Cascadia Capital Managing Director Aarti Kapoor recently shared her perspective with Mergermarket on the evolving outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the pet products and services sector.
After several years of slower activity following the pandemic-era surge in pet adoption, industry conditions are beginning to shift. Improving macroeconomic conditions, resetting valuation expectations, and a backlog of private equity-backed companies seeking exits are creating the potential for renewed deal activity across the category.
In the article, Aarti highlights several areas drawing strong investor interest, including pet supplements and science-backed products across food, treats, and wellness categories, where innovation and differentiated positioning continue to drive growth. She also notes the broader long-term tailwinds supporting the sector, including premiumization trends and sustained consumer focus on pet health and wellbeing.
As financing conditions improve and operational visibility increases, these factors are positioning the pet sector for a more active period of M&A and capital raising in the years ahead.
Cascadia Capital Managing Director Aarti Kapoor recently shared her perspective with Mergermarket on the evolving outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the pet products and services sector.
After several years of slower activity following the pandemic-era surge in pet adoption, industry conditions are beginning to shift. Improving macroeconomic conditions, resetting valuation expectations, and a backlog of private equity-backed companies seeking exits are creating the potential for renewed deal activity across the category.
In the article, Aarti highlights several areas drawing strong investor interest, including pet supplements and science-backed products across food, treats, and wellness categories, where innovation and differentiated positioning continue to drive growth. She also notes the broader long-term tailwinds supporting the sector, including premiumization trends and sustained consumer focus on pet health and wellbeing.
As financing conditions improve and operational visibility increases, these factors are positioning the pet sector for a more active period of M&A and capital raising in the years ahead.
The industry in focus feature for the Winter 2026 quarterly newsletter explores the rapid rise of vertical software — industry-specific platforms that are deeply embedded in workflows, highly sticky, and increasingly enhanced by AI. These businesses are proving more defensible, more durable, and more valuable than generic software — and they are attracting a disproportionate share of investor interest and M&A activity.
As part of Cascadia Capital’s Closed Deal Video Series, Michael Del Pero shares his perspective on Cascadia’s advisory role to Global GRAB Technologies, a portfolio company of Plymouth Growth, on its sale to Gladstone Investment Corporation.
The transaction reflects increasing investor interest in perimeter security and hostile vehicle mitigation solutions as protecting critical infrastructure becomes an increasingly global priority.
We are happy to share our 2H 2025 Retail Technology Industry update, complete with insightful analysis, comprehensive industry trends, and detailed M&A and capital raise data. Key Takeaways:
Macroeconomic Update: Although public equities continue to surge, other parts of the economy show signs of weakness as the Government shutdown clouds key indicators, and the Fed continues to cut interest rates
Retail Market: Driven by nascent technology, evolving consumer behavior and demand for operational efficiency, the retail technology market is expected to reach $49.2B by 2030
Recent Trends: Generative AI, social commerce and rising competition are helping to transform the retail technology landscape
Transaction Activity: Both M&A and capital raise transaction volume, within the retail tech sector, has experienced a slowdown in 1H 2025 compared to 1H 2024 as economic conditions damper activity, primarily in the middle market
If you are interested, we are happy to discuss market conditions, retail technology trends, or learn more about your business and strategic goals.
Cascadia Capital is pleased to share our 2025 Mid-year Food & Beverage Manufacturing Market Update, highlighting the current state of the sector and the themes we believe will shape activity in the second half of the year and into 2026.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic considerations—including tariffs, inflation, and immigration policy—the food and beverage manufacturing sector continues to attract strong investor and buyer interest. The market remains fragmented, with significant opportunities for value creation across sub-sectors.
Key insights from the report include: • Ongoing growth tailwinds across the broader landscape • Increasing bifurcation between high-quality and commodity assets, driving transaction outcomes • Greater importance of operator expertise in both operations and M&A processes • Vertical-by-vertical opportunity evaluation, as dynamics vary widely across sub-sectors • Continued strength expected in “A” assets, with select openings in the “B” asset market as value expectations adjust
We invite you to download the full report to explore our perspective on where the market is headed and how investors, operators, and owners can navigate the current environment.
With the recent election outcome, the potential impacts on markets are top of mind for business owners, investors, and dealmakers across industries. While macroeconomic discussions often dominate the discourse, Cascadia Capital focuses on delivering insights that go beyond broad trends, tailored specifically to the sub-verticals we serve. Our industry experts recently discussed their opinions and perspectives on how the new administration’s policies could potentially shape various industry sub-sectors.
Below is a representative selection of insights from our sector bankers, offering a glimpse into how these anticipated changes have the potential to affect their respective areas of focus. This is not a comprehensive overview, but rather a snapshot of the key developments and trends we are monitoring closely and the changes we predict based on our experience and current understanding of the market.
To discuss how market changes may impact your business or investment strategies, please reach out to a team member that covers your industry in depth.
Business Services
Impact on Facilities Services Market: With Trump’s win of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the broader facilities services market—which encompasses everything from HVAC, landscaping, janitorial services, security, building maintenance, and other facility management services—could experience significant changes. These effects would be shaped by his administration's approach to economic policy, infrastructure, regulation, and labor.
Labor Shortages: One of the most pressing challenges in the facilities services sector is labor. Many of the industries within facilities services—HVAC, landscaping, cleaning, and maintenance—rely heavily on immigrant labor. Trump's historically strict stance on immigration could exacerbate labor shortages, particularly in lower-wage service sectors.
Broader Impacts on Business Services Sub verticals:
AI and Blockchain: Services related to AI and blockchain are expected to benefit from the Trump administration's deregulatory stance. This shift could provide additional tailwinds for service providers, potentially helping businesses prepare for an expected increase in adoption of AI through solutions like cloud migration and advanced data analytics.
Nearshoring and Offshoring: Anticipated increased scrutiny on H-1B and L-1 visa programs under a Trump administration could accelerate the demand for nearshoring and offshoring of IT services. Companies may seek to diversify their talent pools and reduce reliance on U.S.-based immigrant labor, which might continue the upward trend in demand for these services.
Consumer & Retail
Consumer Sentiment: Conversations with consumer-focused PE firms suggest an optimistic outlook, with potential for improved retail spending under a new administration.
Tariffs: The effects of tariffs remain very uncertain, with the potential for increased prices. However, if managed as a negotiation tool, they may incentivize on-shoring of production.
Taxes: Discussions on capital gains taxes have diminished, and a more favorable corporate tax structure is likely. Removing SALT limits may also increase disposable income in larger states.
Energy Transition & Climate Tech
Shift Toward Fossil Fuels: Under a Trump administration, energy policy is expected to pivot towards "Energy Dominance," favoring fossil fuels over renewables and climate tech. This shift has the potential to challenge current momentum in the sector.
The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) and Alternative Financing: The Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy incentives could face scrutiny. If so, companies may need to consider alternative financing to maintain growth and account for potential revisions to the tax credit and subsidization schemes. Given the IRA clean energy programs seem to be quite favorable to "red" states, there is a hope that momentum will continue forward without too much disruption.
Corporate and Technological Resilience: Despite potential policy headwinds, private sector support and technology advancements could position renewables and climate tech to demonstrate competitive viability without subsidies, which could support gradual, long-term progress in energy transition. As has happened in the past, corporates maybe integral in partnering with institutional investors to fund and scale renewable and climate technologies.
Continued Momentum Despite Headwinds: While Trump’s energy stance is presumed less favorable to renewables, advancements in climate tech, investor sentiment, and awareness of climate risks suggest the energy transition will maintain a slower but steady upward trajectory as unit economics improve.
Healthcare
The Trump election could bring notable changes to healthcare policies and subsectors, potentially reshaping the industry's landscape. Some stakeholders view this as an opportunity for increased activity in healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A), particularly if the administration takes steps to reverse the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) more restrictive stance toward private equity in healthcare. Such policy adjustments might encourage investment and pave the way for greater consolidation and innovation, creating potential opportunities for growth and operational efficiencies. Additionally, a shift toward a more business-friendly regulatory environment may prompt private equity firms to explore emerging markets, such as digital health, physician practices, and value-based care models, which could gradually influence the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Recent/Upcoming Developments
Nomination Announcement: President-elect Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS Scope: HHS oversees major agencies, including CMS, FDA, CDC, and NIH, which are responsible for healthcare financing, public health, drug safety, and research.
Key Policy Outlook
Deregulation and Reversal of Previous Policies:
The administration may aim to roll back or adjust regulations enacted during the previous administration, potentially reducing federal oversight in the healthcare sector.
Efforts to ease regulatory constraints could create opportunities for growth in areas such as physician practices, digital health, and other emerging healthcare subsectors. A focus on deregulation might encourage private sector engagement and drive incremental advancements in healthcare delivery and technology.
Medicare and Medicaid:
Policies could include exploring caps on drug prices based on international benchmarks, potentially revisiting the International Price Index proposal from Trump’s first term.
Possible actions include approving restrictive Medicaid waivers, reversing certain Biden-era healthcare policies, and opposing Medicare drug price negotiations.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA):
While past efforts to repeal the ACA were unsuccessful, the administration has suggested an intent to pursue alternative, less costly healthcare frameworks, though specific proposals remain unclear.
Prescription Drug Costs:
President-elect Trump has expressed support for lowering prescription drug prices, citing actions from his first term, such as signing the Know the Lowest Price Act and the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act.
The administration may critique existing Medicare drug price negotiation policies without yet offering detailed alternatives for similar cost-reduction goals.
Veterans' Healthcare:
Potential focus on expanding access to private healthcare for veterans and reducing associated costs.
During his first term, Trump signed the VA MISSION Act, which allowed veterans to seek care outside VA facilities through the Veterans Community Care Program.
Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
Labor and Automation in Agriculture: Potential immigration reform and deportation policies may affect agricultural labor, which could drive a stronger focus on automation and technology adoption to fill potential labor gaps in the sector.
MAHA’s Ingredient and Labeling Reform: The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda is expected to reshape the food value chain if executed as discussed, particularly impacting companies reliant on seed oils, sugar, and grains, as well as manufacturers using any of the 1,000+ ingredients banned in Europe but permitted in the U.S. MAHA’s focus on public health and dietary reform could challenge the role of processed foods and additives, which are argued to contribute to chronic diseases. By promoting stricter guidelines and greater transparency in food labeling, MAHA aims to influence food composition and educate consumers. While many consumer advocates support these changes, there is concern within the food industry that labeling certain foods as “unhealthy” could mislead consumers and pose challenges for families with limited food access, as processed options are often more affordable.
Commodity Prices and Global Trade: Trade policies will be crucial for commodity prices and farmer income, especially regarding tariffs and potential countermeasures from key partners like China. These shifts, if they take place, could add volatility to the agribusiness sector.
Industrials
The recent uptick in the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from a 15-month low of 47.3 in September to 48.5 in October has sparked interest, with some attributing this to pro-business optimism around Trump’s potential election win. While U.S. manufacturing remains in contraction, this data could possibly signal easing in the downturn, with November numbers offering more insight.
Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology: Shifts in Production and Cost Dynamics
Pro-Business Tax and Incentive Environment: Proposed tax cuts and targeted incentives could drive capital investment in domestic manufacturing, especially in upgrading capital equipment.
Onshoring Momentum and Automation Demand: Heightened focus on domestic manufacturing, fueled by proposed tariff policies and supply chain risks, could boost onshoring. However, potential workforce shortages might increase demand for automation across manufacturing operations.
Lower Production Costs: Reduced energy prices are anticipated to lower direct production costs and, indirectly, freight and logistics expenses, which could benefit manufacturers.
Workforce Development Programs: Government incentives for skilled labor training could help alleviate worker shortages, which would be essential for sustaining onshoring momentum.
Supply Chain Services & Technology: Expansion and Tech-Driven Efficiency
Environmental Policy Impacts: Potentially looser environmental regulations may slow the adoption of green technologies, but expanded transportation operating margins could boost shipping volumes and operational capacity.
Growth in Logistics Technology: As logistics providers handle higher volumes and target margin expansion, technology solutions, especially software, is expected to be crucial for managing this growth effectively.
Rise in Automation: Accelerated adoption of robotics and automation, particularly in warehouses and distribution centers, could streamline operations and meet rising demand.
Building Products & Construction Services: Investment, Rates, and Consumer Spending
Underinvestment Catch-Up: Historic underinvestment in infrastructure, especially residential, could demand long-term spending increases to address deficits.
Economic Policy and Interest Rates: Federal interest rate trends will be critical, with potential delays or reductions in rate cuts possibly impacting project financing and spending.
Consumer Sentiment and Spending: Consumer sentiment, bolstered by potential personal tax cuts, may fuel home improvement investments. However, inflationary pressures from expected tariff expansion could raise costs for products with global supply chains.
Technology & Software
The tech industry anticipates a favorable shift under a Republican-led government, with relaxed regulations potentially easing some of the more stringent compliance standards on data use and privacy, particularly within digital advertising. This approach could create a ripple effect across various sectors reliant on advertising and data-driven insights.
Digital Advertising: Renewed Innovation and Market Expansion
Regulatory Relief: Reduced oversight on privacy and data collection could alleviate burdens posed by recent laws like the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which have historically constrained how advertisers use personal data. This change, if executed, is expected to reinvigorate ad-tech firms and advertisers, allowing for greater experimentation and personalization.
Innovation and M&A Activity: If there were fewer regulatory obstacles, tech companies in advertising may accelerate innovation in personalized advertising and data analytics. Such an environment might bode well for renewed M&A discussions, as companies could see an opportunity to expand through acquisition amid growth.
Increased Advertising Spend: A potential combination of eased regulations and innovation in ad delivery could spur more spending across sectors reliant on advertising, including consumer goods, food, and hospitality, if advertisers regain confidence in tech solutions.
Media & Entertainment: Self-Regulation with Strategic Growth Opportunities
Maintained Industry Protections: While media may benefit from lighter regulation, the industry is expected to continue with self-regulation due to the high stakes of piracy and content protection under the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). Historically, M&E platforms have not been keen on leaving protective measures to regulators.
Deregulation and Infrastructure Investment: The administration’s perceived opposition to net neutrality could allow ISPs to experiment with differentiated services, potentially benefiting tech infrastructure and content providers. Over time, consumers may see improved internet access if ISPs invest in new technologies.
Consolidation as a Survival Strategy: Following disruptions from labor strikes and competition in streaming, the M&E industry could see increased consolidation. With anticipated relaxed antitrust scrutiny, M&A within streaming and production could help stabilize the sector and foster growth through strategic mergers.
FinTech & Payment Technologies: Growth, M&A, and Rising Risks
Regulatory Easing Spurs Activity: Looser regulations and lower capital requirements are expected to encourage risk-taking, higher-return investments, and a surge in M&A across banks, fintechs, and the crypto market, with increased private equity involvement.
Opportunities for Growth: Lower interest rates and increased spending on financial technology solutions are set to drive valuations, transaction volumes, and revenues, with many fintech companies entering the market in 2025-2026.
New Risks Emerge: Reduced oversight could lead to greater reliance on third-party rating agencies like Fitch, potentially increasing fraud risks. Compliance-focused fintechs may face challenges if clients scale back regulatory spending. Additionally, anticipated complexity around tariffs, immigration reform, and "Made in USA" requirements could influence transaction volume and increase software and processing costs. Meanwhile, a growing focus on cyber vigilance and fraud prevention in transactions involving foreign governments is expected to drive up spending on cybersecurity and anti-fraud measures in the payments sector.
As we navigate this evolving landscape, Cascadia remains committed to delivering relevant insights that help our clients anticipate and adapt to the full range of market dynamics and outcomes—whether it's policy shifts, changing economic conditions, or emerging industry trends.
We hope these insights, based on our current observations and predictions, will provide some perspective as you navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. While the true outcomes remain uncertain, we aim to help you prepare for potential market shifts. To discuss how these possible changes may impact your business or investment strategies, please reach out to a team member that covers your industry
Disclaimer | This information is being furnished by Cascadia Capital, LLC (“Cascadia”) to the recipient and is intended as an outline of matters for informational and discussion purposes only. The information contained herein, including any market data and industry information, has been derived entirely from material supplied by public sources, which Cascadia believes to be accurate; however, no independent verification of such material has been made and any estimates made by Cascadia based on material from such sources are by their nature inherently inexact. Accordingly, Cascadia does not make any representation or warranty, nor is any such representation or warranty implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein, and Cascadia is not responsible for any misstatements or omissions in this summary. Cascadia has no obligation to update the information contained herein.
This presentation may include certain statements, estimates and projections with respect to a company, or industry, including certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements, estimates and projections reflect various assumptions, which may or may not prove to be accurate or correct, concerning anticipated results and are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, all of which are beyond the control of Cascadia. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such statements, estimates and projections will be realized. Such statements, estimates and projections are likely to vary from actual results and those variations may be material. No such statements, estimates or projections constitute a guarantee, promise, forecast or prediction of the future and Cascadia does not represent or warrant that any estimates or projections will be achieved. Cascadia neither: (i) accepts responsibility for or makes representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements, estimates or projections contained in this presentation, nor (ii) undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, estimates or projections for any reason after the date of this presentation. All financial data in this presentation is provided for informational and discussion purposes only. Past performance is not necessarily indicative, or a guarantee, of future results. There can be no assurance that any Cascadia project will achieve comparable results as those presented herein.
The information contained in this summary is strictly confidential and may not be reproduced, distributed, disclosed or disseminated, in whole or in part, to any third party without the prior written consent of Cascadia.
With over 150 attendees, more than 25 speakers and panelists, and numerous individual meetings and connections made, the 2024 Cascadia Connect Food, Beverage and Agribusiness (FB&A) conference was another marquee event.
The conference took place in Rancho Palos Verdes, California at Terranea Resort from September 18-20, 2024 and gave investors and company executives the opportunity to build 1:1 connections in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere while gaining actionable insights and timely perspectives.
Below, you will find a brief recap of the 2024 event, conference materials, and pictures from our 3 days onsite. We hope to see you at our next event in September 2026!
To request an invitation to the 2026 Cascadia Connect Food, Beverage & Agribusiness Conference taking place September 16-18, 2026, please contact Ellie Lagorio at elagorio@cascadiacapital.com.
The stalled activity that continued in 2023 has created a forcing function that will define the PE landscape in 2024—and jolt it back to life. We expect the floodgates will open back up for PE-backed deals in the back half of 2024, bringing in the bid-ask spread between buyers and sellers to drive a lot more activity.
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In this edition, we delve into the recent market dynamics and provide insights into what lies ahead for the remainder of 2024. Despite the Federal Reserve's cautious stance on interest rate cuts, we still anticipate a surge in market activity once the first rate cut occurs – with only the best of the best attracting buyers' attention.
Furthermore, we examine the ongoing fundamental shift from public markets to private markets. More companies are exploring liquidity options in non-traditional or non-public markets, reflecting a broader trend that is reshaping the investment landscape.
A highlight of this newsletter is a special feature on the resurgence of Private Equity after a year of subdued activity. This piece offers valuable perspectives on the cmarket and expectations for the remainder of the year.
Cascadia has established itself as a market leader in the Robotics, Automation & AI (RAAI) sector hosting an annual conference, publishing thoughtful research, and sponsoring events nationally.
The Cascadia Connect RAAI 2023 conference was one of the premier events in the sector bringing together founders and investors from all over the world.
PBS was on site for this year’s event interviewing participants and put together this informative video that nicely summarizes the market opportunity in RAAI—it’s definitely worth a few minutes of your time if you want to get up to speed on the sector quickly.
Bad and negative market news over the past year has been substantial. Layoffs. Aggressive interest rate hikes. Inflation. Stock market selloffs. Tightening credit. Recessionary fears. Ukraine. Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank collapses.
All of this is enough to make your average business owner, and their various advisors, feel the markets are closed for opportunity. However, when you dig deeper into the specific elements of each situation, it becomes clear to us that opportunity has not gone away, only changed form. Depending on which side of the current M&A and capital market supply/demand equation you are on, there are different yet substantial opportunities that remain for middle market CEOs in this current market.
On the Sellside, we have seen that “A” companies - those that have demonstrated continued growth , are profitable, led by deep and experienced management teams, and have no material business issues (i.e. customer concentration, low margins, extensive and unsustainable COVID bumps, etc.) – are continuing to get strong interest and valuations in the market. There remain pockets of industries where these “A” companies are prevalent including food, industrials, transportation/logistics, specialty physician practices, and even sub-verticals within the otherwise battered tech industry. In a very counter-intuitive fashion to the main market news, we are even seeing these “A” companies experience headier interest and valuations than in the past, given that performance through this market stands out with materially fewer companies now being chased by ever-increasing amounts of private equity and strategic buyers.
If your business is not currently an “A” company or in an industry that continues to generally perform well, then opportunities still abound in a different form. We are seeing a substantial number of middle market companies turn their lens toward acquiring smaller or weaker competitors, which can now be executed at potentially lower valuations than the past few years. Additionally, this can be a ripe time to recapitalize inactive shareholders, either exchanging passive or unaligned owners for a value-added and more growth-minded investors, or consolidating and increasing active shareholders’ ownership.
Finally, while the credit markets have generally tightened and become more selective, we still see solid pockets of debt and structured equity capital available to middle market business owners. Tapping this capital often requires a change in mindset for CEOs and CFOs, shifting a 10+ year focus on the lowest cost of capital to an optimized capital structure that can execute growth, recapitalization and/or acquisition opportunities employing more flexible – and more expensive - capital. The trade-offs are not always worth it and require extensive diligence and cost-benefit analysis, but we are seeing more business owners embrace expensive debt with a “cheap equity” mindset from an overall shareholder value basis.
In conclusion, for all of you in the LA middle market community including business owners and those advising business owners, this can be an important time to revisit your strategic alternatives to avoid missing out on opportunities that may not be immediately evident. That said, proceed with caution, ensuring you understand your valuation in this current market to avoid “chasing rainbows” or the distraction of a failed process. Be true and circumspect on whether you fit within the “A” company category, and if you are not able to consider optimizing a sale transaction at this time, then reassess your cap table and acquisition opportunities, if that option is available and of interest.
It is also a perfectly appropriate strategic move to do nothing in this market. That said, we believe you should end up at that conclusion only after fully considering all options currently available, which will ensure you avoid missing any key opportunities to build material shareholder value through this market cycle.
When you spend years building a business—making countless decisions to overcome challenges and reach stability—no decisions are more significant than choosing a path for an ownership transition or taking on capital to grow. Upon considering the more traditional offerings, such as a private equity investment or sale to a strategic, you may find yourself wishing for an “off the menu” option. That could mean maintaining the business as a standalone entity. Maybe you’d like to avoid debt. Or perhaps local ownership is critical to the company’s future growth.
Cascadia Capital created its Private Capital Group (“CPC”) for companies seeking creative transaction approaches not available in typical processes. We recently had the privilege of closing two transactions under this umbrella—a pair of customized solutions that met the unique needs of two Pacific Northwest businesses.
In a recent confidential transaction, we partnered with a leading independent sponsor and a company’s existing ownership to recapitalize the business to provide liquidity to the founding shareholder and growth capital for organic and inorganic growth opportunities.
In another situation, CPC assembled a group of strategic investors to acquire 100% of OVS Equipment Solutions (now Oregon Equipment Sales), a regional agricultural equipment dealer that was being divested from a private equity backed business. The investor group—including family offices, industry partners, and Cascadia principals with experience in the agricultural equipment sector—partnered with the strong existing management team to execute the transaction.
Both transactions leveraged the core capabilities of Cascadia Private Capital:
Industry knowledge;
Creative solutions;
Experienced and flexible capital
Our CPC team works to lead this type of “third-way” transaction, leveraging patient capital and our firm’s relationships with family offices and other long-term investors who want to back mature companies that generate income and wealth for business owners in the Pacific Northwest.
Through our relationships, we encounter many business owners for whom the usual choices aren’t a good fit. Some own businesses that are critical suppliers to giant corporations that are pushing the business to grow or expand beyond the comfort level of the original owners. In those cases, our role is to find sources of capital and additions to the management team who can lead that company to its next stage with minimum risk.
We also encounter situations in which family owners or founders are seeking capital for stakeholder liquidity and next-level growth while maintaining minority or majority ownership and operational involvement but have reservations or hesitation around traditional private equity or institutional investors.
And then there are the situations (as with OVS Equipment Solutions) where private equity firms want to divest locally headquartered companies that may no longer align with their strategy. From our perspective, that’s a great opportunity to re-establish local ownership—and we have a relationship network of high-net-worth individuals and family offices with flexible investment horizons to bring the right partners to the table alongside our team.
In contrast to independent sponsors and private equity funds who may run the same playbook on every transaction, Cascadia Private Capital constructs each transaction collaboratively and from the ground up:
Initial Consultations: We want to get to know the business’s owners and other key stakeholders. Once we understand the history of the business, any relevant family ownership dynamics, market positioning, and the enterprise’s relative strengths and risk areas, we can better assess what the future might look like and think creatively about how to achieve critical growth objectives.
Ideation: In most situations, our team can whiteboard multiple transaction structures, taking into account current ownership and the company’s strategic and financial objectives for the future and giving owners a range of paths and options to consider.
Introductions and Networking: Once we collaboratively agree on an approach and structure, our professionals leverage their networks to introduce possible co-investors and assess their fit with ownership and interest in a potential partnership.
Ongoing Involvement: Cascadia takes an equity position in all CPC transactions and remains involved with the business as a trusted advisor following the completion of the transaction. Cascadia involvement can range from participation on the company’s board, acting as an outsourced corporate development arm that seeks add-ons and other strategic transactions to support the business, or other consultative work that advances the interests of the business and its shareholders.
We believe the CPC approach holds particular appeal for companies in mature, stable sectors, including but not limited to manufacturing, transportation & logistics, distribution, and oil & gas—companies that generate consistent cash flows across market cycles.
Businesses in these traditional sectors can often feel unloved in a more traditional M&A process. However, these companies can be well positioned to achieve attractive, accelerated growth with the right structure and group of investors who can bring domain expertise, strategic and operational insights, and have a similar long-term growth focus as the current ownership. That’s where deal magic can really happen!
We encourage any business owner who wants to assess a full range of options for their business to reach out—we are always quick to respond and eager to learn more.
Cascadia Capital Managing Director Aarti Kapoor recently shared her perspective with Mergermarket on the evolving outlook for mergers and acquisitions in the pet products and services sector.
After several years of slower activity following the pandemic-era surge in pet adoption, industry conditions are beginning to shift. Improving macroeconomic conditions, resetting valuation expectations, and a backlog of private equity-backed companies seeking exits are creating the potential for renewed deal activity across the category.
In the article, Aarti highlights several areas drawing strong investor interest, including pet supplements and science-backed products across food, treats, and wellness categories, where innovation and differentiated positioning continue to drive growth. She also notes the broader long-term tailwinds supporting the sector, including premiumization trends and sustained consumer focus on pet health and wellbeing.
As financing conditions improve and operational visibility increases, these factors are positioning the pet sector for a more active period of M&A and capital raising in the years ahead.
