Patriot Transportation

  • Background: Patriot Transportation Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATI) (“Patriot Transportation”), headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, is a leading tank truck operator, delivering petroleum products and other liquid and dry bulk commodities across the Southeastern U.S.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Issued a fairness opinion as to whether the consideration to be received by the holders of common stock of the company in the transaction was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders
    • Performed a market check and ran a “go-shop” process, identifying and contacting more than a dozen strategic parties and responding to due diligence requests from such parties
  • Challenges:
    • Ensuring the “go-shop” process was done efficiently and on a timely basis in order to meet the objectives of the market check without delaying the closing timeline for the transaction with United Petroleum Transports (“UPT”)
  • Outcome: In November 2023, Patriot Transportation was acquired by UPT for approximately $66.2 million, representing a 111.7% premium over the stock’s prior day pre-announcement closing price.

SLS Consulting

  • Background: SLS Consulting, LLC (“SLS”), headquartered in Coral Gables, FL, is a premier provider of fire protection and life safety services, including code compliance, fulfillment, consulting, and several other compliance solutions. 
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Facilitated the due diligence process, working closely with the team to quickly and clearly answer acquirer’s questions
    • Assisted in the structuring, negotiating, and closing of the transaction
  • Challenges:
    • With inbound interest, the seller did not have the opportunity to prepare for a sales process
    • Navigating the complexities of selling the core business through a stock deal and certain other assets via an asset deal
    • Ensuring owner’s other business ventures remained outside of the scope of the transaction
  • Outcome: In November 2023, SLS was acquired by SOCOTEC USA (“SOCOTEC”).  SOCOTEC is a leading provider of TIC (Testing, Inspection, and Certification), consulting, and advisory services.  The acquisition of SLS will strengthen SOCOTEC’s code compliance and planning presence and lead to the formation of the new SOCOTEC Life Safety division.

P3 Technologies

  • Background: P3 Technologies, LLC (“P3”), headquartered in Jupiter, FL, is a custom turbomachinery engineering, product development and manufacturing business providing differentiated propulsion, power, and pumps technologies for the space, new energy and medical markets.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Ran a focused, competitive sales process, identifying and contacting strategic and financial buyers
    • Successfully identified a strategic acquirer looking to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its turbomachinery solutions
  • Challenges:
    • Achieving a seamless transaction without interrupting the business
    • Founder seeking to transfer back-office responsibilities in order to focus on the primary business
    • Project-based business with periodic, significant client wins
  • Outcome: In November 2023, P3 was acquired by Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) (“Graham”).  Graham is a global leader in the design and manufacture of mission critical fluid, power, heat transfer and vacuum technologies for the defense, space, and energy industries.  P3 integrates seamlessly into Graham’s Barber-Nichols (“BN”) brand, bringing highly complementary technology that enhances BN’s turbomachinery solutions.

PROVIDER NETWORK SOLUTIONS

  • Background: Provider Network Solutions (“PNS”), based in Miami, FL, is a leading value-based care MSO, managing 3.5 million lives with over 2,000 specialty providers, committed to improving quality care with networks of providers in dermatology, orthopedics, podiatry, and pain management.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Conducted a robust process to identify the ideal strategic partner for PNS to achieve its next-level growth objectives
    • Maximized the value of assets contributed to the joint venture while optimizing the value of the assets not involved in the transaction
  • Challenges:
      • Managing the unique requirements of a joint venture, wherein PNS carved-out and contributed its three musculoskeletal networks (orthopedics, podiatry, and pain management) to the joint venture
      • Creating a roadmap for the various agreements covering personnel, administration, and services for the joint venture
  • Outcome: In September 2023, PNS and Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (“HOPCo”) created a joint venture that acquired PNS’s musculoskeletal networks. The new venture, named HOPCo Network Solutions, is an innovative value-based care platform managing networks in Florida of over 1,100 specialty providers and 1.8 million lives.

Athenex

  • Background: Athenex, Inc. (“Athenex”), based in Buffalo, NY, is a diversified global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the sale of specialty pharmaceuticals via licensing agreements with global partners and the development of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Conducted a robust sales process, identifying and contacting nearly 300 strategic and financial parties
    • Significantly increased the value of the opening bid by running a competitive auction
    • Worked with the company to monetize ancillary assets to generate incremental value for the estate
  • Challenges:
    • Seeking to sell multiple, unrelated divisions of the company
    • Significant capital needed to fund clinical trial programs for developmental assets post acquisition 
    • Significant cure costs required bidders to negotiate deals with vendors
  • Outcome: In June 2023, the court approved the sale of Athenex’s APD assets to Sagent Pharmaceticals, Inc.  Accounts receivable were sold to Oaktree Capital Management, LP.  Assets related to the Orascovery platform were sold to C-MER Specialty Group Limited (HKG:03309).

Primary Eye Care

  • Background: Primary Eye Care Center, P.C. (“Primary Eye Care Center”), headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, is a highly-regarded eye care practice with three locations and an ambulatory surgical center near Hartford, CT.  The practice developed a strong network over its nearly 60-year history, drawing patients from immediate and surrounding counties.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Ran a focused, competitive sales process, identifying and contacting private-equity backed strategic buyers
    • Successfully identified a strategic acquirer for the practice and worked closely with the physician owners to achieve an optimal transaction
  • Challenges:
    • Managing staffing and operational complexities
    • Ensuring that sellers’ post-transaction objectives were met
    • Maximizing and delivering value for the practice
  • Outcome: In June 2023, Primary Eye Care Center was acquired by ReFocus Management Services, LLC, (“ReFocus”).  ReFocus is an eye care management services organization with locations across the Northeastern  U.S. and is a portfolio company of Zenyth Partners.

Flourish Research Holdings, LLC Acquired Central Research Holdings

  • Background: Central Research Associates, Inc. (“CRA”), based in Birmingham, AL, is a leading, founder-owned, multi-specialty clinical research site, offering clinical trial opportunities to patients in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to CRA
    • Successfully identified a strategic buyer interested in expanding its footprint in the Southeastern U.S.
    • Was deeply involved in the process from buyer selection through closing
  • Challenges:
    • Expedited marketing process to ensure the sellers timeline was met
    • Maintained original deal timeline despite challenging market conditions
    • Navigating extensive diligence process without interrupting the business
  • Outcome: In April 2023, CRA was acquired by Flourish Research Holdings, LLC (“Flourish Research”), a large clinical trial site network in the U.S.

Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. Acquired Firecom

  • Background: Firecom, Inc. (“Firecom”), based in Woodside, NY, is the largest fire alarm company in New York City, servicing approximately 800 high-rise buildings, and is one of only five companies in the U.S. to manufacture its own fire life safety systems for high-rise buildings.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Ran a highly-focused competitive sales process, identifying and contacting strategic buyers
    • Assisted in the structuring, negotiating, and closing of the transaction
  • Challenges:
    • Maximizing and delivering value for synergies
    • Managing ownership and operational complexities
    • Navigating extensive diligence review process
  • Outcome: In June 2022, Firecom was acquired by Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. (“CTSI”), a leading provider of communication, collaboration, life-safety, and security solutions for clients across the East Coast.  CTSI is a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners.

M3 Wake Research acquired MSRA Company

  • Background: Multi-Specialty Research Associates (“MSRA”), based in Lake City, FL, is a founder-owned clinical research site, conducting Phase I-IV clinical trials. Since its inception, MSRA, a leader in clinical trials, has conducted clinical trials for leading sponsors in therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Ran a focused, competitive sales process, identifying and contacting strategic and financial buyers
    • Successfully identified a strategic buyer interested in expanding its operations in Florida
    • Was extensively involved in the process from buyer selection through closing
  • Challenges:
    • Expedited sale and due dilligence process to ensure the sellers timeline was met
    • Balancing seller’s objectives to maximize value while preserving organizational structure
  • Outcome: In May 2022, MSRA was acquired by M3 Wake Research, headquartered in Raleigh, NC, an integrated organization of premier investigational sites, with over 16 research locations throughout the U.S.

The Aaron’s Company acquired BrandSmart U.S.A.

  • Background: BrandsMart U.S.A. (“BrandsMart”), based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a leading Southeast U.S. appliance and electronics retailer, offering a wide selection of brands, and thousands of products, including appliances, consumer electronics and computers, furniture, and other home goods. 
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the company
    • Facilitated the due dilligence process, working closely with the team to expeditiously and clearly answer acquirer’s questions
    • Assisted in the structuring, negotiating, and closing of the transaction
  • Challenges:
    • Ensured the desires were met to carry on the company legacy after decades of family ownership
    • As it was an unsolicited transaction, the seller was not fully prepared for the nuances of a sales process
    • Extensive due dilligence process without interrupting business, while working to meet the timing needs of a public company acquirer
  • Outcome: In April 2022, BrandsMart was acquired by The Aaron’s Company (NYSE: AAN), a leading technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and purchase solutions with headquarters in Atlanta, GA.