M&A Deal Summary

Genstar Capital, Audax Private Debt, Lightyear Capital and Harvest Partners Acquire Cerity Partners

On June 13, 2022, private equity firm Genstar Capital, mezzanine finance firm Audax Private Debt, private equity firm Lightyear Capital and private equity firm Harvest Partners acquired financial services company Cerity Partners from Lightyear Capital

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Genstar Capital’s 11th, Audax Private Debt’s 1st, Lightyear Capital’s 18th and Harvest Partners’ 2nd transaction in the Financial Services sector.
  • This is Genstar Capital’s 97th, Audax Private Debt’s 85th, Lightyear Capital’s 37th and Harvest Partners’ 62nd transaction in the United States.
  • This is Genstar Capital’s 6th, Audax Private Debt’s 8th, Lightyear Capital’s 4th and Harvest Partners’ 4th transaction in New York.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2022-06-13
Target Cerity Partners
Sector Financial Services
Buyer(s) Genstar Capital
Audax Private Debt
Lightyear Capital
Harvest Partners
Sellers(s) Lightyear Capital
Deal Type Recapitalization
Advisor(s) Raymond James - Investment Banking (Financial)
Davis Polk & Wardwell (Legal)

Target

Cerity Partners

New York, New York, United States
Cerity Partners is a provider of comprehensive financial management services to a diverse spectrum of High Net Worth (“HNW”) individuals and their families, businesses and their executives, and nonprofit organizations. Clarity Partners is based in New York, New York.

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Buyer(S) 4

Buyer

Genstar Capital

San Francisco, California, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1988
PE ASSETS 50.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Genstar Capital is a private equity firm that seeks investments in life science, healthcare, medical products, industrial technology, software, financial services, packaging, building materials, manufacturing, and business services companies. Genstar looks to invest between $50 and $400 million of equity capital in businesses valued up to $1 billion. Target transaction situations include control-oriented leveraged buyouts of corporate divisions, privately held businesses or public companies, minority investments in privately held businesses or public companies, ownership restructurings/recapitalizations of privately held businesses, growth equity financings, partnerships with other strategic or financial buyers, and take privates. Genstar Capital was formed in 1988 and is based in San Francisco, California.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 105 of 112
Sector: Financial Services M&A 11 of 12
Type: Recapitalization M&A Deals 7 of 7
State: New York M&A 6 of 8
Country: United States M&A 97 of 104
Year: 2022 M&A 3 of 5
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-06-10 Advarra

Columbia, Maryland, United States

Advarra is a provider of IRB, IBC, and compliance consulting services in North America. Fully accredited by AAHRPP, the company serves pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device research sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs), as well as academic medical centers, hospital systems, investigative site networks, and patient advocacy groups. Advarra was founded in 1983 and is based in Columbia, Maryland.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-07-06 Abracon

Bee Cave, Texas, United States

Abracon is a manufacturer of frequency control, signal conditioning, clock distribution and magnetic components. Abracon offers a wide selection of Quartz Timing Crystals, Crystal and MEMS Oscillators, Real Time Clocks, Antennas, Bluetooth Modules, Ceramic Resonators, SAW Filters and Resonators, Inductors, Transformers, Circuit Protection Components and Wireless RF Antennas. Abracon was founded in 1992 and is based in Bee Cave, Texas.

Buy -
Buyer

Audax Private Debt

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Mezzanine Finance Firm
Founded 2000
PE ASSETS 5.4B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Audax Mezzanine is the mezzanine finance arm of the Audax Group. The Firm focuses on investing in both private and public, US-based middle market companies with a strong history of cash flows and consistent revenue growth. Audax will consider subordinated mezzanine debt commitments, second lien or junior secured debt, preferred stock and common stock. The Firm seeks to invest in companies with EBITDA between $10 and $100 million. Types of transaction include MBOs, LBOs, growth capital financings, acquisition financings, and recapitalizations. Audax Private Debt is based in New York, New York.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 87 of 120
Sector: Financial Services M&A 1 of 1
Type: Recapitalization M&A Deals 5 of 7
State: New York M&A 8 of 10
Country: United States M&A 85 of 118
Year: 2022 M&A 7 of 17
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-05-24 Hissho Sushi

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Hissho Sushi is a franchisor of turnkey sushi solutions, delivering fresh, premium sushi that customers crave. The company operates over 2,000 franchised locations across the United States, serving grocery stores, college campuses, airports, hospitals, corporate offices, and government facilities. Hissho Sushi was founded in 1998 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-07-12 Unison

McLean, Virginia, United States

Unison is a provider of purpose-built procurement and contract management software solutions to U.S. federal government agencies and government contractors. All software development and support are done within the USA. For over 30 years, Unison has continually advanced software and insight solutions to help Federal programs efficiently achieve their missions. Unison was founded in 1983 and is based in McLean, Virginia.

Buy -
Buyer

Lightyear Capital

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2000
PE ASSETS 4.1B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

Lightyear Capital is a specialist private equity firm that pursues brand-name businesses in the financial services sector. Lightyear looks for companies with stable, recurring revenues that operate in growing markets. Transaction strategies include leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, restructurings and consolidations. Lightyear Capital was formed in 2000 and is based in New York City.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 43 of 46
Sector: Financial Services M&A 18 of 18
Type: Recapitalization M&A Deals 2 of 2
State: New York M&A 4 of 4
Country: United States M&A 37 of 40
Year: 2022 M&A 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-12-06 PracticeTek

San Diego, California, United States

PracticeTek provides practice management, patient engagement, integrated payments and other software solutions to the retail healthcare market. The PracticeTek platform helps retail healthcare practices digitally manage their business and the entire patient journey process including client acquisition, engagement, visits, and billing and payments. PracticeTek was founded in 2020 and is based in San Diego, California.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-12-01 Pathlight Capital

Hingham, Massachusetts, United States

Pathlight Capital is a commercial finance company dedicated to providing creative financing solutions to fund growth, acquisitions, debt refinancings, or restructurings. Pathlight Capital was formed in 2012 and is based in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Sell -
Buyer

Harvest Partners

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1981
PE ASSETS 5.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Harvest Partners is a Investment firm provides Private Equity and Structured Capital focused on buyout, growth capital, minority position, and non-control investments in middle-market public and private companies. Harvest Partners looks to invest in profitable ($30 to $300 million of EBITDA). Sectors of interest include business services, consumer services, healthcare, industrial services, manufacturing, marketing, building products and distribution companies valued between $100 and $1000 million. The Firm prefers opportunities headquartered in North America. Harvest Partners was formed in 1981 and is based in New York City.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 66 of 71
Sector: Financial Services M&A 2 of 2
Type: Recapitalization M&A Deals 11 of 11
State: New York M&A 4 of 4
Country: United States M&A 62 of 67
Year: 2022 M&A 2 of 3
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-06-07 Hand and Stone Franchise

Trevose, Pennsylvania, United States

Hand and Stone Franchise through its franchisees offer a comprehensive range of massage, facial and hair removal services along with complementary product offerings. Hand and Stone Franchise was founded in 2004 and is based in Trevose, Pennsylvania.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-09-09 Power Home Remodeling

Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

Power Home Remodeling is a provider of replacement windows, roofing and siding. Power Home Remodeling serves customers across the United States. Power Home Remodeling was founded in 1992 and is based in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Buy -

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

Lightyear Capital

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2000
PE ASSETS 4.1B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

Lightyear Capital is a specialist private equity firm that pursues brand-name businesses in the financial services sector. Lightyear looks for companies with stable, recurring revenues that operate in growing markets. Transaction strategies include leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, restructurings and consolidations. Lightyear Capital was formed in 2000 and is based in New York City.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 29 of 31
Sector: Financial Services M&A 12 of 13
Type: Recapitalization M&A Deals 1 of 1
State: New York M&A 4 of 4
Country: United States M&A 23 of 25
Year: 2022 M&A 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-12-06 PracticeTek

San Diego, California, United States

PracticeTek provides practice management, patient engagement, integrated payments and other software solutions to the retail healthcare market. The PracticeTek platform helps retail healthcare practices digitally manage their business and the entire patient journey process including client acquisition, engagement, visits, and billing and payments. PracticeTek was founded in 2020 and is based in San Diego, California.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2022-12-01 Pathlight Capital

Hingham, Massachusetts, United States

Pathlight Capital is a commercial finance company dedicated to providing creative financing solutions to fund growth, acquisitions, debt refinancings, or restructurings. Pathlight Capital was formed in 2012 and is based in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Sell -