The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Houston proudly announced the Deal of the Year winners at the sixth annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 25 at River Oaks Country Club. ACG Houston’s event celebrated Houston’s booming middle-market deal community, honoring the deals and dealmakers who drive middle market growth and their success in generating job growth, capital formation and the advancement of meaningful business relationships in the Houston community.
The finalists have been reviewed and ranked by our independent panel of esteemed judges of top business leaders and educators including Gustavo Grullon, PhD, Professor of Finance at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, Ernest Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of The Frenchy’s Companies, Amy Nelson, President and Founder of Greenridge Advisors, LLC, Jennifer Whalen, Chief Financial Officer of The Bristow Group Inc., Ken Wiles, PhD, CFA, Executive Director of Hick, Muse, Tate & Furst Center for Private Equity Finance, and A. Kelly Williams, Managing Director at Milestone Venture Group, Inc.
“It’s great to recognize the top business leaders in Houston at our sixth annual awards ceremony,” said Carlos Elizondo, event chair and head of originations at PNC Business Credit. “It really is a testament to the quality of deals and dealmakers that all these transactions were closed in 2022 especially when considering the softening we experienced in the overall deal market last year.”
The criteria for the nominations includes a closing date between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, where the company being transacted, or strategic buyer, is based in the Greater Houston area. The nomination criteria included details such as transaction value range, industry focus and type of transaction as well as anecdotal commentary on what makes the deal unique. Judges evaluated deals based on the parties’ submissions as well as the overall story, economic and strategic impact, stakeholder value and professional expertise.
2022 ACG Houston Deals of Year Award Winners:
MANUFACTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Momentum Glass, a portfolio company of Tulcan Private Equity, by HITT Family Office
- Seller: Momentum Glass
- Buyer: HITT
- Sell-side Investment Bank: GulfStar Group
- Sell-side Quality of Earnings Provider: Moss Adams
- Buy-side Quality of Earnings Provider: Baker Tilly
- Seller Counsel: Foley & Lardner
- Buyer Counsel: Venable
- Private Equity: Tulcan Private Equity
- Other Consultants: PwC
OILFIELD SERVICES DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of U.S. Well Services by ProFrac Holdings
- Seller: S. Well Services
- Buyer: ProFrac Holding Corp.
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Piper Sandler & Co.
- Seller Counsel: Porter Hedges, Paul Hastings, Vinson & Elkins
- Buyer Counsel: Brown Rudnick, Kirkland & Ellis
RENEWABLES & SUSTAINABILITY DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Joule Processing by Plug Power Inc.
- Seller: Joule Processing
- Buyer: Plug Power Inc.
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Piper Sandler & Co.
- Seller Counsel: BoyarMiller
- Buyer Counsel: Goodwin Procter
- Other Consultants: Newport, LLC
E&P (UPSTREAM) DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Aera Energy LLC by IKAV Energy
- Seller: Aera Energy LLC
- Buyer: IKAV Energy
- Sell-side Investment Bank: JPMorgan
- Buy-side Investment Bank: Citibank, Guggenheim
- Buyer Counsel: Haynes and Boone, LLP
TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS SERVICES DEAL OF THE YEAR
A Divestiture of Business Segments by ION Geophysical Corporation
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Perella Weinberg Partners
- Seller Counsel: Winston & Strawn LLP
- Buyer Counsel: Linklaters
- Senior Debt: Ropes & Gray
- Junior Debt: White & Case
- Other Consultants: FTI Consulting
CONSUMER & OTHER SERVICES DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company by BBBC Holdings, Inc.
- Seller: Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company
- Buyer: WPM Capital
- Seller Counsel: Whitley LLP
- Buyer Counsel: Gray Reed
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES – CORPORATE STRATEGIC ACQUISITION – DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of C&D Scrap Metal by Merchants Metal Recycling LL CD LLC, a portfolio company of Company of Merchants
- Seller: C&D Scrap Metal
- Buyer: Company of Merchants
- Sell-side Investment Bank: GulfStar Group
- Seller Counsel: BoyarMiller
- Buyer Counsel: Chamberlain Hrdlicka
- Senior Debt: Amegy Bank
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES – PRIVATE EQUITY ACQUISITION – DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Hunter Leasing, a portfolio company of Crossplane Capital
- Seller: Hunter Leasing
- Buyer: Crossplane Capital
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Oppenheimer
- Buy-side Quality of Earnings Provider: Riveron
- Seller Counsel: Phelps
- Buyer Counsel: McDermott
- Senior Debt: PNC
- Private Equity: Crossplane Capital
TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Firebird Bulk Carriers & Phoenix Oil by Adams Resources & Energy
- Seller: Firebird Bulk Carriers & Phoenix Oil
- Buyer: Adams Resources
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Kings Point
- Seller Counsel: Morgan Lewis
- Buyer Counsel: Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of DJ’s Boudain, LLC by Treaty Oak Equity, LLC
- Seller: DJ’s Boudain
- Buyer: Treaty Oak Equity, LLC
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Statesman Business Advisors
- Buy-side Quality of Earnings Provider: SCA Transaction Services
- Seller Counsel: Creighton, Fox, Johnson & Mills, PLLC
- Buyer Counsel: Kirkland & Ellis
- Other Consultants: FMW, P.C. – Certified Public Accountants
2022 DEAL OF THE YEAR
The Acquisition of Firebird Bulk Carriers & Phoenix Oil by Adams Resources & Energy
- Seller: Firebird Bulk Carriers & Phoenix Oil
- Buyer: Adams Resources
- Sell-side Investment Bank: Kings Point
- Seller Counsel: Morgan Lewis
- Buyer Counsel: Scopelitis Garvin Light Hanson & Feary