A business confidence survey conducted by accountancy firm EY has shown that nearly two thirds of UK companies are planning M&A deals over the next 12 months, which is the highest level since 2010.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce it has successfully facilitated the acquisition of UBEO Business Services to Sentinel Capital Partners.

UBEO, Benchmark International's client, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a provider of best-in-class document management equipment and related services. UBEO facilitates business technology integration by offering the newest, best, and most innovative ideas in hardware and software solutions to its customer base of approximately 6,000 mid-sized businesses, schools, and municipalities. With a team of more than 225 salespeople, technicians, and support staff, UBEO sells and services globally-recognized copier and printer equipment in major Texas metropolitan markets and operates seven sales sites serving the San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston metropolitan areas.

Jim Sheffield,President and CEO of UBEO, said "We are very proud of the reputation we have built. UBEO outperforms its competition in the service categories that our customers value most – technical capability, service quality, and on-time delivery. Partnering with Sentinel well positions us for our next phase of profitable growth."

Sentinel Capital Partners is a private equity firm that targets investments in middle-market companies with strong management and attractive growth prospects. Sentinel looks to invest up to $175 million of equity in companies generating EBITDA of up to $65 million. Sectors of interest include business services/outsourcing, consumer products and services, food and restaurants, franchising, and manufacturing. Prospective transaction situations include management buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, take-privates, and growth financings. Their motto is to provide "private equity to talented executives and helping them to build great businesses and realize their boldest dreams."

Scott Perry, a partner at Sentinel, explained "We are very excited about the acquisition of UBEO and partnering with a regional market leader with a stable, highly recurring business model, high margins and strong free cash flow characteristics. As the largest independent dealer in Texas, UBEO is a scalable platform and ideal for consolidating its highly fragmented industry. We are very pleased to partner with a highly experienced, talented, and strongly committed management team that has a proven record of profitable growth."

Sentinel Capital Partners has made several notable acquisitions in the last 12 months. Besides acquiring UBEO, Sentinel has made four other platform investments – Altima Dental, a leading dental services organization in Canada; Captain D’s, the leading franchisor and operator of seafood quick service restaurants; MB2 Dental Solutions, a rapidly-growing regional dental service organization with a unique physician-centric ownership model; and Nekoosa, a leading manufacturer of specialty paper and film products used in the graphics and commercial print markets. During this same period, Sentinel sold Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain; Huddle House, a leading franchisor of family dining restaurants in the Southeast; National Spine & Pain Centers, a leader in interventional pain management; Playcore, the leading North American designer, supplier of play, park, and recreation products; and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare, a portfolio of high-performing OTC healthcare brands.

Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins, Inc. is a leading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering firm specializing in commercial construction. The company has extensive experience in several different industries and has completed numerous projects for national retailers and hospitality companies throughout the US. Located in Springfield, MO, and Overland Park, KS, the company is licensed to perform work in all forty-eight contiguous states. Over its thirty-five years in operation, Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins, Inc. has successfully completed hundreds of large-scale retail and hospitality projects.

Rod Finkle, President of Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins, Inc. commented, “We are excited about the acquisition and RTM’s future capabilities with the firm. Benchmark International’s transaction team provided a great buyer that fits perfectly with the culture of our company. Tyrus, and the team quickly sourced a motivated buyer which eventually turned into our exit strategy. We would like to extend a special thanks to the team that quickly brought us results in finding the right buyer.”

Tyrus O’Neill, Managing Director at Benchmark International, stated, “It was a pleasure to represent Rod and the firm in this transaction, and on behalf of Benchmark International, we are extremely pleased with the outcome. The acquirer and seller have numerous strategic synergies which has led to a great process and result. Overall, this has been a thoroughly satisfying experience and we wish both parties the best of luck moving forward.”

Established in 1981 and headquartered outside Chicago, RTM Engineering Consultants integrates MEP/FP and civil engineering services with sustainable design as a given. The firm goes beyond a typical consulting role and becomes a partner to clients by aligning with the goals, processes, and people at each organization. Licensed in all 50 states, its portfolio spans major market sectors nationwide. For more information,
visit www.rtmassociates.com.

So, you are entertaining the thought of possibly selling your business. How do you know what it’s worth? There are a lot of factors that go into deciding an asking price for your company. The market, the industry, and the level of risk can all affect the final value. The following guide will walk you through a quick rundown of the valuation process for middle-market businesses and help you gain a basic understanding of what your company might be worth.

Step One: Have Your Finances in Check

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the acquisition of Builder Security Group is complete. Benchmark International, as the sell-side representative, was able to bring an ideal buyer to the table to close this sale.

The closing of the Builder Security Group acquisition marks the tenth US deal completion for Benchmark International in 2018. Benchmark International's Global CEO, Gregory Jackson, stated "This record-setting quarter looks to end on a high note, and quarter two is moving with great momentum as well."

Builder Security Group is a security installation and monitoring company located in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. It is an all-in-one resource for all finishing touches that go along with a new home, from security products and monitoring to home theater systems and networking. Its experience and reputation, along with the vast selection of products and services it offers, has helped Builder Security Group form a reputation in San Antonio and the surrounding areas as a premiere outlet for homeowner and homebuilder needs.

Builder Security Group was acquired by a buyer seeking to spread its national footprint, specifically its expansion in to the state of Texas. Builder Security Group will continue its business in security products and monitoring.

Managing Director, Kendall Stafford stated “The team and I enjoyed working with BSG [Builder Security Group]. We were fortunate that there were many options in the market and that BSG was able to choose a party that could provide it with a tax advantageous structure for a high multiple. The negotiations ended in a win-win for all parties.”

Clinton Johnston, Managing Director at Benchmark International's US Headquarters, explained the quarter's feats in more detail. "This year we've closed US transactions with private and public trade buyers, high net worth individuals, private equity funds, and management buyout teams," he said. "This continuing broad, but fairly standard, mix of buyers bodes well for the near-term market. In this case, the need establish a presence in the looming Texas markets drove value for this particular buyer and allowed us to negotiate for very favorable deal terms in areas of high importance for our client. We are seeing this as an exploding trend in the Lonestar State.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Challenger Pools of Tampa,Inc., and Cody Pools of Florida, LLC, a portfolio company of Prospect Partners, a Private Equity fund.

Benchmark International Managing Director Dara Shareef stated, “We would like to congratulate our clients, Bruce & Carolyn Esquinaldo, on the sale of Challenger Pools. The proceeds will allow them to retire and enjoy the fruits of their labor.”

Challenger was the largest pool builder in the Tampa Bay area. Benchmark International has a relationship with Prospect Partners, which owns one of the largest pool builders in the country, Cody Pools. Benchmark ran a full marketing process that attracted both financial and strategic buyers, but ultimately utilized its relationship with Prospect to help secure a good exit price for the sellers.

WE ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE.

Call Benchmark International today if you are interested in an exit or growth strategy or if you are interested in acquiring.

The first quarter of 2018 has seen a strong start in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) worldwide, with the volume of deals increasing by 67% in the USA, 11% in Asia and doubling in Europe.

You have worked hard to build your business from infancy and bring it to the success it has achieved thus far. Taking your business to the next level feels like the right thing to do, but your personal load is getting larger and larger, so how can you do that? You are nearly maxed out as it is. You knew starting a business would be hard and growing it would be even harder.

Should you sellout completely? Should you find a partner? You are probably beginning to explore your options. One option, that will make your job easier and help you find a partner who can take your company to its full potential, is using a mergers and acquisitions firm to help you find a buyer that will fulfill your vision for your business, through a strategic acquisition.

A strategic buyer is a buyer that acquires another company with optimal synergies to create an end business that is greater in value than the two companies standing alone. Often, these buyers will pay a premium for businesses as their goal is to gain more value than the intrinsic value of the company being acquired. In other words, the goal here is to make one plus one equal three.  

You might be thinking you can find a partner yourself and paying for outside help doesn’t seem very lucrative. This is where you are wrong. An advisor is essential to finding a partner who can help you grow your business in the way you want. Additionally, a mergers and acquisitions firm can negotiate on your behalf to make sure you gain the most from a strategic partnership or acquisition.

Finding the right type of partner is key. Using a sell-side mergers and acquisitions firm will allow you to have access to a myriad of potential buyers who can help take your business to its full potential. Moreover, a sell-side advisor keeps your needs at the forefront of all they do throughout the entire mergers and acquisitions process. Your best interest is their best interest, so this is an important aspect to keep in mind when looking for an advisor to help with the sale of your business.

There are multiple ways to grow through strategic acquisitions. A strategic acquisition doesn’t limit you to looking at potential buyers only within your industry. You may find the best way to grow is to find a company that compliments yours. Your company may be the missing piece needed for a larger business to continue growing effectively, which gives you an advantage in sale negotiations.

Partnering up with a competitor or complimentary company within the same marketspace will also allow you to expand your professional footprint. A strategic buyer wants your business to succeed just as much as you do, and they see the value your business has to offer.

Of course, you want your business to continue being successful. Therefore, you need to continue focusing on its growth and investing your time into the business itself, not a transaction. You will save money short-term, but you will lose hours upon hours of time if you try to sell or merge your business on your own. Moreover, you could unintentionally fall behind on the business end of your operation, and this can negatively affect the value of your company, resulting in money lost.

Benchmark International is a mergers and acquisitions firm with decades of experience. We have closed over 500 transactions across more than 30 industries. We are a sell-side M&A firm always putting our clients first. We focus on selling the business for the highest value and find you a compatible partner, so you can focus on managing your business.

Benchmark International sponsored and attended the 2018 Texas ACG Capital Connection event in Houston, Texas from March 28 to March 29. Texas ACG Capital Connection is known as the most significant private equity and debt capital event in Texas and the Southern United States. It is also one of the largest ACG Capital Connections in the United States.

Benchmark International’s Managing Director, Kendall Stafford, feels that these types of events are essential to the team’s professional development and growth, and offer Benchmark International the opportunity to present their clients’ opportunities to many buyers. “These events allow us to connect with financial buyers across several industries, states, and countries at the same time,” she said. “Additionally, members of our team can attend keynote speaker sessions and they can share what they learn with the rest of the team, so we can focus on trends in today’s M&A market.”

Benchmark International is delighted to announce that it has successfully facilitated the transaction between DW Reporting and BigHand.

Dry powder is currently a hot topic within the private equity industry because the levels of dry powder are at a record high since the financial crisis, with over $1 trillion of committed capital available.

International M&A specialist, Benchmark International, has successfully facilitated the sale of Sun Coast Hydraulic Electric MFG.,Inc. (“Sun Coast”) to Scott Industrial Systems, Inc. (“Scott Industrial”).

Based out of Jacksonville, FL, Sun Coast is a fully-integrated manufacturer of electric control panels and hydraulic power units.

Scott Industrial is a full-line fluid power distributor headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The company offers sales and service expertise in hydraulics, pneumatics, and electronic control systems. The company currently serves customers in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Tennessee. Through this acquisition, Scott Industrial continues to expand its nationwide geographic footprint.

Tim Sparks, the founder at Sun Coast, commented, “We are thankful for the role Benchmark International played in the acquisition process. They brought a knowledgeable team to the table and were able to push it through to the end. We are confident this relationship with Scott Industrial Systems will allow us to better serve our clients, and we look forward to the growth to come.”

Dara Shareef, Managing Director at Benchmark International, stated, “It was a pleasure to represent Sun Coast in this transaction, and on behalf of Benchmark International, we are extremely pleased with the outcome. Allowing both the seller and acquirer to prosper and benefit is always an ideal end result.”

Senior Associate, Sunny Garten, added, “Sun Coast is a UL electrical panel manufacturer with many years of experience in the car wash, industrial, and waste water industries. We’re excited to see that this legacy will be preserved and enhanced through this transaction with Scott Industrial. On behalf of Benchmark International, we wish the parties the best of luck moving forward!”

Once again, Benchmark International had the pleasure of hosting the Snake Pit at the Valspar Championship in 2018. The Valspar Championship is a professional golf tournament that is part of the PGA tour. It is based out of Palm Harbor, FL at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

This year brought the largest non-masters television audience since 2015. There were more than 30,000 attendees to this year’s event as well. No doubt, Tiger Woods’ participation played a role in the traffic that passed through for this four-day event. His long-anticipated return certainly upped the ante at this year’s event.

The “Snake Pit” is the name given to the final three holes at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course. Hole 16 has been dubbed one the most challenging holes on the PGA Tour. Benchmark International hosted the main event tent, which was located in this area near the green off of hole 17.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce that 3rd Millennium has successfully completed the acquisition of Database-Brothers, Inc.

Database-Brothers, Inc. is a developer of database performance tuning software located in Austin, Texas. 3rd Millennium, Inc., a publisher of software products located in Waltham, Massachusetts, was looking to expand its market reach and product offerings. An acquisition with Database-Brothers, Inc. was a viable option and made it possible to achieve this goal.

The Database-Brothers, Inc. CEO expressed “The greatest measure of a company is doing what they say they will. In the case of Benchmark [International], they not only did what they said they would, but also, did more. I would definitely use them again and would recommend them to anyone who asked.”

President and CEO of 3rd Millennium, Ousama Shamma, stated “Working with Benchmark [International] has been very productive and efficient. Throughout the process they were constantly engaged, followed up on all the issues, and provided a professional and courteous atmosphere that enabled the deal to complete in a timely manner.”

Database-Brothers Inc. will continue to operate under the name DBI Software as a division of 3rd Millennium. Employees from both companies will work on all combined software products and services.

Benchmark International analyst, Keegan Rinn said “Both our client and the acquirer were eager to close the deal quickly and efficiently. We streamlined the process as much as possible and tried to be proactive instead of reactive to any problems that could have occurred.”

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Solis Medical Laboratories (SML), Inc. and De Novo Diagnostics, LLC. SML is an independent medical laboratory that offers clinical laboratory testing, phlebotomy, and courier services. De Novo Diagnostics offers services in the field of companion diagnostics, therapeutic drug monitoring and molecular diagnostics in autoimmune diseases and cancer biology.

With experience in the field, De Novo Diagnostics, was looking for an opportunity to form a platform business in the Houston area, and SML presented that opportunity. Benchmark International worked alongside SML to obtain the best result.

Founders Cleve and Margie Stoy commented, “It was very important to have Benchmark International lead the deal for us. The team was very responsive to all our questions and would always explain everything in detail. They were involved every step of the way. The Benchmark International team remained conscious of the confidentiality of the transaction, while they were marketing the opportunity, to avoid creating any disturbances in our day to day operations.”

Benchmark International Senior Associate Luis Vinals stated “Cleve and Margie were wonderful clients to work with. They were engaging and always responsive to market enquiries. Our team’s market research, dedication, and effort resulted in sourcing a buyer that met our client’s expectations. Not only was the buyer able to meet our clients’ expectations, but the deal allowed Cleve and Margie to exit their business within their desired timeframe.”

Know Why You Want to Sell

What do you plan to do after you sell your business? It’s important to know your purpose for selling, so you can appropriately plan what you want to do after the sale. Are you planning on a total exit, or do you want to stick with the business for a while? There are a few options at your disposal when deciding your reasons for exiting your company. If you are wanting to take a step back, but still want to have some involvement, you can keep a small percentage of the company and transition into a new role with lighter responsibilities after the sale.

Your business is your baby, and the people who work for you are your family. A concern of many business owners thinking to sell is how they will care for their employees throughout the sales process.

Download our guide “If I Sell My Business, How Can I Protect my Employees?,” today!

In this guide, you will learn how to best communicate with your employees effectively, how to negotiate on their behalf, how to put their concerns at the forefront of your decisions, and how working alongside them can help alleviate their concerns. 

So, you are a business owner who is thinking of moving toward retirement. How do you do that? What are your options? How much money do you need to sell your business for, so you can retire? These are all questions you need to fully explore when you’re ready to make this transition.

What Are My Options?

You have a couple options if you are looking to retire. First, you need to decide what your ultimate goal is. Do you want to completely exit the business? Or do you just want to take a step back and pin the majority of the responsibility on someone else? It’s up to you how you want your money to work for you and how much free time you want to have.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of Cumberland Platforms Limited (CPL) to GELEV Group, trading as KLUBB.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that it has been shortlisted by Insider Media for its ‘Young Professional Team of the Year’ award, along with Associate Director, Bhavina Halai, being shortlisted for its ‘Young Business Development Professional’ award.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of Partner Construction to Fastflow Group.

New tax law means more capital in buyers’ pockets, so sellers should get it while it’s good!

Earlier this week, projections for increases in the Federal Funds Rate increased from three 25 basis point increases in 2018 and one in 2019 to four and two respectively. As a “basis” point is 1/100th of a percent and a “25 basis point increase” is an increase of 1/4 of one percent, this means that rater than increasing by 0.75% in 2018, experts now expect a 1.00% increase for the year and a 0.50% increase as opposed to 0.25% increase next year.

This happened because (a) the recent tax cut is expected to boost GDP by an extra 0.3%, (b) the even more recent government spending bill, which is modestly termed “generous”, is also expected to add 0.3% to GDP, and (c) the regulatory roll-back that has occurred over the last 12 months is expected to add another 0.3% to 0.6% to GDP.

Benchmark International’s Managing Director, Kendall Stafford, has been chosen as an International Advisory Expert Award recipient. International Advisory Experts is a global alliance of well-established and experienced legal, financial and consulting firms that are committed to providing clients with specialist solutions for their international business requirements.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the sale of Waste Check Limited to Reconomy Limited.

Waste Check is a waste broker and management company specialising in the disposal of clinical and chemical waste materials for companies operating in numerous business sectors.

The acquirer, Reconomy, is a recycling and waste management service provider to the house building, commercial construction, infrastructure, and business & industry sectors. It was identified as an excellent fit for Waste Check, as it has allowed Reconomy to diversify into general and hazardous waste.

Reconomy has also been hot on the acquisition trail, acquiring companies in both 2015 and 2016, and through this and organic business growth the company achieved a revenue of £118m in 2016 and is predicting revenues of £135m by the end of 2018.

Chief Executive of Reconomy, Paul Cox, said: “This is an important acquisition for Reconomy, which enables us to extend our waste management offering into a broader range of industries and commercial sectors. We will continue to expand our business portfolio and invest in the companies we acquire to enhance both their technological and waste reporting capabilities. This will help ensure our customers receive the best possible service. Waste Check is a family-run business with an established reputation for delivering excellent customer service, so its culture will align very well with that of Reconomy. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous future together.” 

Commenting on the process, Mark Jenkins, director and shareholder at Waste Check said: “The support, direction and advice you [Benchmark International] gave us from all areas of your business was first class and professionally delivered. We would not have been able to conclude the deal at such a high value without the input of your entire team. The feeling of elation at completion was something we will always remember. A truly great decision we took to sell our company supported by a truly professional and knowledgeable team. We thank you all so much for the way you realised our dream after 10 years to sell Waste Check as a going concern, which will see it flourish further under its new owners in the waste management industry.”

Benchmark International would like to thank all parties involved and we wish them all the very best of luck for the future.

Reconomy website: https://www.reconomy.com/services/skip-hire  

It’s time to dispel the myth that it’s better to use an industry expert versus a mergers and acquisitions expert for the sale of a business. At times, sellers are apprehensive about engaging with a mergers and acquisitions firm that doesn’t specialize in one specific industry, and they say they would rather use an industry expert instead. This isn’t the best strategy for a seller who hopes to gain the most value for his or her business.

The mergers and acquisitions cycle is constantly changing. That’s why it’s important for mergers and acquisitions firms to stay on top of industry trends and stay abreast of any new developments. At Benchmark International, we are M&A professionals who work in all industries. Our business is selling businesses, and we understand the industry specifics.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce our expansion into Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville has become a hotbed of mergers and acquisitions activity, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the US.

Additionally, Benchmark International is growing exponentially, with four new regional offices opened domestically and internationally. So, it was only logical for Benchmark International to expand to this territory and be a part of this growing business culture.

Thomson Reuters released their review of the mid-market mergers and acquisitions industry for 2017. In this report is a list of the worldwide mid-market rankings for companies that completed deals valued up to $500 million. Benchmark International is pleased to be listed in the top 50, worldwide, for M&A deals valued up to $500 million. Businesses named on this list include KPMG, Ernst & Young, LLP Deloitte, Goldman Sachs & Co., JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, amongst others. With the distinction of being listed in the same category as M&A industry giants, Benchmark International is showing we are an invaluable asset to any business owner looking to exit his or her business.

It may be the bleak midwinter for some, although for others it marks a four year long wait for the Winter Olympics which, for 2018, is being held in PyeongChang, South Korea, between the 9th February and 25th February.

It just so happens that this has coincided with the annual Corporate Finance Review for 2017, presented by Pro-Manchester, the largest business development organisation in the North West that represents business communities across the region, in association with Experian MarketIQ – a UK business database provider.

The review’s aim is to give insight into Manchester’s corporate finance market, examining the deals that Manchester-based advisers have worked on. This has shown that Benchmark International is giving Team GB a run for its money with it gaining all three medal table positions in the (cool) runnings for Manchester’s ‘Most Active Financial Adviser’ of 2017.

In gold place was Peter Kelly, who advised on a remarkable 25 deals in 2017. In second place, and gaining the silver medal, was Nick Hulme; and in joint third place was Roger Forshaw, who brought in the bronze for Benchmark International.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the stock sale of Atlanta Biologicals, Inc., and its affiliated company Scientific Ventures, to the Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH). The transaction is financed through available cash on hand.

Charles R. Kummeth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bio-Techne, commented, "Atlanta Biologicals is a great fit with the Bio-Techne product portfolio as we continue to expand our cell culture and tissue regeneration capabilities. Many of our products are used in tissue culture applications and the Atlanta Biologicals fetal bovine serum (FBS) product line strengthens and complements our current tissue culture reagents offering and furthers our efforts to provide more complete solutions to our research customers. With the increasing interest in 3D cell cultures and other cell based clinical applications, we believe there is value in providing customers alternative and reliable sources of high quality FBS and other tissue culture reagents. Having better tools to study cell behavior in physiologically relevant environments and high quality reagents increases researchers' confidence in the experimental findings.“

Atlanta Biologicals President, Renate Gerle, added, “We are confident with the strategic fit between the two companies given our shared commitment to providing quality products and excellent customer service. Atlanta Biologicals is pleased to have Bio-Techne as a partner, enabling us to expand and enhance our products offering. Bio-Techne's resources and additional market channels will have a positive impact on our business and allow us to serve our customers more efficiently both in the North America and globally.

I would also like to take a moment and thank Benchmark International for their expertise throughout the sale. Naturally, selling a business is a major step, but Benchmark made it a truly seamless process. We had spoken with a number of industry specialist prior to engaging Benchmark; however, Benchmark’s proven ability to negotiate the best deal, their structured team approach, their numerous resources to attract both domestic and international buyers paired with their in-depth knowledge about our industry ultimately determined our decision. I will admit, I was very apprehensive when we first started but Benchmark made the process smoother than expected. They were taking an active lead from start to finish and ultimately delivered the best results we could hope for. I was surprised and impressed by the amount and quality of buyers brought to the company and how all aspects of every potential opportunity were evaluated to achieve the best outcome for the owner and the company. Looking back, I clearly feel industry specialist would not have been able to provide us with this extent of options and analysis. Hearing about the process upfront and then watching it become implemented in real-time reinforces that engaging Benchmark was the best decision and fit we could have made to sell the business. My advice to any owner who genuinely wants to achieve the best results would be to engage with a global specialist like Benchmark rather than over-focusing on industry buyers.”

Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) is a leading developer and manufacturer of high quality purified proteins––notably cytokines and growth factors, antibodies, immunoassays, as well as biologically active small molecule compounds --- which are sold to biomedical researchers and clinical research laboratories; these operations constitute the core Biotechnology Division, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Atlanta Biologicals was founded in 1992 and has focused on supplying cell culture sera, media and reagents for the life science research market. It is located in Flowery Branch, Georgia and has approximately 25 employees. The acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive to Bio-Techne's adjusted earnings per share for its fiscal year 2018.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of Silexx to the Chicago Board of Exchange.

In the technological and global communication era we live in today, it’s no wonder that 2018 seeks to be the year of technology-based mergers and acquisitions. Corporate and private equity leaders have voiced plans for technology acquisitions at the top of their priority list this year. One market which appears to be growing rapidly and playing a more integrated role in mergers and acquisitions is enterprise resource planning (ERP).

International M&A specialist, Benchmark International, has successfully negotiated the sale of its client, FAST of Florida, Inc. (“FAST”) to Southern Air & Heat (“Southern HVAC”), a portfolio company of MSouth Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based private equity firm.

Based in Clearwater, Florida, FAST is a leading provider of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing and electrical sales, installation, and maintenance services to the residential and commercial markets. In 1972, the company was established as a small air conditioning repair shop by Eddie Vaughan. Eddie’s wife, Melissa, joined the company in the early 1980’s, assisting with administrative duties and bookkeeping. As the company grew, FAST evolved to expand its service offerings in order to remain competitive and add additional revenue streams. In 2005, Mr. Vaughan passed away after a long illness, and Melissa assumed ownership of the business. Under Mrs. Vaughan’s leadership, FAST has continued to experience tremendous growth while continuing to offer the same level of quality service the company was built upon. Today, the company employs nearly 50 people serving Pinellas County, Florida and the surrounding markets.

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Southern Air & Heat is a leading provider of essential maintenance, repair, replacement and new installation services for the residential and commercial HVAC markets. Currently, the Company serves over 100,000 homeowners across its target markets. Southern HVAC is financially backed by MSouth Equity Partners, a private equity investment firm that provides equity capital and expertise to support management teams of lower middle market companies. Founded in 2007, MSouth manages $1.3 billion with three active funds, and is the successor to Cravey, Green & Wahlen, which was founded in 1984.

President of FAST, Melissa Vaughan, stated, “Benchmark International played an instrumental role in helping me to exit my family legacy business gracefully. The team did an outstanding job of marketing my business toward motivated buyers, and ultimately finding the perfect fit in Southern HVAC. I would like to thank the Benchmark transaction team for the extraordinary effort in making this transaction a reality.”

“Our focus was to find the acquirer that shared FAST’s passion and commitment to providing a personalized level of service while retaining the culture that Melissa has worked so hard to preserve,” said Trevor Talkie, Senior Associate at Benchmark International. “FAST is a compelling addition to MSouth’s growing HVAC platform, and we are truly honored to have worked alongside Melissa and her team toward this successful outcome.”

Tyrus O’Neill, Director at Benchmark International added, “After the journey Melissa has been through, we’re happy to see the process reach an ideal end result. On behalf of Benchmark International, I’d like to wish both parties the best of luck moving forward.”

As the holidays come to an end and we venture into 2018, we want to thank you for your business. Happy holidays and happy New Year’s Day from the Benchmark International family to yours!

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of Henderson Site Services Ltd to Western Thermal Ltd.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal between Jovic Plant and SRBE, a subsidiary of Merino Private Equity, has completed.

As we embark on the year 2018, it is important to acknowledge the advantages of engaging your business for sale. Mergers and acquisitions was strong in 2017 and is expected to continue full steam ahead moving into 2018. You can count on Benchmark International to stay on top of current trends to bring you the highest level of professionalism in the sale of your business.

There are many things to consider when you are thinking of a potential exit, whether it be your own personal/business circumstances, the overall M&A market or potential tax implications.