Waller Helms Advisors

SAFE-GUARD PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FROM HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN Safe-Guard Products International, LLC, a leading provider of third-party private label finance and insurance protection products for the automotive, RV, marine, and powersports industries, today announced that it has closed on a majority investment from Hellman & Friedman, one of the world’s largest private equity firms. The strategic partnership is set to propel Safe-Guard’s growth and solidify its position as the premier provider of finance and insurance products and solutions in the sector. Stone Point Capital LLC, a longstanding investor in Safe-Guard, will continue to partner with the company and participate on Safe-Guard’s board. Safe-Guard’s management team will continue to drive the success of the business for the benefit of its partners, their customers and other stakeholders. In connection with the transaction, Randy Barkowitz is assuming a board-level leadership role as full-time Executive Chairman, while David Pryor is continuing in his role as President and assuming the responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of Safe-Guard. Based in Atlanta, Safe-Guard’s industry-defining Protection Products Platform delivers frictionless service, consistency, and customer-centric solutions to more than 19 million consumers who are protected under contracts administered by Safe-Guard.   Waller Helms Advisors served as financial advisor to Hellman & Friedman in connection with this transaction. For more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/dhVV3CiQ

MARSH MCLENNAN AGENCY TO ACQUIRE THE HORTON GROUP, INC. White Plains, NY, July 9, 2024 – Marsh McLennan Agency, a subsidiary of Marsh, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Horton Group, Inc., a leading Orland Park, IL-based full-service insurance brokerage and one of the top independent insurance brokers in the US. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.   Founded in 1971, Horton offers property and casualty insurance, employee benefits consultation, and personal lines coverage to businesses and individuals across Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Florida. Upon closing, Horton employees, including CEO Dan Horton, will join Marsh McLennan Agency and will continue operating out of their nine existing offices.   “We have been impressed by the Horton team and their capabilities for many years and are thrilled to welcome them to Marsh McLennan Agency,” said Tony Chimino, CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency’s Midwest region. “From their industry specialties to breadth of expertise, they share our passion for bringing clients a strategic approach to risk management.”   Mr. Horton added: “Marsh McLennan Agency is among the best in the business, and we are proud to be a part of their team. We’re eager to hit the ground running to deliver enhanced solutions for clients as they navigate their unique exposures.”   The deal is anticipated to close within the third quarter of 2024.   Waller Helms Advisors provided the fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of The Horton Group in connection with this transaction.

PARK SUTTON ADVISES $1.7 BILLION SRS CAPITAL ADVISORS ON PARTNERSHIP WITH ARAX INVESTMENT PARTNERS, A REDBIRD CAPITAL PARTNERS PORTFOLIO COMPANY Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”), is pleased to have represented SRS Capital Advisors (“SRS” or the “Firm”) on its partnership with Arax Investment Partners (“Arax”), a RedBird Capital Partners portfolio company with approximately $19 billion in client assets, headquartered in New York, NY. Founded in 2004, SRS is a fast-growing, Denver-based wealth management firm that has achieved exceptional success in client acquisition and has also realized significant inorganic growth through the completion of six tuck-in acquisitions throughout their history. “Our partnership with Arax promises substantial improvements in service, operations and technology, enabling us to scale operations, particularly our capabilities in financing, estate and tax planning,” said David Simon, Managing Director and Co-Founder, SRS Capital Advisors. “Our values of integrity, research and discipline are well matched with Arax’s strategic outlook, allowing us to continue to provide best-in-class services to our clients, both existing and new.” “The addition of SRS brings another leading wealth management firm with a value of unique and customized approaches to the Arax platform,” added Haig Ariyan, Chief Executive Officer of Arax. “As we continue to scale our multi-platform approach to wealth management, this strategic partnership will compound opportunities for advisors and their clients across the Arax platform.” “This latest announcement is a testament to Arax’s ability to continue building a highly differentiated multi-platform wealth management strategy, attracting the best in the business,” said Mike Zabik, Partner, RedBird. “Pure-play, advisory fee-only RIAs are a core pillar of Arax’s multi-boutique strategy and SRS is key piece of that vertical as we look to continue to scale and diversify.” Park Sutton Senior Managing Director, Steven Levitt, said, “We are pleased to extend our congratulations to SRS on their combination with Arax – this merger represents a significant milestone. SRS has attained double-digit organic growth and has established a presence with three locations across Colorado and one in Pennsylvania. Arax’s acquisition of SRS marks a strategic penetration into the Colorado market with a fast-growing firm. With the combined experience of SRS in M&A integration, and the support of RedBird’s expertise in the financial services sector, we foresee substantial opportunities for expansion into other Western states. We look forward to witnessing the remarkable advancements that will undoubtedly result from this dynamic partnership.”

PARK SUTTON ADVISES $4 BILLION AVIOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FROM CONSTELLATION WEALTH CAPITAL Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”) is pleased to have represented Avior Wealth Management, LLC (“Avior”) on its strategic investment from Constellation Wealth Capital (“Constellation” or “CWC”), an alternative asset management platform dedicated to the wealth management sector. Headquartered in Omaha, NE, Avior is an independent wealth management, financial planning, and tax & accounting firm, with approximately $4.1bn in assets under management. “The Constellation team joins us at an exciting time – we have a great track record of growth and feel like our story is just getting started. This investment allows us to focus on meaningful inorganic growth initiatives, create new organic growth channels, and deliver operational efficiencies in our business,” said Britt Campbell, CEO. “With CWC as a partner, we are able to maintain control and ownership of our organization, create opportunities for broader equity participation, and continue to invest in the talent that makes Avior so special.” Karl Heckenberg, Managing Partner at CWC, said, “Avior’s consistent client service offering and geographic growth position it very well within the competitive wealth management space. Avior has built a tremendous business that provides advisors with a compelling, client-centric platform. Britt and the team have done an excellent job of ensuring management, advisors, and the client’s interests are aligned over the long-term, and we look forward to the opportunity to support them as they execute on their vision.” “Constellation’s investment in Avior serves as an example of the continued trend of RIAs seeking minority capital partners to execute on inorganic growth strategies,” said Park Sutton Managing Director, John Eubanks, CFP. “Fast-growing platforms like Avior are increasingly opting to partner with firms that can bring not only capital to the table but also provide strategic wherewithal to foster sustainable growth. We look forward to the success that Avior's and CWC's partnership will bring.”

PARK SUTTON ADVISES $800 MILLION THE RETIREMENT GROUP AND $500 MILLION LYNCH RETIREMENT INVESTMENT GROUP ON COMBINED SALE TO WEALTH ENHANCEMENT GROUP Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”) is pleased to have represented The Retirement Group, LLC (“TRG”) and Lynch Retirement Investment Group, LLC (“LRIG”) on their sale to Wealth Enhancement Group (“WEG”), one of the fastest growing wealth managers in the U.S. with more than $82 billion in AUM and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. TRG is led by John Jastremski, headquartered in San Diego, CA with approximately $800 million in AUM, and LRIG is led by John Lynch, headquartered in Columbia, MD with approximately $500 million in AUM. Both firms specialize in pension plan rollovers and focus on providing financial planning and retirement services to employees of Fortune 500 companies across various industries. The CEOs have known each other for nearly thirty years and long collaborated with a shared passion for the industry. Park Sutton jointly marketed the two firms at the outset of the process and worked with the CEOs to affect a transaction as one firm. John Jastremski shared, “After meeting with several large, nationally recognized firms, we felt our vision to offer premier services to corporate retirees and small business owners would be best met by partnering with Wealth Enhancement Group. They offer a level of client service that is unmatched in the industry. We have focused on going above and beyond in client services, and we believe this partnership is the final piece of the puzzle. By teaming up with Wealth Enhancement Group, we will be able to provide an unparalleled range of client services, including comprehensive wealth management, in-house tax preparation, trust services, estate planning, power of attorney, insurance, and much more." “By partnering with Wealth Enhancement Group, our team will gain access to more resources and services to better serve our clients.” said John Lynch. “Our combined strengths will foster an even more robust and comprehensive financial planning environment.” said Jim Cahn, Chief Strategy Officer at WEG. Park Sutton Managing Director, John Eubanks, CFP, said, “Both TRG and LRIG were a pleasure to work with and have found a unique niche that complements WEG’s business model. Their targeted marketing strategy towards Fortune 500 companies has created hundreds of thousands of qualified leads and continues to be a strong source of growth for both businesses.” Park Sutton Director, Donald Schipf, who co-led the transaction stated, “The partnership with WEG is mutually beneficial and makes strategic sense. We wish them the best of luck moving forward.”

PARK SUTTON ADVISES $550 MILLION LEGACY ASSET MANAGEMENT ON ITS SALE TO ONEDIGITAL INVESTMENT ADVISORS Houston, TX (April 3, 2024) – Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”) is pleased to have represented Legacy Asset Management, Inc. (“Legacy”) on its sale to OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC (“OneDigital”), a national investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of OneDigital, with over $100 billion in client assets. Legacy, led by Joe Birkofer, is an Independent RIA specializing in retirement plan consulting and wealth management with approximately $550 million in Assets Under Management and Administration (“AUM/A”) and headquartered in Houston, Texas. As part of the transaction, Christi Allen and Adriana Elwood, Legacy’s next generation leadership team, became partners in OneDigital. Joe Birkofer, Founder and President of Legacy, said, “We know the workplace is the nucleus of America’s personal wealth creation. Legacy has played a part in the delivery of financial wellness that leads to secure retirements over the past quarter century. Throughout our clients’ careers and in retirement, Legacy has been honored to play a role in fostering financial security. Our partnership with OneDigital ensures that our clients will be at the forefront of wealth creation as we continue to grow.” Kelley Snook, Senior Vice President of Retirement and Wealth at OneDigital, said, “I am excited to add this team of industry-recognized professionals to our OneDigital Houston family. Giving us a strong foothold in the wealth management and retirement services industry in Texas, a partnership with Legacy demonstrates our commitment to add value to our south-central clients by providing a full suite of offerings to best serve their needs.” Matt Kempler, Park Sutton Director who led the transaction, said, “Joe and his team at Legacy have the unique opportunity to establish a foothold throughout the state as OneDigital’s first acquisition in Texas with wealth management capabilities. This transaction marks our sixth deal in Texas since the start of 2023 and further highlights Texas as one of the nation’s most sought-after markets.” Dan Erichson, Park Sutton Managing Director, added, “I first met Joe in 2018. It has been a pleasure developing a long-term relationship with him and extremely gratifying to see Legacy find its partner of choice.”

ACCUSERVE PARTNERS WITH FLEXPOINT FORD TO CONTINUE EXPANSION AND GROWTH STRATEGY Accuserve Solutions (“Accuserve” or the “Company”), an independent managed repair services platform, and Aquiline Capital Partners LP (“Aquiline”), a private investment specialist in financial services and related technologies, announced today that they have reached an agreement for a majority investment from Flexpoint Ford (“Flexpoint”), a private equity firm specializing in investments in the financial services and healthcare industries. Flexpoint’s partnership is expected to accelerate Accuserve’s growth as it continues to develop value added property claims solutions for insurance carriers, homeowners, and contractors. Accuserve is a fast-growing full-service managed repair and home services platform, connecting insurance carriers, homeowners, and contractors through a unified platform that simplifies the property restoration and claims process from incident through repair. The Company has invested significantly in technology to ensure improvement in the property claim workflow with the ultimate objective of removing pain points for all stakeholders. Flexpoint’s investment, alongside the continued support from Aquiline, is expected to bring significant financial resources, industry expertise, and relationships to Accuserve to further drive continued growth and deliver industry-leading services to its customers. The partnership with Flexpoint will enable Accuserve to expand its contractor networks and service offerings in complementary markets, pursue strategic acquisitions, and enhance its sophisticated technology and data analytic tools. Waller Helms Advisors served as financial advisor to Accuserve Solutions and Aquiline Capital Partners. For more information, click here: https://lnkd.in/gqQ2N357

PARK SUTTON ADVISES SEATTLE-BASED MDK PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT Seattle, WA (March 5, 2024) – Park Sutton Advisors, a Waller Helms Company (“Park Sutton”) is pleased to have represented MDK Private Wealth Management (“MDK”) on its sale to Mercer Global Advisors, Inc. (“Mercer Advisors”), a national RIA with more than $56 billion in client assets. Founded in 2020 by Co-Founders Paul Meyer, Jaimi Dennehy, and Chris Kalafatis and complemented by a highly qualified team of professionals serving its Ultra High Net Worth (“UHNW”) clientele, MDK is a Seattle based comprehensive wealth management firm with assets under supervision of more than $2.5 billion. MDK offers a full range of family office services including financial planning, investment management, trust and estate planning, private banking and lending, tax planning, private aviation and boat advisory, and executive planning. MDK leads with a goals-based planning approach and acts as the “financial quarterback” for all its client’s assets and specializes in working with executive clients with regards to executive compensation planning and 10b5-1 plans. This is Park Sutton’s second deal in the Pacific Northwest in the last three months as acquirers continue to expand into attractive markets. To view the press release, click here: https://lnkd.in/gHQ5CYtH

LEE EQUITY PARTNERS COMPLETES MAJORITY INVESTMENT IN PCS RETIREMENT Philadelphia, PA (March 4, 2024) – PCS Retirement, a leading retirement plan recordkeeper focused on the ERISA and Non-ERISA markets, announced it received a majority investment from funds managed by Lee Equity Partners, LLC, a growth oriented middle market private equity firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2001, PCS Retirement delivers high-quality retirement plans to business owners, school districts, municipalities, not-for-profits, and individuals. The Company's mission is to help close America's retirement gap by equipping financial advisors with the most powerful, trusted, and easy-to-use retirement solutions available anywhere. PCS believes Lee Equity's partnership will help accelerate new business sales and expand existing relationships, optimize the service and digital experience for customers, and support the Company's M&A efforts. To view the press release, click here: https://lnkd.in/g5QzWQvd

DAVIES ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF LEADING INTERNATIONAL FORENSIC ACCOUNTING FIRM, MDD Davies, the leading specialist professional services and technology business serving insurance and highly regulated markets, today announced that it has signed a deal to acquire the leading international forensic accounting firm, Matson, Driscoll & Damico (“MDD”). MDD is one of the largest specialist forensic accounting firms in the world, serving the insurance and legal sectors. MDD specializes in assessing economic damages in relation to insurance claims, business disputes, natural or man-made catastrophes, business interruption, fraud and product recalls, expert litigation support, business valuations and shareholder disputes. Its team of 330 professionals serve 1,000 international clients from 40 office locations across the globe, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. MDD will form a new business line within Davies’ Global Solutions division, establishing a new global forensic accounting capability for the firm. Davies Global Solutions also incorporates the firm’s Consulting, Technology and Insurance Solutions businesses, and is led by CEO, Mark Grocott. Paul McGowan, CEO of MDD, will report directly to Mark and join his Global Solutions executive team. For more information on this transaction, please click here: https://lnkd.in/e2hi4vt