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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between TruePoint Laser Scanning and Ground Penetrating Radar Systems

Posted on July 22, 2022 By in Nashville + Deal completions + 3D Design + Mapping + CAD

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the successful transaction between TruePoint Laser Scanning and Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS).

TruePoint is an industry leader in 3D laser scanning and computer-aided design, working on projects concerning historical documentation, stadiums, theaters, power plants, construction, and architectural documentation. TruePoint provides as-built surveys, 2D CAD drawings, and 3D BIM models for buildings, plants, facilities, and sites. Their services help expedite design planning, prefabrication, asset management, and facility modifications.

GPRS is the nation’s largest company specializing in the detection of underground utilities, video pipe inspection, and scanning concrete structures. Post-acquisition, GPRS will become one of the country’s most capable above and below-ground mapping and safety services firms.

“We’re excited to join GPRS in their mission to become the leading service provider in the above-ground and below-ground scanning industry. TruePoint is the perfect complement to GPRS. With this new partnership, we can serve clients in both above-ground laser scanning and subsurface locating. We are very excited about this opportunity.” – Ryan Hacker, President of TruePoint Laser Scanning.

“Ryan and Michele Hacker were amazing clients to work with. Once the full potential of this strategic fit began to be explored, they worked tirelessly to see this transaction to a close. I also cannot thank Matt Aston and his team at GPRS enough. From the very beginning, they dedicated their full resources to expedite this new partnership in a manner in which everybody wins.” – Jonathan Blair, Senior Associate.

 

Schedule A Call

 

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Enquiries@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $8.25 billion in transaction value across various industries from offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the #1 Sell-side, Privately Owned M&A Advisor in the World by Pitchbook’s Global League Tables.
 

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

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M&A Outlook for Tennessee Business Owners

The state of Tennessee is expected to see sustained economic growth in 2019. The state has a record-low unemployment rate, with nearly 43,000 new jobs projected for Tennesseans this year. The state’s inflation-adjusted gross domestic product is also expected to rise. The transportation and utilities sectors are predicted to see positive gains and the healthcare and real estate markets are expected to remain strong.

 Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

A Healthcare Hub

Since 2017, the U.S. state of Tennessee has experienced a surge in M&A activity. The healthcare and technology industries are major drivers behind the increased action, especially in the city of Nashville. In 2018, the private equity firm KKR purchased Envision Healthcare Corp. for $9.9 billion. Apollo Global Management acquired LifePoint Health for $5.6 billion. LifePoint Health then merged with RCCH HealthCare Partners. This momentum is expected to continue through 2019, with much optimism surrounding the healthcare market in particular.

According to Mergermarket, Nashville ranks fifth in the U.S. in terms of the overall value of healthcare M&A deals closed since 2015, with $30 billion in transactions. The upswing in activity is largely due to new technological and data opportunities in the healthcare sector.

In the early part of 2019, we have already seen major M&A ventures surrounding Nashville healthcare businesses. Maryland’s Omega Healthcare acquired Nashville’s MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc. for $600 million. HealthStream, Inc. purchased healthcare-training company Providigm for $18 million. HCA Healthcare, Inc. purchased North Carolina-based Mission Health for $1.5 billion. HCA now owns and operates more than 170 hospitals in 20 states across the country.  

It is important to note that Nashville is home to the headquarters of almost 20 publicly traded healthcare companies and an overall industry that creates more than $92 billion in annual revenue. These healthcare companies employ more than 570,000 people worldwide. The area is anticipated to continue to shape the industry landscape in what is an increasingly inviting market. Strategic buyers and private equity investors will be keeping a close watch on the growing opportunities in this region as the year progresses.

The Real Estate Market

Another industry that is forecast to have a strong year in Tennessee is real estate, specifically in Nashville, which is home to more than 600,000 people. The city’s real estate market has continued to grow over the past decade. Home values increased 8.2% last year and are expected to go up 8% this year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Nashville ranks as the nation's fifth-surest investment bet for 2019. This real estate market is positively impacted by several factors, such as ample redevelopment opportunities, low mortgage rates, high demand for housing, a large student population, and plenty of young families. Because Nashville is also known as the Music City and boasts a major tourism industry, there is also a large market for tourism-related rentals.

The attractive quality of life is also a big draw. Last year, Nashville was ranked 11th out of the 100 best cities to live by U.S. News & World Report, up from 13th the year before. We will have to wait and see if it climbs even higher on the list in 2019. 

In addition to the city of Nashville, the Memphis and Knoxville areas also offer attractive real estate markets for investors. This is due to affordable housing and high quality-of-life benefits.

Make a Move

If you are a business owner looking to create value, whether it’s in the state of Tennessee or on the other side of the world, contact Benchmark International to craft a strategy that best suits your company and your aspirations. 

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Strong M&A Activity Continues In Nashville For The Healthcare Industry

Since the early 70’s, Nashville has been considered a hub when it comes to the health care industry.  Nashville has developed and changed the landscape of the industry in the past 50 years.  The development of the community began with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Largely through hundreds of mergers, acquisitions and well as new companies, we’ve seen industry trends set in Nashville, as well as startups and spinoffs bringing different sectors of the industry to Nashville. 

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

Before the Hospital Corporation of America, most hospitals were non-profit or affiliated to a religion.  In 1969, one year after inception, HCA became a publicly traded company.  This changed the landscape of the industry for good.  Through an abundance of M&A transactions, HCA now owns and operates more than 170 hospitals in 20 states across the country. In 1995, the Nashville Health Care Council was established, understanding the Nashville health care industry was responsible for $3.7bn in revenue at the time, while providing 53,000 jobs.  Today, the council reports $92bn in annual revenue generated, all while providing more than 570,000 people employed around the globe by healthcare companies based in Nashville.  There are over 900 companies that directly provide health care services, or are in some way involved in the industry.  These numbers are massive, and spurred a ripple effect around the country causing more private equity spending to focus into the industry.  This effect has led to eighteen publicly traded healthcare companies calling Nashville their home, while enticing more than $1bn in venture capital investments over the past decade.  The leaps and bounds made during the past 50 years are obvious, as the entire landscape of the industry has complete changed.  During 2006, Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Merrill Lynch completed a $33bn leveraged buy-out of HCA.  This was the largest leveraged buy-out to date and spurred an unprecedented amount of investment in the industry.  In 2011, HCA returned to the public market in the largest US private equity-backed IPO to date ($3.79bn raised).  HCA’s chain system business model was emulated by hundreds of not-for-profit hospitals throughout the country, and they are considered to be the trailblazer of the industry. 

The M&A landscape continues to change the healthcare industry to this day.  Through the first half of 2018, the healthcare sector saw deal value increase to $315bn, up from $154bn in the same period the previous year. The healthcare sector ranks third in terms of total deal value.  From a valuation perspective, healthcare M&A transactions were at an all time high in 2017.  A large driver within the space was within the senior housing and care marketplace. The number of announced transactions is on pace to set a new record, but the dollar amount of these deals will not exceed the record.  While this shows the hyperactive nature of the marketplace, these deals are occurring as smaller transactions rather than the mega-deals we’ve seen in the past.  This is a very attractive marketplace for sellers all things considered.  Private equity groups accounted for a large uptick in spending during Q4 of 2018. Financial buyers are notably optimistic about the healthcare market, with 120 total deals announced in the final quarter of 2018.  This bodes well for 2019 with 2018 in the rearview, healthcare continues to expand due to high valuations, a very large number of transactions, and an increasingly attractive marketplace. 

For the third year in a row, the number of small business transactions reached record numbers, as reported by BizBuySell.  Financial performances of the small businesses are increased year over year, as well. 49% of sellers said their businesses performed better in 2018 compared to 2017, and another 36% had similar figures comparably.  With financial performance increasing, the value of the transactions inevitably grew.  The medium asking price for small businesses in the US grew 10% from 2017, a clear indication that buyers are willing to pay more for businesses with a proven financial track record and promising futures. 

Author
Sean Ryan 
Analyst
Benchmark International
Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

T: +1 615 924 8522
E: Ryan@benchmarkcorporate.com 

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Benchmark International Facilitates the Sale of HiWAaY Information Services to 1stPoint Communications

 

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between HiWAAY Information Services and 1stPoint Communications.

Since 1995 HiWAAY has provided hosting and email services, data center colocation, internet access and private network services to subscribers from its facilities in Alabama.

"The acquisition of HiWAAY’s assets builds on the success we have had with the acquisition of WebSite Source,” said Erik Levitt, 1stPoint’s CEO. “Access to retail subscribers is a very important part of our business plan. The HiWAAY name is well known in the local market and will provide us the building blocks that we need to service the marketplace in the southeastern United States, which we see as strategically important.”

1stPoint will continue to operate the HiWAAY facility in Homewood and will add the facility to its MPLS network, adding a number of private networking resources to HiWAAY’s existing products. The new services offered to HiWAAY clients will include 1stPoint’s line of collaboration tools, business texting, and more advanced hosting offerings including its virtual desktop environment. HiWAAY services, including email spam protection, will be added to other 1stPoint product offerings.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

“This is a great outcome for the customers, employees, and the owners of HiWAAY,” said Jason Mohprasit, one of HiWAAY’s two owners. Mr. Mohprasit and Mr. Chris Campbell grew HiWAAY from 2010 to 2018, migrating the business from a dial-up and DSL provider into an advanced hosting provider. “We are very excited to see 1stPoint’s team take the business to the next level,” added Mr. Campbell.

Benchmark International represented HiWAAY in the transaction and was responsible for the introduction to 1stPoint.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this transaction” said Robert West, Senior Associate at Benchmark. “The transaction went smoothly and we hope that we can work with Benchmark on future projects,” added Levitt. Benchmark provides growth and exit strategies to businesses interested in creating transformative events.

“We welcome the HiWAAY team and look forward to working with the clients and expanding our relationship with them,” added Kristen Vasicek, the Director of Marketing for 1stPoint, who was involved in the acquisition. “HiWAAY’s reputation as being an outstanding service provider with a nationwide capability but a local touch will help us continue to establish our New Way to Work strategy.”

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Something's Brewing in M&A: Craft Beer Gives New Perspective to the Industry

Who doesn’t love microbrews? The explosion of the craft-beer revolution has spread across the country.

Western cities, such as Portland, Denver, San Diego, Seattle, and Los Angeles are seeing a large increase in new jobs and establishments in small-scale breweries. This trend is spreading nationwide, and how do we explain this craft-beer boom? It’s relatively simple, the American breweries lack of distinct, indigenous brewing traditions in the past has been conducive to the rise of craft brewing. The small, independent, and traditional brewery adds to the eclectic style and diversity consumers are demanding. The niche styles of beer, particularly hoppy IPA’s, pale ales, infused blends, and specialty brews are leading the way. This changing landscape has created multiple opportunities for the M&A industry.

So, what does this craft beer boom mean to Benchmark International and the M&A industry? The sustained success of craft beer and the changing demographics of brewery ownership has led to more mergers and acquisitions and transactions than ever before. Since 2014, there has been more than one transaction per month. Global players, such as SAMMiller and InBev, are leading the way in the direct M/As of craft beers. What is more interesting in this recent trend of mergers, is the allowance of once previous competitors to combine styles and taste with new hosts to release new and creative craft beers. The rising popularity of craft beers has fueled industry growth and increased valuation multiples towards all-time highs over the last few years.

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Benchmark International expands in Tennessee

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.

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Benchmark International Expands Into South Africa

A Manchester-based M&A specialist has expanded into South Africa with the opening of an office in Cape Town.

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