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Integrated Systems & Live Experiences

Maximizing Middle-Market Integrated Systems & Live Experiences Businesses

In an era of rapid digital transformation and innovation, companies in the Integrated Systems & Live Experiences space can shape how businesses communicate, collaborate, and thrive. Whether you’re a visionary startup seeking to scale your disruptive solution or an established player ready to expand your offerings, having an experienced partner to help navigate the ever-changing landscape can be the difference between growth and stasis.

DAK knows where to find value…and buyers

As you’ll see from the transactions below, DAK has earned a reputation for rolling up our sleeves and getting to know everything about your business: how it works, the challenges you face, and the opportunities you can maximize. Our in-depth experience and deep relationships in the Integrated Systems & Live Experiences space afford us heightened insight and understanding of what buyers really want. We know where our extensive network of potential buyers will find value, and what potential sellers must do to make themselves more attractive. The end result: DAK’s uncanny ability to grasp your specific situation and translate that into greater value.

DAK serves Integrated Systems & Live Experiences businesses including:

  • Enterprise communication and collaboration solutions
  • Managed IT, cybersecurity, and unified communications (UCaaS) providers
  • ProAV and commercial technology integration
  • Digital signage and experience platforms
  • Building automation and smart-building technologies
  • Digital transformation and enterprise technology services
  • Event staging, production, and rental solutions
  • Electronic security, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, fire & life safety, and perimeter security solutions
  • HVAC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services

Click to view some of DAK’s Successful Integrated Systems & Live Experiences Transactions:

ESC Fidelity
Adtech
comtel
Herman Pro AV
Diversified Tailwind
Padcaster Parrot
VCA Yorktel
ISG dimension
forerunner teltronics
NuVision Expanets Avaya
Pureland
Diversified Snader
diversified
diversified
NuVision BlackBox

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The DAK Group Announces IMS Technology Services Partners With Gainline Capital to Drive National Expansion

PRESS RELEASE

IMS Technology Services, based in Garnet Valley, PA, is a leading provider of event staging and audiovisual integration solutions.

Leveraging deep industry expertise and strong connections within the ProAV and workplace technology sectors, DAK led a highly competitive process that attracted strong interest from top-tier strategic and financial acquirers. This process identified multiple high-caliber potential partners for IMS, with Gainline Capital ultimately emerging as the ideal fit to support IMS’ continued expansion.

Gainline recognized and valued the strong legacy and culture built by IMS’ founders, committing to preserving the company’s proven model while providing the resources needed for its next phase of growth. With Gainline’s backing, IMS is poised to enhance its capabilities, expand its service offerings, and accelerate its national growth—all while maintaining the core values and customer-centric approach that have made it successful.

Interactive Digital Solutions has been recapitalized by management

PRESS RELEASE

Interactive Digital Solutions (or “IDS”) is a leading provider of managed communication and collaboration solutions focused on supporting the telehealth and administrative workflows of hospitals and health systems as well as the unified communications infrastructure of enterprises, government entities, and higher education.

Leveraging its deep expertise and relationships within the workplace technology and healthcare IT ecosystem, The DAK Group created a competitive process, identifying a number of high-quality financial and strategic acquirers for IDS. Through the competitive process, which resulted in multiple offers to acquire the company, the shareholders determined that a recapitalization by management provided both strategic liquidity while ensuring the optimal path forward for IDS and its employees.

This transaction provides Berenson Capital (former majority shareholder) and management with additional capital and resources to focus on growing Collette Health, a cloud-based telehealth SaaS solution spun out of IDS. The IDS management team will focus on their core managed services offering and continue to grow within the healthcare sector.

ESC – Environmental Systems Corp. has been acquired by Fidelity Building Services Group

ESC Fidelity
PRESS RELEASE

Environmental Systems Corporation, headquartered in West Hartford, Connecticut has a rich 50+ year history as a building automation integrator that has grown into a complement of energy solution-based offerings delivering savings and greenhouse gas reductions to a marquee client roster. ESC has been acquired by Fidelity Building Services Group.

DAK created a competitive process by leveraging ESC’s deep expertise and relationships, identifying a number of potential, high-quality financial and strategic acquirers. By positioning ESC’s strong customer retention, comprehensive services offering, and a strong team, DAK achieved an outstanding outcome for the company’s shareholders.

Fidelity’s extensive experience and expertise in technical building services and solutions for the commercial and industrial facilities has afforded ESC the opportunity to gain a strategic partner to accelerate their vision of growth. ESC’s customers will in-turn benefit from Fidelity’s broad suite of services bringing more solutions to existing clients and providing the infrastructure to scale services to meet a broader audience.

Adtech Systems has been acquired by AVI SPL, a portfolio company of Marlin Equity Partner

Adtech
PRESS RELEASE

Adtech Systems is a leading New England-based visual collaboration solutions company that provides enterprise-grade managed and professional services, technology solutions, and proactive support for video collaboration, integrated workspaces, and digital signage deployments to enterprise users on a national and global basis.

Leveraging its deep expertise and relationships within the ProAV and broader workplace technology ecosystem, DAK created a competitive process, identifying a number of high-quality financial and strategic acquirers for Adtech. AVI-SPL, backed by Marlin Equity Partners, emerged as the ideal partner to join forces with, bringing more solutions to existing clients and providing the infrastructure to scale services to meet a broader audience.

This acquisition provides Adtech customers with a comprehensive suite of IT-related services that will support and enhance the full lifecycle of unified communications, collaboration, and experience technology solutions while significantly enhancing AVI-SPL’s presence in the New England market.

Comtel VOIP has been acquired by Comstar Technologies

comtel
PRESS RELEASE

Comtel VOIP, a Buffalo, New York-based provider of hosted telephony solutions to the SMB market was acquired by Comstar Technologies, an international provider of telecommunication, Managed IT services, security and audio-visual solutions.

Comtel VOIP’s owner wanted to retire after successfully running the business for 30 years and retained DAK to find the right partner to take the company to the next level. DAK initiated a focused sale process by identifying highly strategic private equity and corporate acquirors. DAK positioned Comtel VOIP as a premier provider of hosted telephony solutions with a valuable technology back-end, significant recurring revenues and deep relationships with a loyal customer base in the Western New York market. A two-stage, sell-side process for Comtel garnered significant buyer interest resulting in the ultimate acquisition by Comstar Technologies.

This acquisition provided Comstar Technologies with significant strategic value by expanding its geographic footprint and bolstering its solution offerings. The combination allows Comstar to capitalize on Comtel’s strong regional presence, using it to expand into Western New York, and to upsell and cross-sell additional services to the combined customer base.

Herman ProAV has been acquired by ADI Global Distribution

Herman Pro AV
PRESS RELEASE

Herman ProAV, a second-generation provider of value-add supply chain solutions to the ProAV industry, was acquired by ADI Global Distribution, a unit of publicly traded Resideo Technologies (NYSE: REZI).

DAK initiated and managed the divestiture process that yielded several credible offers. By leveraging Herman’s core ProAV distribution business, DAK successfully positioned Herman as a differentiated provider of supply chain solutions and subcontracting services to its ProAV customers. Herman’s unique model resonated with ADI Global.

The acquisition of Herman further establishes ADI Global’s presence in the ProAV market while providing it with deep industry experience and subcontracting solutions. Herman’s differentiated model is expected to create long-term value to ADI Global and its customers by offering unparalleled opportunities to grow, while making ADI Global into an indispensable partner to its customers.

Diversified Systems has received an investment from Tailwind Capital

Diversified Tailwind
PRESS RELEASE

Diversified Systems, a leading global technology integrator delivering innovative digital media voice, video and data collaboration solutions, received a significant equity investment from Tailwind Capital, a leading NY-based private equity firm.

Leveraging its deep sector knowledge and relationships, DAK led a global search process to identify a well-capitalized partner that could unlock Diversified’s long-term potential while providing both liquidity to shareholders and the commitment to fund a significant expansion of Diversified’s services and footprint.

Tailwind Capital’s investment builds on Diversified’s unparalleled reputation among its diverse customer base. The investment was aligned with Tailwind’s thesis in the business services space which centers on supporting the next level of growth for industry-leading companies.

Forerunner Technologies, Inc. has acquired the Systems Business Unit of EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK)

PRESS RELEASE

Forerunner Technologies, Inc., a premier provider of unified communications managed care services acquired the NEC Systems Business unit of EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK), a leading IT services and communications provider to more than 150,000 businesses and one million consumers.

DAK advised Forerunner in their strategic acquisition of EarthLink.

This acquisition expands Forerunner’s SMB customer base and immediately positioned the Company as a nationwide provider of NEC products and services. Additionally, the acquisition provides another stepping stone in its strategic plan to accelerate growth throughout the country.

Padcaster has acquired Parrot Teleprompter

Padcaster Parrot
PRESS RELEASE

Padcaster, a VC-backed mobile media technology company offering a fully integrated, enterprise-grade mobile video production and broadcasting studio acquired Parrot Teleprompter, a leading provider of video production hardware.

DAK led the acquisition process by providing merger, integration, and financial analysis while assisting to structure the deal and quarterback due diligence.

The acquisition enables Padcaster to realize significant cost synergies by vertically integrating its supply chain, expanding the breadth of its product line and increasing its market value proposition to premium content creators leveraging Padcaster’s all-in-one video production studio.

VCA has sold substantially all of its assets to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yorktel

VCA Yorktel
PRESS RELEASE

Video Corporation of America (VCA), a second-generation provider of integrated ProAV solutions was acquired by York Telecom Corporation (Yorktel) through a strategic Section 363 sale.

Leveraging its deep industry knowledge and relationships, DAK ran a marketing process that resulted in Yorktel being selected as the stalking horse and ultimately the successful bidder in a Section 363 sale. Yorktel, through a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary York-VCA, LLC, purchased substantially all of VCA’s assets. Working closely with VCA, DAK ensured the continuation of a business that had experienced a downturn by identifying the underlying value of the business, while making a strategic decision to run the sale through a Chapter 11 filing.

With limited customer overlap, VCA’s extensive experience in audio-video systems integration will enhance Yorktel’s existing capabilities that include engineering, fabrication, field resources, digital signage and help desk support. VCA’s customers will in-turn benefit from Yorktel’s broad suite of services including managed conferencing solutions, digital workplace transformation initiatives and communication/collaboration solutions.

Integrated Systems Group has been acquired by Dimension Data Holdings PLC (LSE: DDT)

ISG dimension

Integrated Systems Group, a provider of technology-business consultation and implementation, network integration, voice-data-video convergence solutions, network design, telecommunications consulting, project management, network management, remote monitoring, MIS management and outsourcing, has been acquired by Dimension Data Holdings PLC, a company specializing in information technology services based in South Africa.

DAK advised ISG on the sale to Dimension Data Holdings Plc (LSE: DDT), South Africa’s largest provider of networking, security, operating environments, storage and contact center technologies.

The acquisition will give Dimension Data a strong presence in the New York markets and expanded service offerings, include technology-business consultation and implementation, network integration, voice-data-video convergence solutions, network design, telecommunications consulting, project management, network management, remote monitoring, MIS management and outsourcing.

Forerunner Technologies, Inc. has acquired Teltronics, Inc.

forerunner teltronics

Forerunner Technologies, Inc., a premier provider of unified communications managed care services acquired, via a successful 363 auction bid, the maintenance and service assets of Teltronics, Inc., a premier provider of telecommunication equipment and services.

DAK advised Forerunner in their strategic acquisition of Teltronics.

This acquisition expands Forerunner’s product portfolio to include Teltronics maintenance and services capabilities. Additionally, the acquisition expands the Company’s customer base into the enterprise segment with large maintenance contracts within the government and commercial sectors.

Nu-Vision Technologies has acquired Expanets from Avaya, Inc. (NYSE: AV)

NuVision Expanets Avaya

Nu-Vision Technologies is a provider of networked communications and data services to small and mid-sized businesses.

DAK was engaged to work with Nu-Vision in its acquisition of Expanets from Avaya, Inc. (NYSE: AV) and also advised the company on its sale to Black Box.

Nu-Vision Technologies was acquired by Black Box Network Services (NASDAQ: BBOX), the world’s largest technical services company dedicated to designing, building and maintaining complicated data and voice infrastructure systems. Joining forces with Black Box will extend and enhance Nu-Vision’s ability to provide customers with a broader suite of services.

Professional Lamps, Inc. has been acquired by Pureland Supply

Pureland

Professional Lamps, Inc., a distributor of high-performance OEM and replacement bulbs and lamps for audio-visual equipment, has been acquired by Pureland Supply, a regional distributor of replacement projector lamps to Schools, Churches, Businesses, and individuals.

DAK advised PLI in its strategic acquisition by Pureland Supply, a distributor of replacement lamps for large-scale projectors. DAK positioned PLI to highlight their extensive product line and customers.

This transaction gave Pureland Supply the opportunity to expand their product offering and acquire a new group of customers.

Diversified Systems has acquired Snader and Associates, Inc.

Diversified Snader

Diversified Systems, a leading global technology integrator delivering innovative digital media, voice, video and data collaboration solutions, acquired Snader and Associates, Inc., a provider of ProAV systems integration solutions.

Leveraging its deep ProAV sector expertise, DAK served as exclusive buy-side advisor to Diversified Systems, leading the negotiation, due diligence and ultimate closing of the transaction.

The acquisition of Snader enabled Diversified to firmly build its West Coast presence by leveraging Snader’s long history, strong client base and western U.S. market expertise. The acquisition provided their collective client base with the resources to build focused AV solutions, of any scale, across the entire country.

Diversified Systems has acquired The Systems Group

diversified
PRESS RELEASE

Diversified Systems, a leading global technology integrator delivering innovative digital media, voice, video and data collaboration solutions, acquired The Systems Group, an internationally recognized integrator of broadcast technologies and solutions.

Leveraging its deep ProAV sector expertise, DAK served as exclusive buy-side advisor to Diversified Systems, leading the negotiation, due diligence and ultimate closing of the transaction.

The acquisition of The Systems Group enabled Diversified to expand the scope of its broadcast services by leveraging TSG’s deep knowledge and relationships. Diversified immediately benefited from TSG’s design, attention to detail and customer loyalty while providing its collective client base with the resources to build focused broadcast solutions, of any complexity and scale, across the globe.

Diversified Systems has secured a new credit facility from Sovereign Bank

diversified

Diversified Systems is a leading global technology integrator delivering innovative digital media, voice, video and data collaboration solutions. DAK has had a long relationship with Diversified Systems advising them with multiple transactions.

DAK was engaged to assist the company with restructuring their banking facility with Sovereign Bank. DAK successfully negotiated a restructured facility curing defaults and permitting the company to focus on resuming focus on business operations.

Nu-Vision Technologies has been acquired by Black Box Network Services (NASDAQ: BBOX)

NuVision BlackBox

Nu-Vision Technologies is a provider of networked communications and data services to small and mid-sized businesses.

DAK was engaged to work with Nu-Vision in its acquisition of Expanets from Avaya, Inc.(NYSE: AV) and also advised the company on its sale to Black Box.

Nu-Vision Technologies was acquired by Black Box Network Services (NASDAQ: BBOX), the world’s largest technical services company dedicated to designing, building and maintaining complicated data and voice infrastructure systems. Joining forces with Black Box will extend and enhance Nu-Vision’s ability to provide customers with a broader suite of services.

VCI – Emergency Vehicle Specialists recapitalized by Tightrope Capital & NewSpring Capital

VCI Tombstone
PRESS RELEASE

VCI is the preeminent full lifecycle sales and service provider of emergency ambulance solutions to first aid squads, EMS organizations, fire departments, hospital organizations, municipalities, and private medical transport companies in the Mid-Atlantic Region. VCI was recapitalized by private equity firms Tightrope Capital Partners and NewSpring Capital.

DAK led a competitive, sell-side process for VCI, generating multiple offers from a wide range of strategic buyers and financial sponsors. By positioning the combination of VCI’s market leadership position, comprehensive services offering, strong manufacturer relationships, and robust backlog, DAK achieved an outstanding outcome for the company’s shareholders.

The acquisition provides the shareholders of VCI an opportunity to accelerate its growth strategy by expanding its core ambulance business, building out the value-added segments of conversions and remounts, implementing operational improvements, and pursuing acquisitions with the help of its new partners. Tightrope and NewSpring have an opportunity to leverage VCI’s strong management team and operating platform to build a multi-regional player in emergency ambulance solutions.