NEWS
Keep up with what we’re doing and read our latest press releases, insights, and more.
PMP Industry Insiders Podcast
Recently, Access’s own Josh Finifter, Principal on the Investment Team, joined hosts Donnie Shelton and Dan Gordon on the PMP Industry Insiders podcast to discuss why the pest control industry is an attractive market for purposeful investing.
“At Access Holdings, we aim to truly partner with operators of businesses we want to own, not just those that are for sale, so alignment is critical both financially and strategically,” said Josh. “We won’t ever know the pest control space like an operator who’s been there twenty years, and we won’t ever try to run the business day to day, but we certainly want to be more accretive and value add than just being a source of capital.”
Hear more of Josh’s insights and listen to the full discussion here!
Access Holdings’ Zeus Fire & Security Partners with Universal Atlantic Systems to Form Top 15 Largest Fire and Security Provider
Baltimore, MD – Zeus Fire & Security (Zeus), a portfolio company of Baltimore-based Access Holdings, today announced a new partnership with Universal Atlantic Systems (UAS), a Philadelphia-based national provider of integrated security systems that will make Zeus one of the top 15 largest fire and security providers in the U.S. UAS President Scott Elkins, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, will become the CEO of Zeus.
As a mid-market investment firm specializing in buy-and-build strategies, Access Holdings partners, scales, and innovates to build enduring businesses. Access Holdings will support both UAS and Zeus’ future growth, recruit best-in class talent and leadership, implement and develop new digital tools, identify M&A opportunities, and provide long-term strategic guidance.
Cremation Borrows a Page From the Direct-to-Consumer Playbook
The New York Times: Also in 2019, a major operator of funeral homes, Foundation Partners Group, bought the start-up Tulip Cremation, which today is active in eight states. It has deep pockets behind it: Foundation Partners Group’s parent company is the private equity firm Access Holdings, which said last year that it was investing $150 million in improving the tech side of the funeral business.
The pitch, to consumers and investors, boils down to convenience and price. The companies point to the growing number of Americans who live away from home as a target demographic.
“It wouldn’t be that uncommon to see an older parent pass in Florida, for example, while their children live somewhere up in the Northeast,” said Mike Doyle, Tulip’s general manager. That doesn’t mean people will automatically turn to an online start-up. Many families have visited the same funeral homes for generations, and it will take more than a little bit of inconvenience to get customers to sign up.
Access Holdings’ Zeus Fire & Security Partners with Alert Alarm Holdings, A Leading Fire Safety and Security Business
Baltimore, MD – Zeus Fire & Security (Zeus), a portfolio company of Baltimore-based Access Holdings, today announced a new partnership with Spring Rock Capital (Spring Rock); and its portfolio company, Alert Alarm Holdings (Alert), which operates under Alert Alarm and SMG Security (SMG). Alert, through its two operating subsidiaries, provides comprehensive fire safety and security services to over 33,000 commercial and residential customers.
As a mid-market investment firm specializing in buy-and-build strategies, Access Holdings partners, scales, and innovates to build enduring businesses. Access Holdings, Spring Rock Capital, and Zeus will support Alert, as well as future partners, as they seek to grow. Access Holdings will support Zeus as it scales and innovates, specifically helping recruit best-in class talent and leadership, implement and develop new digital tools, identify M&A opportunities, and provide long-term strategic guidance.
Access named as a Top 50 PE Firm in the Middle Market
Baltimore, MD – Access Holdings is honored to be named by GCI Publishing as a Top 50 PE Firm in the Middle Market. As one of the oldest and most respected awards, this program recognizes private equity firms for their achievements in great leadership, winning culture, and strong performance.
We are thankful to our exceptional partners and teams for their hard work and commitment to continuous improvement, which helped us achieve this recognition.
We are excited to continue partnering, scaling, and innovating to build enduring businesses.
Access Named to 2021 PE Innovators in ESG
Baltimore, MD – Mergers & Acquisitions names the 2021 PE Innovators in ESG, including, Access Holdings.
Access Holdings is using education from expert opinions to drive its ESG strategy. The firm has a three-pronged approach that focuses on education, engagement, and alignment to apply ESG best practices.
The Baltimore-based firm, which was founded in 2013 and has $1.5 billion in AUM, concentrates on change in a focused and purposeful manner. Access has established standard impact metrics that will be applied across its entire portfolio, with each company responsible for reporting its progress. The results are regularly reviewed at board and management meetings.
The firm has implemented a self-education process and interviewed ESG experts such as Fiona Reynolds, head of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), and Pavan Suhkdev, founder of Gist Impact, which helps investors and companies make informed ESG decisions.
Access Holdings Announces Transaction to Further Support Foundation Partners Group
Baltimore, MD – Access Holdings, a mid-market investment firm that partners, scales, and innovates to build enduring businesses, today announced that it has completed a transaction that will allow Access Holdings to continue to manage portfolio company Foundation Partners Group (FPG).
Access Holdings is fully committed to its partnership with Foundation Partners Group and believes that it is positioned for long-term growth. Coller Capital, a leading investor in the secondary market for private assets, backed the transaction. The FPG transaction represents an extension of the existing partnership between Access Holdings and FPG, which first began back in 2015.
Access Holdings plans to reinvest most of the proceeds from the transaction back into Foundation Partners Group to help grow and scale the business over the long term.
Access Holdings’ CWON Partners with Flagship Car Wash Center
Baltimore, MD – Car Wash Owners Network (“CWON”), a portfolio company of Baltimore-based Access Holdings, has closed its investment in Flagship Car Wash Center (“Flagship”), a leading car wash operator in the Mid-Atlantic. As a mid-market investment firm specializing in buy-and-build strategies, Access Holdings partners, scales, and innovates to build enduring businesses.
Access Holdings and CWON will support their partnership with Flagship by bringing best-in-class processes and technologies to bolster Flagship’s position within its existing markets and expand into new geographies through de novo development and M&A initiatives.
The Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards
Access Holdings is honored to be chosen as one of 16 finalists for the Investment News 2021 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Awards! From our enterprise zone location in Mt. Vernon Baltimore to our firm initiatives and hiring processes,
Access is committed to creating a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement. By creating a team of diverse voices, we benefit from having different points of view to help develop purposeful value creation strategies and build enduring businesses.
Playfly Sports brokers its first NIL deal with a college athlete following NCAA rule change
Our partner Playfly Sports is leading through innovation with their first NIL deal, moving quickly to adapt to the new NCAA rule change!
ACCESS INSIGHTS
NAVIGATING CHALLENGING DEBT CAPITAL MARKETS TO ENABLE GROWTH
Today’s uncertain economy makes it increasingly important for business owners and investors to understand the state of debt capital markets and the options available to support growth.
In our new Access Insight, Senior Advisor Tom Gregory shares his view on the current condition of debt capital markets, the unique challenges facing midmarket private equity-backed businesses, and the opportunity for creative capital solutions.
“In the face of increased challenges, buyers and sellers still want to get deals done, and business owners want to grow and scale. The way capital markets are evolving, solutions are emerging to address this changing market context. To do this, more creative deal terms and financing are being considered.”
ENTREPRENEURIAL EMPATHY
The world of private equity is loaded with stories of failed investments and unsuccessful partnerships between investors, entrepreneurs, and founders of businesses.
What often started with the right intent—partnering to grow and scale a business—may not have played out as either side expected, leading to frustration and remorse.
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