As Tampa Bay Founders Retire, Private Equity Moves In

HVAC business owner meets with private equity investors as Tampa Bay founders consider succession and selling their companies.

For years, Tim Coop watched Tampa Bay entrepreneurs build companies, borrow money from his bank and run their operating accounts through it. Then private-equity firms began buying them at an increased pace, repaying the loans at closing and taking the banking relationships along with the businesses. “I can remember five years ago discussing the high … Read more

The Top-Heavy Market: Why the Headlines Look Better Than the Middle Market 

Anyone tracking M&A news in 2026 could be forgiven for thinking the deal market has fully recovered. The headline numbers certainly look that way: year-to-date announced value has nearly doubled the 2025 pace, strategic buyers are pursuing transformational acquisitions and multibillion-dollar deals are showing up with increasing frequency. Transactions of $5 billion or more are … Read more