Representative Transactions

Growth Equity Investment in Fast-Casual Restaurant Business

Kegler Brown represented PIADA Italian Street Food, an authentic fast-casual Italian eatery based in Columbus, Ohio, with restaurants in Ohio and Indiana, in connection with a significant growth equity investment made by Catterton Partners, the leading consumer-focused private equity firm. Terms of the September 2013 transaction were not disclosed. At the time of the investment, PIADA had 14 locations across the Midwest, with 6 planned to open by the end of 2013. In 2013, PIADA was named one of Nation’s Restaurant News’ five “Hot Concepts” as well as one of Nation’s Restaurant news’ top 50 breakout trends.

Sale of Major Business Application Software Company

Kegler Brown represented the controlling shareholder of TDCI, Inc. in its sale of TDCI to Infor (US), Inc. TDCI, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, provides leading software product configuration management solutions to manufacturers and distributors of customizable products and services. Infor is a leading provider of business application software that serves more than 70,000 customers in 194 countries. Financial terms of the May 2013 transaction were not disclosed.

Majority Interest Sale Between Large Wholesale Distributors

Kegler Brown facilitated a majority interest sale between two large wholesale heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing and water treatment distributors. In February 2013, our team represented Carr Supply, Inc. and its shareholders in connection with the sale of a majority interest of Carr Supply to WinWholesale Inc. Founded in 1917, Carr Supply is a leading wholesaler with 15 locations throughout Ohio and Michigan. WinWholesale is the majority owner of more than 450 wholesale corporations, including Noland Company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Stock Redeemed for Midwest Nursing Home Shareholders

Kegler Brown represented the shareholders of a health care company that owns and operates nursing homes, rehabilitation communities and assisted living facilities throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania, in connection with a strategic redemption transaction. Financial terms of the December 2012 transaction were not disclosed

Asset Sale to Leading Food Service Company

In August 2012, Kegler Brown’s transactional attorneys represented Kettle Creations Inc. and its principal stockholders in connection with the sale of its business and the majority of its assets to Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE). Terms of the August 2012 transaction were not disclosed. Kettle Creations produces and sells refrigerated mashed potatoes, rice and pasta side dishes. Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) owns and operates full-service restaurants under the “Bob Evans” brand name.

100% Sale of Pet Cremation Service

Kegler Brown represented a leading provider of pet cremation services in the Southeastern Ohio region in connection with the sale of its business.

Sale of Energy Efficiency Business to Global Steel Manufacturer

Kegler Brown represented a leading energy efficiency solutions provider in its sale to a global steel manufacturer. Terms of the March 2012 transaction were not disclosed.

Leveraged Buyout of Industrial Contractor

Our firm represented the management team in a leveraged buyout of a leading turn-key industrial machinery maintenance and installation contractor. Terms of the February 2012 transaction were not disclosed.

Leveraged Debt and Equity Recapitalization

In August 2011, the attorneys at Kegler Brown represented a leading digital marketing agency in its sale of a minority equity interest to a Boston-based private equity firm and a related, leveraged debt recapitalization.

Sale of Interests in Ohio’s Leading Interconnect Point / Data Centers

In January 2014, our firm represented DataCenter.bz, LLC (and its affiliated companies) in the sale of all of the membership interests in the companies to Cologix, Inc. DataCenter.bz operates an interconnect hub and two enterprise-grade, network neutral data centers (designed to highly-secure Tier IV standards) and is a leading interconnect point in Ohio. Cologix is a leading network neutral interconnection and data center company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and operates network neutral data centers in Columbus, Dallas, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

$37.6M Community Bank Cash-and-Stock Merger

Our lawyers advised Ohio Heritage Bancorp on its cash-and-stock merger with Peoples Bancorp Inc. for total consideration of approximately $37.6 million. Ohio Heritage Bank operates six full-service banking locations in Ohio. Peoples Bancorp is a NASDAQ-traded company, which operates out of 49 locations in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky through its Peoples Bank subsidiary. The transaction was announced on April 4, 2014, and was completed in the third quarter of 2014.

Strategic Acquisition of New York Advertising Agency

Kegler Brown represented Resource Ventures, Ltd. (d/b/a Resource) in the acquisition of Ammirati, a New York-based advertising agency. Resource is a digital marketing agency based in Columbus, Ohio. Ammirati, which was founded in 2002, most recently worked with Jerry Seinfeld on the web series "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee," and launched a new ad campaign for beer client Labatt during the Super Bowl. In addition, the firm works with Coca-Cola (Fuze, Vitaminwater, Gold Peak Tea), Seagram's, Nintendo, Pirate's Booty, Remy Cointreau, Schwinn and Sweet'N Low. The details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cross-Border Asset Sale in the Robotics Industry

In May 2014, the lawyers at Kegler Brown represented RobotWorx in the sale of substantially all of its assets to Scott Technology Limited. RobotWorx is a leading integrator of new and used robotic systems and an authorized integrator of FANUC, Motoman, Kuka and ABB robotic systems. Scott Technology Limited, a publicly traded company in New Zealand, is an automated production systems maker that specializes in the design and manufacture of automated production systems for mining, meat and superconductor industries.

Acquisition of Data Center Business Expands NC Energy Company

In late 2014, The M+A attorneys at Kegler Brown counseled PowerSecure International Inc. in its $13 million purchase of a data center and energy services business from Florida-based Power Design, Inc. (PDI). A leading provider of energy technologies and services to electric utilities and their customers, PowerSecure expanded its electrical infrastructure and data center capabilities and also its ability to accelerate communication with key data center decision makers through this acquisition. Our award-winning mergers and acquisitions team advised PowerSecure throughout each step of the purchase, which advances the company's aggressive growth strategy.

Industrial Plant Acquisition by Brazilian Manufacturer from Dow Chemical Co.

Our lawyers advised Valfilm North America, Inc., a business unit of a large Brazilian packaging company, on its acquisition of The Dow Chemical Company’s Findlay, Ohio, polyolefin films plant. The transaction included elements related not only to the physical real estate assets, but also to certain intellectual property, strategic corporate tax planning, environmental implications and state tax incentives. The highly publicized transaction, was covered by The Wall Street Journal, Plastics News, and Yahoo Finance. Valfilm North America, Inc. is a part of the VALGROUP Packaging Solutions family of companies, which specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing flexible packaging in polyethylene. The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s largest producers of chemical products.

Asset Purchase for Employee-Owned Building Product Supplier

In October 2014, the lawyers at Kegler Brown represented Palmer-Donavin in the purchase of substantially all of the assets of J.B. O’Meara Co. Palmer-Donavin and its Seal Rite business line are among the nation’s leaders in the sale and distribution of residential building supplies and authorized distributors of Therma-Tru Doors. J.B. O’Meara Co. supplies building materials and is an authorized Therma-Tru distributor in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Representation of Innovative Partnership to Commercialize Unique Technology Platform

In June 2014, the lawyers at Kegler Brown represented inVentiv Health, Inc. in its exclusive multi-year sales and marketing partnership with Aprecia Pharmaceuticals. The partnership involves inVentiv providing key commercialization services in the development and commercialization of Aprecia’s proprietary ZipDose® product platform. inVentiv Health is a top-tier professional services organization that accelerates the clinical and commercial success of biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. Aprecia Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a particular focus on using 3D-printing technology. 

Advising Ohio Manufacturer Through Formation of ESOP

Kegler Brown served as counsel to The Peerless Saw Company in connection with its founders’ 2016 sale of 100% of the stock of the company to a newly created Employee Stock Ownership Plan sponsored by the company. Kegler Brown advised the manufacturer and its founders on all aspects of the transaction, including negotiating the stock purchase agreement, hiring an independent ESOP trustee, forming the ESOP, and structuring the terms of the sale and related ESOP terms.

Sale of Midwest-Based Laundry Products Supplier

Kegler Brown served as counsel to an Ohio-based laundry and dry cleaning product supplier in connection with its sale to a Michigan-based private equity firm. Our lawyers advised the supplier and its owners on all aspects of the company’s sale, which was completed in mid-2016. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly.

Sale of Kent Water Sports to Seawall Capital

The M+A team at Kegler Brown advised Kent Water Sports and its related entities in its December 2020 sale to Seawall Capital. Kent Water Sports, a platform of action sports brands with products spanning personal flotation devices, wakeboards, water skis, towable tubes, snowboards, and more, was advised by Kegler Brown on all aspects of the sale transaction to Seawall Capital, which is a middle-market private equity firm focused on making investments in companies with strong connections to their end consumers.

Advising Ohio Manufacturer in Investment from Florida Private Equity Firm

In April 2021, Kegler Brown acted as the legal advisor to Abrasive Technology in all aspects of its receipt of a private equity investment from Blue Sea Capital, a private equity firm based in West Palm Beach, that invests in growth-oriented lower-middle-market companies valued up to $250 million. Abrasive Technology, with more than 140 registered patents and trademarks, is a global leader in custom superabrasive grinding wheels and tools.

Sale of Northeast-Based HVAC Distributor

In March 2021, Air Purchases of New Hampshire, a Northeast-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning distributor, sold to Munch’s Supply, a company with more than 700 employees focused exclusively on supplying heating and cooling industry contractors with quality products. Kegler Brown acted as a legal advisor to the seller in all aspects of the transaction.

Sale of Ohio-Based Pavement Striping Company

Kegler Brown acted as the legal advisor to Griffin Pavement Striping, a leading provider of road, highway and airport line striping in all aspects of its September 2020 sale to Frontline Road Safety, a portfolio company of The Sterling Group. The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Sterling intends to build Frontline into the leading platform for road safety solutions providers with best-in-class local execution capabilities. Sterling has a long history of partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams to support the growth of their businesses.

Sale of Funeral Home Business

The M+A team at Kegler Brown advised Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service and its affiliated entities in its December 2021 sale to Service Corporation International. Schoedinger Funeral Home, which is based in Columbus and owns and operates 12 funeral homes while employing 180 people, was advised by Kegler Brown on all aspects of the sale transaction to the nation's largest operator of funeral homes, operating 1,458 funeral service locations and 485 cemeteries.

Advising Manufacturer in its Acquisition of Food Processing and Packaging Business

In August 2021, Kegler Brown acted as the legal advisor to J.E. Grote Company, Inc., and its affiliates in all aspects of its acquisition of the Precision Food Innovations Division business from Precision, Inc., a company that specializes in bulk material handling and conveying equipment for the food processing and packaging industries. The Grote Company is a family owned and operated manufacturer of food processing equipment and is the leading manufacturer of slicing and food assembly equipment for companies throughout the world.

Sale of Ohio-Based IT Support and Services Company

In June 2022, EasyIT, an Ohio-based managed IT support and services company, sold to NetGain Technologies, a multi-state regional IT services and solutions provider. Kegler Brown acted as legal advisor to the seller in all aspects of the transaction.

Sale of East Coast-Based HVAC Distributor

Kegler Brown acted as the legal advisor to System Aire Supply Company/Control Aire Supply Company, a leading East Coast-based heating, ventilation and air conditioning (“HVAC”) distributor in all aspects of its April 2022 sale to Munch’s Supply, an HVAC and plumbing distributor that supplies heating, cooling, and plumbing products to industry contractors throughout North America.