries
Chenega Corporation, a provider of mission-critical support and services to Federal agencies, was acquired by Venturi, Inc.


FOCUS 2018 Year in ReviewDownload the new FOCUS review of 2018 to learn the details and strategies behind each transaction.

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Douglas E. Rodgers, FOCUS Chairman Emeritus, served as CEO and Managing Partner from 2001 until late 2018. During his time as CEO, he led the firm’s growth from one office in Washington, DC, to three offices across the US. He has C-level management experience in software, aerospace, e-commerce,