Chicago, IL, September 2, 2021 – Wind Point Partners (“Wind Point”), a Chicago-based private equity firm, has acquired The Vertex Companies, Inc. (“Vertex”or the “Company”), a leading multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm that provides forensic consulting, engineering design, construction management, dispute resolution, environmental, and digital solutions to insurance carriers, sureties, law firms, real estate owners, property managers, public agencies, and commercial clients. Headquartered in Weymouth, Mass., the Company operates a coast-to-coast footprint with 30 offices across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Vertex’s team of engineers, forensic consultants, construction claims experts, environmental experts, and health & safety specialists deliver critical expertise in claims resolution, construction completion, owner’s representation, environmental remediation, and program management. The Company provides integrated services through all stages of the real estate and construction management lifecycle, including pre-acquisition, design, construction, asset management, claims consulting and dispute resolutions. Customers rely on Vertex to deliver solutions for complex situations with a high cost of failure.
Wind Point will be partnering with Vertex’s founding management team, including Bill McConnell, Jim O’Brien and Jeff Picard. Founded in 1995 as an East Coast-focused construction consulting firm, Vertex has grown into a national platform offering full-service expert solutions for clients across a diverse range of industries. Wind Point will support Vertex’s long-term growth plan by investing in a combination of organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions. The Company’s management team, led by its founders, will remain with the business and retain a meaningful ownership stake in the Company.
“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Wind Point. In addition to their long track record of partnerships where they’ve helped accelerate growth, they also bring knowledge of our industry and a group of talented executive advisors who will join our board,”noted Bill McConnell, CEO of Vertex. “Since Vertex’s beginning, we have extended our service capabilities and expanded geographically, yet our commitment to be a trusted advisor to clients and a great employer for our people has never wavered. With Wind Point’s support we will continue building our resources and capabilities to uphold that commitment and attract top talent.”
Nathan Brown, Managing Director at Wind Point, commented, “We’re very excited to partner with the Vertex team and invest in their next phase of growth. Bill and the people at Vertex have built an exceptional reputation in the industry that has resulted in long-term partnerships with their clients and consistent double-digit growth rates. We look forward to backing the Vertex team in future growth initiatives, including strategic acquisitions that will complement the Company’s service capabilities, niche expertise and customer value proposition.”
George Pierson, a Wind Point Executive Advisor Partner, advised Wind Point on the transaction and will join Vertex as Executive Chairman. Mr. Pierson has over 30 years of experience in the engineering industry, including prior roles as President and CEO of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and program management firm, and as President and CEO of The Kleinfelder Group, a leading multidisciplinary engineering firm and current Wind Point portfolio company. This represents the fourth partnership between Wind Point and Mr. Pierson, who will be actively involved in the development and execution of Vertex’s value creation plan and M&A strategy.
Wind Point is an active investor in value-added business services, including other engineering and construction services businesses such as The Kleinfelder Group and RailWorks.
Reed Smith LLP served as legal counsel to Wind Point. KPMG LLP provided transaction advisory services in connection with the transaction. AEC Advisors initiated the transaction and advised Vertex.