Mergers & Acquisitions

2000

December

Champlain Precision Inc. has purchased a commercial building and property on Campground Road in New Haven from the Russell family. Champlain Precision occupies a portion of the building. Rich Feeley of Feeley Commercial Real Estate of Burlington brokered the transaction.

November

George T. Trono sold commercial property at 29 College Parkway, Colchester, formerly the G.T. Bagel Factory, to Saint Michael's College in Colchester. Dick MacKenzie of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty in Burlington represented both parties in the transaction.

John Deere equipment dealer Hendy Brothers of Williston was listed and sold by Vermont Business Brokers in Shelburne to Sterling Equipment. Sharon Beal was selling broker.

SoVerNet Inc. in Bellows Falls and Burlington acquired National Mobile Communications Corp., a Vermont competitive local exchange carrier. The acquisition includes the Green Mountain Telecom and Best Cellular brands and expands SoVerNet's service offerings as an integrated communications provider. Tony Elliott is chairman and CEO.

Amoskeag Woodworking purchased commercial property at 10 Prim Road, Colchester, from Richard Boulanger Revocable Trust. Michael Simoneau of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty in Burlington represented the seller in the transaction.

Clark Hinsdale Jr. sold an office building at 12-22 North St., Burlington, to April Johnson. Rich Feeley, commercial broker with Feeley Commercial Real Estate in Burlington, brokered the transaction.

J.C. Holdings sold a commercial property on St. George Road in Williston. Listing broker was John Beal of Vermont Business Brokers in Shelburne. Selling broker was Jim Moore of O'Brien Realty.

Dr. Robert Guiduli and Dr. Peter Lawlor sold a medical office complex at Unit 4A, 55 Timber Lane, South Burlington, to Oral Surgery Associates. Dick MacKenzie of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty in Burlington represented both parties in the transaction.

Harry Ambrose and Sons moved into a 5,942-square-foot facility at 60 Ethan Allen Drive, South Burlington, it purchased from Rene J. Berard. Esther Lotz of HighPoint Realty was the listing and selling agent. Harry Ambrose and Sons has been selling commercial doors, hardware and speciality products for 35 years. It's been owned by Steel Krafts Building Materials and Supplies in Troy, N.Y., since 1987.

September

Robert Howe of Bennington Broadcasting Ltd. and K&H Products in North Bennington purchased WBTN-AM in Bennington from Vermont Public Radio (VPR) in Colchester. VPR purchased the station along with its sister station, WBTN-FM, in January. Mark Vogelzang is VPR general manager and president.

First Union Securities Inc. of Richmond, Va., acquired First Albany Companies Inc.'s private client group. Michael E. French is senior vice president and manager of the Colchester branch.

Seth Allen joined Rayne Herzog and Willow Blish as co-owner of Shelburne Athletic Club in Shelburne. Allen has a background in sales and marketing in the information industry, and is a certified personal fitness trainer and spinning instructor.

August

Richard and Nancy Farnham sold a 5,000-square-foot office condominium at 67-69 Union St., Winooski, to L.N. Properties, LLC. Rich Feeley, commercial broker with Feeley Commercial Real Estate, represented the sellers; Dave Kelly of Highpoint Realty represented the buyer.

Atlanta, Ga., Internet service provider (ISP) EarthLink Inc. announced intentions to purchase ISP OneMain.com of Reston, Va. After acquiring OneMain.comÕs 762,000 subscribers, EarthLink will boast more than 4.2 million members, making it the second largest ISP in the country. OneMain.com owns Together Networks in Burlington. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

mySeasons of New York, N.Y., purchased the online media assets of the National Gardening Association (NGA) in Burlington. mySeasons has acquired the intellectual property of NGA, including online databases, programming support and the rights to use the associationÕs name for marketing and media through a long-term licensing agreement. NGA retains its non-profit status and continues to oversee and develop educational programs and non-profit services; it has ceased publication of its print magazine. Barry Marchessault is president/CEO of mySeasons. Valerie Kelsey is incoming president of the NGA; she was vice president of education and programs.

Williston Web design company Bluehouse New Media Solutions merged with Digital Junction, a Burlington hosting and networking company, to create Bluehouse Group. Mike Early is president/CEO of the new business. Casey Lyon, former CEO of Digital Junction, became chief information officer. (08/00

Cecile Thompson sold commercial property at 102 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington, to the Howard Center for Human Services. Michael Simoneau of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty represented the buyer; Tony Blake of V/T Commercial represented the seller.

Chittenden Bank sold property at the former Kingsland Bay School, at 5 Orchard Terrace, Bristol, to Paul LaRoe. Michael Simoneau of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty represented the seller. Kip Matthews of Results Real Estate represented the buyer.

Related news:

New venture capital fund for Champlain Valley

Charles F. Kireker and Cairn G. Cross have joined with Village Venture Services Inc. to launch an early-stage venture capital fund that will invest in high-growth companies primarily in the greater Champlain Valley. Village Ventures, established in North Adams, Mass., in January, comprises five such funds operating in New England. Matt Harris is CEO. Managing director Kireker co-founded Green Mountain Capital L.P., a small business investment company, in 1993. Cross owned and operated consulting firm Cross Vermont Financial. He also served as assistant general manager of Green Mountain Capital.

Union Mutual of Vermont enters affiliation agreement

John F. McLaughlin, president/CEO of Union Mutual of Vermont in Montpelier, and William R. Scrafford, president of Eastern Mutual Insurance Co. of Greenville, N.Y., announced their companies have entered into an affiliation agreement. The agreement provides for common management and sharing of resources. Each company retains its corporate individuality.

July

Michael and Theresa Ryan of Ryan Brothers Electric sold a .86-acre lot and a 1,450-square-foot commercial building at 40 Intervale Road, Burlington, to Dan and Denise Girard. Doug Nedde of Redstone Commercial Group was the listing broker and Linda Letourneau of Redstone Commercial Group was the selling broker representing the owners.

June

Peoples Heritage Financial Group Inc. of Portland, Maine, acquired Banknorth Group Inc. in Burlington. Peoples will continued to maintain headquarters in Portland, and will assume the name Banknorth Group. William J. Ryan is chairman, president and CEO. The new entity has approximately $18.4 billion in assets.

Dawn Becker of Joe's Discount Furniture in Plattsburgh, N.Y., boughtThe Mattress and Futon Gallery on Route 3, Plattsburgh, from the Estate of Albert Bailey Jr. Charlie Poulin of Pomerleau Business Services was the listing and selling broker.

Springer-Miller Systems has acquired Resort Computer Corp. of Denver, Colo., from Resort Condominium International, LLC (RCI), a worldwide timeshare exchange firm. Springer-Miller was named exclusive property-based systems vendor for RCI. John Springer-Miller is president/CEO.

D.D.H. & G.S.H. Trust purchased a 2.49-acre parcel of commercial land at 27 Susie Wilson Road in Essex Junction from Dan Casselman and Sherri Hayes. Dick MacKenzie of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty in Burlington represented the sellers.

Kendall Gardner LLC purchased a warehouse and offices at 1570 Williston Road in Williston from Marlin Environmental. The property will be used for new offices and a warehouse for Northeast Construction Co. Robert Marlowe of Pomerleau Real Estate assisted the buyer; Dave Koucky of JL Davis Realty assisted the seller.

Edward and Bonnie LaFramboise sold Pete's Service Center on U.S. 7 in Middlebury to Randy and Amy Farnsworth. Tom Raub, CCIM, of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty brokered the transaction.

Bud and Margaret Ross sold a warehouse at 134 Archibald St., Burlington, to Bannister Roofing. Charlie Poulin and John J. Rao III of Pomerleau Real Estate were the listing/selling brokers.

May

Millie Armstrong, D.V.M., purchased Petit Brook Veterinary Clinic at 572 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester, from Clinton Reichard, V.M.D. Armstrong graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 and has practiced small animal medicine and surgery in the Hinesburg/ Bristol area for seven years. Reichard retired.

The Small Engine Co. Inc. of Colchester acquired Gene's Lawnmower Service in Burlington. Technician Tom Cardinal, formerly of Gene's Lawnmower Service, has relocated to The Small Engine Co. Adam D. Porter was named operations manager.

Cynthia Langley-Folino sold an 11,644-square-foot commercial building at 23 Pond Lane in Middlebury to a private investor who has secured a long-term lease with Retail Vision for the facility. Retail Vision, specialty-magazine marketing company in Middlebury's Marble Works building, recently acquired Conceptions Unlimited of Rochester. Both businesses are relocating to Pond Lane. Doug Nedde of Redstone Commercial Group in Burlington was the listing and selling broker representing Langley-Folino.

April

Triple "S" Ranch & Realty Co. sold buildings at 6-8-10 Park St. and 12-14 Park St., Burlington, to Donald and Barbara Harrington. Michael Simoneau, commercial broker with Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty, represented the seller. Butch True of True Realty & Land Co. assisted the buyer.

Sheila White sold a 10-unit apartment building at 233 St. Paul St., Burlington, to Ralph and Rebecca Sumner. Tom Raub, CCIM, of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty, represented the seller. Michael Simoneau of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty assisted the buyer. White sold an eight-unit apartment building at 19 Grant St., Burlington, to David and Danielle Roberts. Raub represented the seller.

March

Tim Burke of David G. White & Associates Inc. in Burlington and Steve Reid of Brookfield Development Co. Inc. announced the sale of the A&P Shopping Center in Essex Junction. Martin's Foods of Vermont purchased Essex Realty Corp., owner of the 105,000-square-foot property. Brookfield Development manages and leases space at the property for the new owner. (03/00

Technology management services company Inacom Information Systems of Williston purchased Market Makers International Inc. in Burlington. The company will move Market Makers' Pine Street facility to its 121 Park Ave. location. Randy Rowland is chairman of Inacom; Keith Mattes is president.

Larry Young, L.S.; Doug Hewitt, P.E.; and Doug Weber purchased Pinkham Engineering Associates Inc. in South Burlington from Martha and Ken Pinkham. The new owners renamed the business Summit Engineering, LLC.

Green Mountain Systems & Service Inc. in Essex Junction merged its monitoring business with security and fire monitoring business Security & Surveillance LLC of Williston. Green Mountain provides service and installs fire and security systems; Security & Surveillance offers monitoring. Jeff Brasure is president of Green Mountain; Ridgway Crouch is president of Security & Surveillance.

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom in Waitsfield purchased the Blue Book family of telephone directories from Wilfreed Media Inc. of Warren. The company plans to expand the Waterbury and Stowe directories; the Valley Blue Book will be integrated into the existing Waitsfield Telecom directory. Alan Jones is directory manager. Burlington marketing services company Select Design purchased a 55,000-square-foot office/manufacturing/distribution building at 208 Flynn Ave., Burlington. Renovations are under way on the former Elan building; the facility is expected to be ready for occupancy by May. Doug Nedde of Redstone Commercial Group in Burlington was the selling broker representing Select Design in the transaction.

Paul and Gayle Brown purchased Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center from Eric and Francine Chittenden. Paul, former vice president of skier services at Sugarbush Ski Resort in Warren, serves as president of the new company, Cold Hollow Cider Mill Inc. Gayle, who spent time as product manager for an international importing company, is secretary and treasurer. KeyBank provided financing.

February

MDT Partnership purchased property at 5 Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington from Mark Hill Investments for future expansion of Willie Racine's Jeep/Isuzu. Dick MacKenzie of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty in Burlington represented the purchaser.

Pierre and Heather Menard, and Bernard and Susan Thibeault purchased Steeple Market in Fairfax, formerly Harp Market, from Gail and Terrance O'Brien. Richard Blanchard of Realty Professionals in Montpelier and Eric Farrell of Redstone Commercial Group in Burlington assisted the sellers.

Maurice and Sue Cerutti purchased the Riverbend Store in North Montpelier from Robert and Karen VanZandt. Richard Blanchard of Realty Professionals in Montpelier assisted the seller.

Linda J. Hausermann, CPA, of John A. Lamson & Associates Inc. in South Burlington and Christopher M. Horton of Christopher Horton CPA, P.C. in Essex Junction announced the merger of their accounting practices. The new firm is called Hausermann and Horton, CPAs, P.C., and does business under the name H&H CPAs at 76 Ethan Allen Drive, South Burlington. 862-0122. hhcpa@earthlink.net.

Gerritt Crowley of Crowley Insurance Agency Inc. in Burlington purchased the Fifield Insurance Agency in South Hero. The combined agencies operate at 100 N. Willard St., where the Crowley Agency has been since 1946.

David Speidel sold Brick House Creative Co. in Burlington to Lisaius Marketing in Burlington. Joseph D. Lisaius is president of Lisaius Marketing. Cristine Hammer has become executive director of the new venture, which continues to operate under two names. Speidel is its creative director.

Stephen Ribolini purchased properties at 99-105, 107-111 and 113-117 Barre St., Montpelier, from Allinson Trust Properties. Richard Blanchard of Realty Professionals in Montpelier represented the buyer.

January

Burlington law firms Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C., and Patricia Gabel PLC have formed joint venture Gabel & Dinse Knapp McAndrew, LLP, to provide legal services and training to growing businesses, especially multi-national companies entering U.S. markets. The two firms remain independent. The new venture shares the Plattsburgh, N.Y., offices of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, and the Montreal offices of Gabel International Corp., an affiliated consulting company. Spencer R. Knapp is president of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew; Patricia Gabel is managing director of Patricia Gabel PLC and the principal of Gabel International.

Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Co. of St. Johnsbury has joined Union Bank as wholly owned subsidiaries of Union Bankshares Inc. of Morrisville. Citizens retains its state bank charter and continues to do business under its name at all its branch locations. Jerry Rowe continues as president of Citizens. Three directors from Citizens, including Rowe, were appointed to the Union Bankshares board; two directors of Union, including Union president Ken Gibbons, were appointed to the Citizens board. Following the acquisition, Union has consolidated assets of more than $300 million and deposits in excess of $265 million.

Student Services sold a six-unit apartment building at 49-51 Main St., Essex Junction, and a six-unit building at 39 Prospect St., Essex Junction, to Asset Preservation Inc. Tom Raub of Hickok & Boardman Commercial Realty represented the buyer; Jeff Nick and Rick Harrison of J.L. Davis Realty in Williston represented the seller.

The management team of Perry Restaurant Group in Shelburne has purchased the business from Tony Perry. The business includes nine steak and seafood restaurants in four northeastern states operating under the names Dakota, Sirloin Saloon, Perry's Fish House and Sweetwaters. An additional restaurant is under construction in Rocky Hill, Conn. The company's headquarters will remain in Shelburne. David Melincoff is president.