Acquisition International, the definitive magazine for venture capitalists, corporate finance advisers and top tier management spotlights PCE in the December 2014 issue.

WINTER PARK, FL//RLJ Equity Partners, LLC and LAI International, Inc., have announced the acquisition of Zak Incorporated (Zak), a full service manufacturer and certified turnkey supplier that provides precision machined and custom fabricated components for customers in power generation, specialty metals, and oil and gas. PCE Investment Bankers served as financial advisor to Zak and sourced the acquirer.

THE RESOLUTION – VICTORY!

In the merger and acquisition market there have been many flavors of the month, but the demand for industrial companies is the equivalent of chocolate: almost universally and consistently liked by acquirers. Industrial companies including, manufacturing, distribution and services, are a significant portion of the American economy and will remain so well into the future. At one time, the demise of the industrial sector was predicted as low cost manufacturing transitioned overseas. In recent years the demand for industrial products produced in the U.S. has expanded. Throughout these differing viewpoints M&A activity in the industrial sector has remained strong.

Global M&A deals across all industries exceeded $1.0 trillion during the second quarter of 2014, the highest level since 2007, according to Thompson Reuters.  Private equity groups and corporations, sitting on stockpiles of cash coupled with the ability to borrow at record low rates, are helping drive the acquisition spree.  The healthcare industry appears to be riding the coattails of the overall market activity. Through the first half of 2014 the healthcare sectors tracked by the PCE Industry Update – Healthcare show that 729 M&A transaction deals were announced or closed compared to only 631 in the same period in 2013.

The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is a private, nonprofit membership and research organization that serves as the leading source of accurate, unbiased information on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), equity compensation plans, and ownership culture.

Winter Park, FL – (August 5, 2014) – PCE Investment Bankers is pleased to announce that the shareholders of Energy Air, Inc., a leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor have completed the sale of their stock to the Energy Air, Inc. ESOP Trust.

Houston, TX (August 1, 2014) – Hisco Inc., North America’s Premier Distributor of Mission-Critical Materials, has acquired HMC Electronics, a nationwide supplier of assembly and process materials to printed circuit board producers, electronics manufacturers and repair centers. PCE Investment Bankers (PCE) sourced the acquisition and served as financial advisor to Hisco.

I was recently exposed to an interesting study called Roads to Resilience, which is a 2014 report by the UK’s Cranfield School of Management on behalf of the UK insurance and risk consultancy, Airmic.  The basic thesis is that opportunity is the upside of risk, and that seizing risk-driven opportunities requires a decisive and rapid response, which in turn requires empowered teams, practiced processes and flexible resources.

About Hisco