AEA Investors Mergers and Acquisitions Summary

Private Equity Firm Profile

In the last 3 years, AEA Investors has acquired 18 companies. It has also invested in 3 others.

AEA Investors’ most common sectors for investment aredistribution (16%) and consumer products (10%) . The Firm’s most common investment types include secondary buyout (46%) and buyout (lbo, mbo, mbi) (32%). In total, AEA Investors has invested in 28 US states and 8 different countries. Its largest (disclosed) acquisition occurred in 2010 when it acquired Hillman Solutions for $815M.

In the last 3 years, AEA Investors has exited 17 companies. The Firm’s most common exit type is secondary buyout (44%). AEA Investors’ largest (disclosed) exit occurred in 2016 when it sold Dematic Holding S.à r.l. for $3.3B.

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M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity198
    • M&A Buy Activity119
    • M&A Sell Activity79
  • Total Sectors Invested 35
  • Total Countries Invested 8
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 71
  • M&A Advisors 13

AEA Investors

AEA Investors

520 Madison Avenue, 40th FL,
New York, New York 10022
United States
(212) 644-5900
www.aeainvestors.com
info@aeainvestors.com

AEA Investors is a private investment firm focused on investing in and acquiring businesses headquartered primarily in the US, Europe, and China. AEA looks for companies operating in stable to growing industries with a proven ability to generate positive cash-flow. Broad sectors of interest include value-added industrial products/services, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and services. In addition to its primary middle-market private equity fund, AEA maintains additional funds targeted towards mezzanine financing, senior secured debt, and small business buyouts. AEA Investors was formed in 1968 and is based in New York City.


Investment Criteria

Sectors of Interest: Automotive, Beverages, Building Materials, Business Services, Chemicals, Consumer Products, Consumer Services, Distribution, Education, Electrical Equipment, Electronics, Engineering, Healthcare Services, Life Science, Machinery, Manufacturing, Marketing, Media, Medical Products, Packaging, Plastics, Retail, Test/Measurement Equipment

Target Transaction Types: Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI), Consolidation, Going Private, Growth Capital, Recapitalization, Stake Purchase

Geographic Preferences: East US, Midwest US, South US, West US, Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Nordic, Asia/Pacific

Transaction Criteria Min Max
Target Revenue - -
Target EBITDA - -
Investment Size - -
Enterprise Value - 2,500
values in millions of USD

M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 T
Buy (5.2/yr) # 93 5 9 6 4 2 119
vol $3.5B $3.5B
Sell (4.2/yr) # 58 4 6 3 4 4 79
vol $12.7B $219M $338M $1.8B $950M $16.0B
  198

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
Huge LLC 2024-12-05 - Divestiture
Brooklyn, New York · www.hugeinc.com
Process Sensing Technologies Ltd. 2024-11-21 - Trade Sale
Ely, United Kingdom · www.processsensing.com
Nations Roof LLC 2024-07-15 - Secondary Buyout
Mobile, Alabama · www.nationsroof.com
Swanson Industries, Inc. 2024-06-06 - Secondary Sale
Morgantown, West Virginia · www.swansonindustries.com
CLS Management Services, Inc. 2024-03-27 - Unknown
Sugar Land, Texas · www.contractlandstaff.com
Melissa & Doug LLC 2024-01-02 950M USD Trade Sale
Wilton, Connecticut · www.melissaanddoug.com
Crane Engineering Sales 2023-08-31 - Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)
Kimberly, Wisconsin · www.craneengineering.net
Scio Automation GmbH 2023-08-31 - Secondary Buyout
Frankenthal, Germany · www.scio-automation.com
Spectrum Plastics Group 2023-05-02 1.8B USD Trade Sale
Alpharetta, Georgia · www.spectrumplastics.com
LSP Holding (UK) Ltd. 2023-03-08 - Secondary Sale
Wednesbury, United Kingdom · www.lonestargroup.com
View All >>

Portfolio M&A

Company Acquired Add-On/Sale Date #
Excelitas Technologies Corp. 2017-10-18 Excelitas - Select Aerospace and Defense Electronics Businesses 2024-11-06 1
Waltham, Massachusetts · www.excelitas.com , United States
Scio Automation GmbH 2023-08-31 Fabmatics GmbH 2023-11-02 1
Frankenthal, Germany · www.scio-automation.com Dresden, Germany · www.fabmatics.com
Excelitas Technologies Corp. 2017-10-18 Heraeus Noblelight GmbH 2023-09-15 4
Waltham, Massachusetts · www.excelitas.com Hanau, Germany
Singer Industrial 2011-12-21 Bishop Lifting Products, Inc. 2022-02-02 1
Dallas, Texas · www.singerindustrial.com Houston, Texas · www.lifting.com
Excelitas Technologies Corp. 2017-10-18 Silicon Power Corp. - SolidTRON Product Line 2020-09-28 3
Waltham, Massachusetts · www.excelitas.com Malvern, Pennsylvania
NES Fircroft 2012-10-05 Fircroft Engineering Services Ltd. 2020-09-23 1
Altrincham, United Kingdom · www.nesfircroft.com Warrington, United Kingdom · www.fircroft.com
Excelitas Technologies Corp. 2017-10-18 AXSUN Technologies, Inc. 2018-12-12 2
Waltham, Massachusetts · www.excelitas.com Billerica, Massachusetts · www.axsun.com
ThreeSixty Group Ltd. 2015-10-01 Vornado Air LLC 2018-05-07 3
Hong Kong, China · www.thethreesixtygroup.com Andover, Kansas · www.vornado.com
Visual Comfort & Co. 2016-06-24 Tech Lighting LLC 2018-01-09 1
Houston, Texas · www.visualcomfort.com Skokie, Illinois · www.techlighting.com
ThreeSixty Group Ltd. 2015-10-01 The Sharper Image 2016-12-30 2
Hong Kong, China · www.thethreesixtygroup.com Walnut Creek, California · www.sharperimage.com

M&A by Sector

Sector Current # Value All-time # Value
Distribution 3 (8%) - 19 (16%) 978M (28%)
Consumer Products 2 (5%) - 11 (9%) 200M (6%)
Manufacturing 4 (10%) - 10 (8%) 34M (1%)
Business Services 4 (10%) - 7 (6%) -
Building Materials 2 (5%) - 6 (5%) -
Chemicals - - 6 (5%) -
Consumer Services 2 (5%) 195M (35%) 5 (4%) 195M (6%)
Packaging - - 5 (4%) -
Transportation 3 (8%) - 5 (4%) -
Retail 1 (3%) - 3 (3%) 715M (21%)
Electrical Equipment 3 (8%) - 3 (3%) -
Energy Services and Equipment 2 (5%) - 3 (3%) -
Marketing 2 (5%) - 3 (3%) -
Environmental 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) 721M (21%)
Staffing 2 (5%) 360M (65%) 2 (2%) 360M (10%)
Apparel/Textiles - - 2 (2%) -
Automotive 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
Construction 2 (5%) - 2 (2%) -
Electronics 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
Healthcare Services - - 2 (2%) -
Information Technology - - 2 (2%) -
Medical Products 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
Plastics - - 2 (2%) -
Technology Hardware 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
Insurance - - 1 (1%) 250M (7%)
Agriculture 1 (3%) - 1 (1%) -
Beverages - - 1 (1%) -
E-Commerce - - 1 (1%) -
Engineering 1 (3%) - 1 (1%) -
Machinery - - 1 (1%) -
Metals/Mining - - 1 (1%) -
Restaurants 1 (3%) - 1 (1%) -
Software - - 1 (1%) -
Test/Measurement Equipment - - 1 (1%) -
Utilities - - 1 (1%) -
Total 40 $555M 119 $3.5B

Acquisitions By Geo

State/Country Current # Value All-time # Value
United States 35 (88%) 195M (35%) 104 (87%) 3.1B (89%)
  Texas 7 (18%) 195M (35%) 13 (11%) 910M (26%)
  Illinois 3 (8%) - 11 (9%) -
  Pennsylvania 2 (5%) - 10 (8%) 721M (21%)
  California 3 (8%) - 9 (8%) -
  New York 4 (10%) - 7 (6%) -
  New Jersey 3 (8%) - 7 (6%) 250M (7%)
  Missouri 2 (5%) - 4 (3%) -
  North Carolina 1 (3%) - 4 (3%) -
  Georgia 1 (3%) - 4 (3%) -
  Minnesota 2 (5%) - 3 (3%) -
  Wisconsin 1 (3%) - 3 (3%) -
  Utah 1 (3%) - 3 (3%) -
  Michigan 1 (3%) - 3 (3%) -
  Ohio - - 3 (3%) 815M (24%)
  Florida - - 3 (3%) -
  Alabama 2 (5%) - 2 (2%) -
  Massachusetts 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
  Kentucky - - 2 (2%) 163M (5%)
  Connecticut - - 2 (2%) -
  Maryland 1 (3%) - 1 (1%) -
  New Hampshire - - 1 (1%) 200M (6%)
  West Virginia - - 1 (1%) -
  Virginia - - 1 (1%) -
  Tennessee - - 1 (1%) -
  Oklahoma - - 1 (1%) -
  Iowa - - 1 (1%) -
  Colorado - - 1 (1%) -
  Arizona - - 1 (1%) -
United Kingdom 2 (5%) 360M (65%) 5 (4%) 394M (11%)
Germany 1 (3%) - 4 (3%) -
China 1 (3%) - 2 (2%) -
Sweden 1 (3%) - 1 (1%) -
Denmark - - 1 (1%) -
South Korea - - 1 (1%) -
Portugal - - 1 (1%) -
Domestic 35 (88%) 195M (35%) 104 (87%) 3.1B (89%)
Cross-border 5 (13%) 360M (65%) 15 (13%) 394M (11%)
Total 40 $555M 119 $3.5B

Acquisitions by Deal Type

Type Current # Value All-time # Value
Secondary Buyout 20 (50%) 360M (65%) 54 (45%) 1.9B (55%)
Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) 12 (30%) - 38 (32%) 284M (8%)
Divestiture 3 (8%) 195M (35%) 8 (7%) 1.3B (37%)
Stake Purchase 1 (3%) - 6 (5%) -
Recapitalization - - 5 (4%) -
Consolidation 2 (5%) - 3 (3%) -
Growth Capital 2 (5%) - 3 (3%) -
Add-on Acquisition - - 1 (1%) -
Special Situations/Distressed - - 1 (1%) -
Total 40 $555M 119 $3.5B

Exits by Deal Type

Type Total # Value
Secondary Sale 34 (43%) 3.5B (22%)
Trade Sale - Public Company 18 (23%) 8.7B (54%)
Trade Sale 11 (14%) 3.8B (24%)
IPO 9 (11%) -
Recapitalization 4 (5%) -
Bankruptcy 1 (1%) -
Merger 1 (1%) -
Unknown 1 (1%) -
Total 79 $16.0B

Top M&A Advisors

Financial Deals
Credit Suisse Investment Banking
 2
Harris Williams
 2
Lincoln International
 1
Legal Deals
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson
 8
Weil Gotshal & Manges
 1

Deal Values

buy # Total
$100M to $1B 8 $3.4B
< $100M 1 $34M
TOTAL $3.5B
Largest Hillman Solutions Corp.
$815M (2010-05-28)
sell # Total
> $1B 6 $11.4B
$100M to $1B 10 $4.6B
TOTAL $16.0B
Largest Dematic Holding S.à r.l.
$3.3B (2016-06-21)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Investor(s)
43%
51 (43%)
Strategic(s)
7%
8 (7%)
Exited to
Investor(s)
47%
37 (47%)
Strategic(s)
34%
27 (34%)

Investor Summary

Investor Type

Private Equity Firm

Size

Mega

PE Assets

19.0B USD

Established

1968

Specialist/Generalist

Generalist

Leadership

Brian Hoesterey

CEO of AEA & Partner

John Garcia

Chairman of AEA & Partner

Baron Carlson

Co-Head of Small Business Private Equity and Partner

Thomas Pryma

COO of AEA & Partner

Thomas Groves

COO of Private Debt Funds & Partner

FAQ

When was AEA Investors founded?

AEA Investors was founded in 1968.

What type of investor is AEA Investors?

AEA Investors is a private equity firm.

Where is AEA Investors headquartered?

AEA Investors is headquartered in New York, New York.

How much capital does AEA Investors have under management?

AEA Investors has 19.0B USD under management.

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