Robert Jablonski and Valiant Wealth Management Acquire Vexilar Inc.

Independent investor Robert Jablonski and Valiant Wealth Management announced the acquisition of Vexilar Incorporated and AWC Incorporated on Monday October 16, 2023. The two investors partnered to make the acquisition and Rob Jablonski will lead the businesses going forward. Vexilar and AWC were previously owned by Steven Baumann, President of Vexilar and AWC since 1995. 

Vexilar is the premier ice fishing marine electronics company in the United States with a 60-year history of developing and manufacturing advanced sonar and fish-finding equipment for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. Its state-of-the-art sonar technology provides anglers with real-time, precise information about the underwater environment, helping them locate fish and optimize their fishing strategies.

AWC produces the K-drill line of patented ice augers, designed to revolutionize the way anglers drill through the ice. These light-weight augers are powered by high-powered cordless electric drills to make it easier for anglers to get out on the ice and get fishing.

After working for Vexilar Inc. as a Mechanical Engineer since 1977, Mr. Baumann, and Skip Christman bought the then struggling company in 1986, made monumental advancements and truly pioneered the use of ice fishing electronics with the Vexilar FL-8 Flasher.  In 1995, Baumann assumed the role as company president following Christman’s unexpected passing. Mr. Baumann helped mold Vexilar into the ice fishing leader, securing numerous patents, and helping countless anglers increase their ice fishing success.  Baumann’s engineering, ingenuity, vision, and contributions to the ice fishing industry are legendary.  Steven Baumann was inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2004, the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2012. Vexilar Inc. was honored as a Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame inductee in 2015. 

Valiant is a Wealth Management company based in Des Moines, Iowa, that provides modern financial and lifestyle management services. Valiant believes that a diversified portfolio is a mixture of in-market investments and directly investing in high potential privately held companies, like Vexilar.

Jablonski is a seasoned manufacturing executive with experience at General Motors, Kohler Company and Pella Corp and an avid angler and outdoor lover. “I am honored to be leading Vexilar, a true legacy brand in ice fishing in the United States and a company with a strong runway for growth.” Jablonski said in the statement. “I’m excited to be transitioning the business with Steve Baumann, an icon in the ice fishing industry, and I look forward to building on Vexilar’s and AWC’s successful histories for the long term.

Source: Vexilar.com

Prairie Capital V11 Partners with STAR Autism Support

On September 20, 2023, Prairie Capital VII, LP partnered with the founders of STAR Autism Support (“STAR” or the “Company”) to recapitalize the Company. Founded over 20 years ago by the Arick family in Beaverton, OR, STAR provides digital curriculum and training to K-12 school districts and agency staff who work with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (“ASD”) and other developmental disabilities.

STAR’s reputation as a leader in autism teaching strategies is attributable to its long track record of demonstrated outcomes. The combination of STAR’s research-validated, evidence-based curriculum and professional development services drive effective and consistent instruction throughout school districts. STAR’s system-wide implementation approach builds teaching capacity to help manage districts’ growing needs.

The US special education curriculum market is approximately $750 million serving 6.8 million students. Over the past 7 years, the population of students with autism and developmental delay has increased 8.3%. In 2022, 1 in 36 children were diagnosed with ASD in the United States. 10 years ago, this number was 1 in 88. The special education curriculum market is underserved with the majority of special education teachers using self-developed materials. However, there is strong demand for evidence-based, third-party solutions with STAR uniquely positioned to benefit from this unmet demand.

Prairie Capital partnered with the Arick family to accelerate the growth of STAR’s SaaS solutions through company-building investments in human capital, sales and marketing, new products and add-on acquisitions.

For more information on STAR, please contact:

Tony Danielak at tdanielak@prairie-capital.com
Steve King at sking@prairie-capital.com
Mike Praljak at mpraljak@prairie-capital.com

Source: Prairie Capital

Eliassen Group Further Enhances Technology Solutions Capabilities and Expands Midwest Presence with Acquisition of SafeNet Consulting

READING, MA, October 02, 2023 – Eliassen Group, LLC, a strategic consulting company, has acquired SafeNet Consulting, an IT Services company operating across the Midwest.

Eliassen Group is a leading strategic consulting company that provides business, IT, and clinical services for clients as they seek to transform and execute strategies that will drive exceptional outcomes. Eliassen leverages over 30 years of success on behalf of their clients, with a focus on technology solutions, financial, risk, & compliance advisory, and clinical solutions.

Founded in 1994, SafeNet Consulting has a long and successful history in the technology industry, solving clients’ problems with their experience, insight, and innovation. SafeNet delivers a broad set of technology capabilities on behalf of their clients, in a flexible model aligned to the clients’ needs. For nearly 30 years, SafeNet has worked to solve their clients’ most complex business problems and guide those clients to the best possible outcomes.

The strategic partnership between Eliassen Group and SafeNet will provide Eliassen Group clients with a wider range of services and access to an even greater professional network of proven candidate talent and experience. Furthermore, the acquisition of SafeNet aligns with Eliassen Group’s ongoing focus on transformational growth and enhancing the client and consultant experience with an expansion of its Midwest presence.

“Joining Eliassen Group will offer our clients an expanded breadth of capabilities and will offer our consultants an expanded ecosystem of professional opportunities – all while continuing SafeNet’s legacy of genuine partnerships founded on trust,” said SafeNet’s founder, Marty Miller. Kelli Schnieder, SafeNet’s President/CEO, agrees, “Not only will our clients benefit from expanded expertise across Eliassen’s areas of specialization, like application development, data sciences and analytics, cybersecurity, and financial and risk advisory — our consultants will now be connected to opportunities for roles nationwide.”

“SafeNet comes to Eliassen with a wealth of incredible experience, wonderful clients, and an impressive group of talented professionals. Additionally, SafeNet shares Eliassen’s values, and a culture centered around teamwork and transparency – values and culture that have come to be a differentiator in how we both serve our respective clients. We are very excited for our two organizations to come together,” said Dave MacKeen, CEO of Eliassen Group.

Media Contact
Travis Carpico
Executive Vice President – Strategy, Corporate Development, Enterprise Marketing
Eliassen Group
781 295 6773

Source: eliassen.com/newsroom

Cherry Tree Advises Hearing Components (d/b/a ComplyFoam)

In July 2023, the owners of Hearing Components (doing business as Comply) sold the company to CEO Chris Hudson and an investor group. Hearing Components was owned and founded by Robert and Dee Oliviera, who originally purchased the intellectual property from 3M in 1990.

Cherry Tree was engaged to help the owners evaluate their strategic alternatives, which included seeking parties that would maximize the proceeds for a foundation they started, while also protecting the culture of the Company, supporting growth initiatives, and continuing to provide excellent products to its customers. Cherry Tree advised the Company through a process that included introductions and discussions with numerous potential industry and financial acquirers, soliciting proposals, negotiating terms, supporting due diligence, and facilitating the closing of the transaction by ultimately striking a deal with the management team and an investor group they formed. Chris Hudson’s experience and vision for the future of the business as well as his shared value and commitment to all stakeholders, made him the ideal steward for the Company.