CoAdvantage, one of the nation’s top privately held professional employer organizations (PEO) and a leading national provider of strategic human resource (HR) solutions for small to mid-sized companies, announced a definitive agreement to be acquired by Aquiline Capital Partners, a private equity firm investing in financial services and technology. CoAdvantage is being acquired from investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP), which have owned the company since 2015. No financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.
Founded in 1990, CoAdvantage offers a comprehensive HR outsourcing offering for small and medium sized businesses. With proprietary technology and client-dedicated support specialists, CoAdvantage assumes the risk, administration, and compliance associated with a range of functions including payroll, tax filings, healthcare and ancillary benefits, and workers compensation. With its strong sales momentum and integration of recent acquisitions, the company now serves more than 4,500 clients, and plans to continue its strategy during its partnership with Aquiline.
“Aquiline Capital Partners has expertise in the insurance, benefits and Human Resources administration industries that will be valuable to our business as we continue executing our growth strategy while maintaining the company’s independence,” stated Clint Burgess, President & CEO of CoAdvantage. “CoAdvantage has benefitted immensely from Morgan Stanley Capital Partners’ support over the years, and they have helped to position our company for ongoing success. We sincerely thank them for their partnership in strengthening the business.”
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“Outsourcing of human resources administration and risk management is a growing trend, particularly in the small and mid-sized business segment,” said Jeff Greenberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aquiline. “This is driving strong demand for professional employer organization services and CoAdvantage is well-positioned given its scale and comprehensive product offering. We look forward to supporting CoAdvantage and its experienced management team, led by Clint Burgess, as they continue to scale the business through organic growth and acquisitions.”
CoAdvantage has become one of the largest private PEOs in North America through organic growth and an established approach to integrating acquisitions. Since 2015, the company completed three acquisitions including Progressive Employer Management Services Company in 2017, which significantly transformed its scale and capabilities.
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“Over the course of our investment period, CoAdvantage has become a more profitable, and more highly regarded service provider to the ~4,000 clients the company supports daily,” said Adam Shaw, Managing Director and Head of Business Services at MSCP. “We are pleased to have partnered with an exceptionally talented and deep management team that has grown the company into a premier provider of a comprehensive suite of outsourced services.”
The management team, led by Mr. Burgess, will remain in place following completion of the transaction. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Lazard Middle Market acted as financial advisor to CoAdvantage on this transaction. Piper Jaffray & Co acted as financial advisor to Aquiline and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal counsel to Aquiline. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal advisor to MSCP.
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