RKCA Investment Banking

We are excited to welcome Colton T. Markland to RKCA! Colton began his career at Whitaker Bank Corporation (WBC) in Lexington, KY, as part of the Commercial Lending Group, where he played a vital role in the approval and underwriting of large commercial loans. His expertise in this area set the foundation for his move to WBC's Internal Audit team, where he focused on financial operations and risk management. While in the Audit group, Colton was instrumental in safeguarding $2 billion in assets and worked closely with bank management to enhance audit outcomes. Colton holds a BSBA in Finance from Asbury University's Dayton School of Business. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to his impact at RKCA! //Disclaimer: Securities services are offered through RKCA, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. All other services are offered through RKCA Services, LLC. 

We are pleased to announce the successful sale of Johnson Welded Products, Inc. (“JWP” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of air reservoirs – also known as air tanks – used primarily in heavy vehicle braking systems. The transaction closed in March 2024. JWP, based in Urbana, Ohio, was founded in 1970 by Truman Johnson, who drew upon decades of manufacturing and welding experience. Truman Johnson passed in 1981 when the company had fewer than twenty employees. Lilli Johnson, Truman’s wife, assumed the role of President and has since led the company alongside her children, who have held and continue to hold various leadership positions. The family has been instrumental in driving remarkable growth. JWP now employs over 400 people and sells more than one million tanks annually. JWP was acquired by Tramec, LLC, a group of manufacturing and distribution companies headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Tramec’s companies operate across several vertical markets, including commercial vehicle and automotive, industrial, HVAC, lawn and garden, recreational vehicle, marine, construction, and agriculture throughout North America, Asia, and Australia. Tom Compton, Managing Partner at RKCA, represented JWP in the transaction. //Disclaimer---- The persons providing the testimonials on this website have experience in the services that RKCA, Inc. provided. Their respective experience with RKCA, Inc. may not be representative of all other Clients of RKCA, Inc. Testimonials are not paid for by RKCA, Inc. Testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of future performance or success related to any product, transaction or service.   This information should not be construed as a recommendation, offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy a particular security or investment strategy. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for accounting, legal, or tax advice. Though the information is deemed reliable, there is no guarantee of accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose and there is no warrantee with regard to the results to be obtained from its use.     © Copyright RKCA. All rights reserved. RKCA, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. All securities transactions are conducted through RKCA, Inc. Non-securities engagements are conducted through RKCA Services, LLC. Investing involves the risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

We are pleased to announce the successful refinancing of Fischer-Bush Equipment Rentals, Inc. ("Fischer-Bush", "FBE", or "Company") with WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco"), a multi-state bank holding company headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia. The transaction closed in July 2024. Fischer-Bush, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with locations in Midland and Pleasanton, Texas and Williston, North Dakota is a rental provider of pumps for water transfer and related equipment largely serving the oil and gas industrial sectors. Founded in 2011, the Company offers a full suite of rental pumps and associated equipment and parts across multiple geographies.    "Having been fortunate to work with the RKCA team on various initiatives over the past three years, it's easy for me to share my experience with this team," said Wade E. Bush, FBE's founder and owner. "The diligence, professionalism, and drive to succeed is beyond reproach. We were able to secure a financial structure that will be great for both the short- and longer-term needs of our business."   RKCA was retained as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor. The transaction was led by Tom Compton, Managing Partner, and Justin Hollon, Senior Analyst.   “Working with Wade and his team has been a pleasure," said Tom Compton. "The new financing package will allow Fischer-Bush additional operational flexibility to continue on their growth trajectory and capitalize on current market dynamics and opportunities." //DISLAIMER The persons providing the testimonials on this website have experience in the services that RKCA, Inc. provided. Their respective experience with RKCA, Inc. may not be representative of all other Clients of RKCA, Inc. Testimonials are not paid for by RKCA, Inc. Testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of future performance or success related to any product, transaction or service.   This information should not be construed as a recommendation, offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy a particular security or investment strategy. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for accounting, legal, or tax advice. Though the information is deemed reliable, there is no guarantee of accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose and there is no warrantee with regard to the results to be obtained from its use.     © Copyright RKCA. All rights reserved. RKCA, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. All securities transactions are conducted through RKCA, Inc. Non-securities engagements are conducted through RKCA Services, LLC. Investing involves the risk of loss.

We are pleased to announce the successful sale of Johnson Welded Products, Inc. (“JWP” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of air reservoirs – also known as air tanks – used primarily in heavy vehicle braking systems. The transaction closed in March 2024. JWP, based in Urbana, Ohio, was founded in 1970 by Truman Johnson, who drew upon decades of manufacturing and welding experience. Truman Johnson passed in 1981 when the company had fewer than twenty employees. Lilli Johnson, Truman’s wife, assumed the role of President and has since led the company alongside her children, who have held and continue to hold various leadership positions. The family has been instrumental in driving remarkable growth. JWP now employs over 400 people and sells more than one million tanks annually. JWP was acquired by Tramec, LLC, a group of manufacturing and distribution companies headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Tramec’s companies operate across several vertical markets, including commercial vehicle and automotive, industrial, HVAC, lawn and garden, recreational vehicle, marine, construction, and agriculture throughout North America, Asia, and Australia. Tom Compton, Managing Partner at RKCA, represented JWP in the transaction. //Disclaimer---- The persons providing the testimonials on this website have experience in the services that RKCA, Inc. provided. Their respective experience with RKCA, Inc. may not be representative of all other Clients of RKCA, Inc. Testimonials are not paid for by RKCA, Inc. Testimonials do not constitute a guarantee of future performance or success related to any product, transaction or service.   This information should not be construed as a recommendation, offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy a particular security or investment strategy. This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for accounting, legal, or tax advice. Though the information is deemed reliable, there is no guarantee of accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose and there is no warrantee with regard to the results to be obtained from its use.     © Copyright RKCA. All rights reserved. RKCA, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA/SIPC. All securities transactions are conducted through RKCA, Inc. Non-securities engagements are conducted through RKCA Services, LLC. Investing involves the risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

A city feels like home when you frequently and spontaneously run into people who you know and who know you. Last week, on my way to Graeters, I was reminded that this has become my reality. Within a 0.2-mile roundtrip walk, I bumped into two groups of friends and acquaintances. As someone not from here, Cincinnati was not always this way for me. It’s kind of surreal that only 5 years later, I received a 40 under 40 award for Cincinnati. // In 2019, My wife and I had just moved back from New York City. Outside of her family and a couple of college friends, I had few (if any) connections in Cincinnati. I was having difficulty making it feel like home and trying off-the-wall tactics… - I remember walking to 1215 Coffee to sit at the bar and hopefully strike up a conversation with a stranger just to start building a seedling of a network. - I applied to jobs where I thought interesting people might work and chatted with the interviewers. - I made friends with similar interests on Twitter when I noticed they were from Cincinnati and connected IRL when possible. Then, in late 2019, the momentum changed. I joined RKCA Investment Banking. After a year-long COVID hiatus from human contact, RKCA gave me the platform to make Cincinnati feel not-so-foreign while also challenging me to succeed and shape the company's future. I can’t imagine having half the success, network, or experiences at any other firm in town. By mid-2021, I told the Partners at an off-site that “Cincinnati is starting to feel like home” as I got into the swing of the business community and took part in the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s C-Change program. While you will never get the Browns fan out of this Cleveland boy, today, Cincinnati feels like home. I am excited to raise a family here, get more involved in the business and non-business communities, and make many memories while also making an impact. Here's to making bumping into folks an even more common occurrence. // There are a million people to thank… - my parents, - my wife Colleen Huster, who has been the foundation, - the Partners and my colleagues at RKCA for believing in me and appeasing my good and (more often) bad ideas, - my classmates in C-Change 16 for challenging me, - Mike Veith, CFA, for introducing me to RKCA, - every client and portfolio company manager that I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside, - the folks who took the time to nominate me, - and so many more. I am honored to be named a Cincinnati Business Courier 40 under 40. There’s a heck of a lot more to come! https://lnkd.in/gnpbtpGP

We're hiring! Join the team at RKCA as we look to help business owners realize their life's work.

We're hiring! Join the team at RKCA as we look to help business owners realize their life's work.

Congratulations to Justin Hollon on his promotion to Senior Analyst! Justin joined RKCA in 2021 following his graduation from the University of Cincinnati. Since joining RKCA, Justin has become a trusted deal team member and key contributor to the IT Managed Service Provider focus. We would also like to congratulate Justin on his acceptance into the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's Cincy Next Class 11 and are excited to see his continued growth with the organization.

We are pleased to announce the successful sale of Label Traxx (Tailored Solutions, Inc.), Batched (Batched, LLC), and Siteline (My Siteline, LLC), (together "the Companies") to Amtech Software (Amtech Software LLC), an enterprise software solutions provider for the corrugated manufacturing and folding carton industry. Amtech is a portfolio company of Peak Rock Capital and is based in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. The transaction closed in March 2024.   "RKCA provided us a long-term, consultative approach to the process of bringing three companies together and preparing us for the sale process,” said Ken Meinhardt, an owner of Label Traxx. “They were our trusted advisors, sometimes therapists, and true partners which resulted in the right sale, to the right partner, at the right time."   RKCA engaged with all three companies starting in 2019 to help them work through how best to optimize each business for the exit they desired in the 2023/2024 timeframe. Working with RKCA, the ownership teams formally aligned in 2021. Each company recognized the industry’s need for a combined technology package, the efficiencies that could be gained by working as a unified team, and the opportunity each business had for value improvement by being sold together rather than separately.   The Companies underwent a "Synthetic Cashless Merger" and some operational integrations as a means to realize this vision. A Synthetic Cashless Merger refers to an agreement in which companies are not legally merged but come together to pursue an outcome in an M&A transaction.   RKCA was retained as the Companies’ exclusive M&A advisor and provided pre-transaction advisory services. The transaction was led by Brent Rippe, Managing Partner; and Justin Hollon, Senior Analyst. See Disclaimer in the first comment below.

Great Selling Starts with Great Planning At RKCA, we believe that the process of selling your business starts years before you decide to sell your business. Our friends at Bartlett Wealth Management feel the same way. That's why Brent Rippe of RKCA teamed up with Holly Mazzocca, CFP® and Jason Katz, CPA, CFP®, CEPA of Bartlett Wealth Management to talk through what business owners need to know as they begin to think about selling their businesses. Watch the webinar at the link below! (60 mins) Together we cover: 1- Defining your purpose and goals 2- Assessing the timing of a sale that aligns with your goals 3- Addressing the gaps within your business ahead of a sale 4- Identifying the team that will help you cross the finish line 5- Understanding different types of buyers and the market Our audience also asked a few questions. If you have specific questions about your business, you can reach out to Brent Rippe (brippe@rkca.com) or respond to this email directly! https://lnkd.in/gtQiuzt7