BaseRock Partners’ Dustin Bass and Matthew Drake will deliver an M&A market update, sharing perspectives on current trends, valuations, and broader market activity on June 17 at the Lockton Construction ESOP Summit.
The Lockton Construction ESOP Summit is an invite-only, two-day event designed for executives from ESOP construction firms.
BaseRock Partners Managing Director Jim Owen will participate in a panel discussion at the 2026 SBIA Midwest Deal Summit on May 27 in Chicago.
Jim will join fellow investment bankers to discuss the lower middle market deal environment, including key growth drivers, the expanding role of independent sponsors, and the impact of private credit on deal activity and sentiment.
The summit brings together deal professionals from across the region for a focused agenda of networking and discussion of trends shaping the lower middle market in 2026.
Learn more about the Midwest Deal Summit.
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Understanding what drives value in today’s construction M&A market requires more than timing. It requires preparation, positioning, and a clear view of how buyers evaluate businesses.
On April 23, CFMA Chicago will host “Industry M&A: What Drives Value in Today’s Market?” BaseRock Partners’ Jim Owen will join a panel alongside Marc Perez and Dean O’Brien to share perspectives on how buyers assess construction companies and what it takes to be investor-ready.
Attendees will also gain practical insights into what buyers value and how partnerships can shape the future of a construction industry business. Click here to learn more about the event.
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Dustin Bass and Scott Duncan are presenting at the 2026 Construction Summit, hosted by the Marsh McLennan Agency in Spokane, WA, on February 25-26.
With the theme, Build a Better Business, BaseRock Partners will be the facilitators of this exclusive event that promises to be an insightful gathering of industry experts, where they will explore topics critical to the construction sector.
Click here to learn more about the event.
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Meet Matt Drake at the ESCA 2026 Leadership Summit in St. Petersburg, FL, on February 18-20. Hosted by the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America, this event brings together top executives of S ESOP companies, along with S ESOP advisors and federal policymakers.
Attendees of the summit will hear from members of Congress about how the policy agenda of the 119th Congress and the Administration could impact S ESOP businesses. Visit the ESCA event page to learn more about the 2026 summit.
Meet Our Team
mdrake@baserockpartners.com
(312) 882-7649
BaseRock Partners is pleased to announce that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to ESCO Construction Company (“ESCO”) on its sale to ESS Companies (“ESS”).
BaseRock guided ESCO through the entire sell-side M&A process, from initial evaluation of exit alternatives and strategic positioning to marketing, buyer selection, diligence management, and transaction negotiation.
Based in Evergreen, Colorado, ESCO Construction Company is a heavy civil contractor known for delivering complex private and public works projects across Colorado and the surrounding region. With expertise in earthwork, underground utilities, and concrete, and a team driven by a culture of innovation, integrity, and performance, ESCO has built a reputation for delivering high-quality results on challenging infrastructure projects.
ESS Companies is a leading Midwest infrastructure contractor united by employee ownership and a commitment to delivering best-in-class infrastructure solutions. Supported by its employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), ESS focuses on building communities through a broad range of heavy civil construction services and self-performed work.
The strategic combination of ESCO and ESS brings together two dynamic organizations with complementary capabilities and shared values. The transaction enhances ESS’s service capacity and geographic reach while providing ESCO’s employees with employee ownership and continued opportunities for growth within a larger, diversified infrastructure platform.
BaseRock Capital is pleased to announce that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Cornerstone and Claborn Manufacturing in connection with their sale to a consortium of investors, including Castle Harlan.
The transaction represents a significant milestone for Cornerstone, a leading detention equipment contractor specializing in the manufacturing, furnishing, and installation of security equipment and products for correctional and institutional facilities. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Tanner, Alabama, Cornerstone has completed more than 5,000 projects across all 50 U.S. states and internationally, serving federal, state, county, local, and private facilities.
Claborn Manufacturing has built a strong reputation for precision manufacturing and product quality within the detention and security markets. Together, Cornerstone and Claborn have established a vertically integrated platform capable of delivering complex, highly customized security solutions to a diverse customer base.
Meet Matt Drake at The ESOP Association’s Professionals’ Forum in Charleston, SC, February 4-6, 2026. The ESOP Association’s Professionals’ Forum is an in-person event designed exclusively for senior professionals who provide technical, financial, and legal guidance to ESOP companies. We look forward to connecting with fellow ESOP professionals throughout the Forum.
The Forum is a unique opportunity for professionals to gather with their peers for a collaborative learning experience. And because the Forum is a meeting of professionals for professionals, you can take full advantage of our programming without the pressure of servicing or attending to client needs at our larger, national events. Visit the event page to learn more.
Meet Our Team
mdrake@baserockpartners.com
(312) 882-7649
Mintz hosts ‘From Blueprint to Buyout: Preparing Your Business for M&A’. BaseRock Partners’ Dustin Bass will moderate the panel, with Luke Smith serving as a panelist alongside legal, tax, accounting, and surety professionals from Mamacos, Bysiewicz & Associates, LLC, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., and Mintz.
The session will explore how construction and engineering company leaders can strengthen operational and financial readiness, address industry-specific transaction considerations, and avoid common challenges when planning for ownership transition.
From Blueprint to Buyout: Preparing Your Business for M&A is hosted by Mintz and will take place on February 11, 2026, at the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel in Needham, MA. Join fellow owners and executives from construction, engineering, and related companies for an interactive panel on preparing for and executing a successful M&A transaction.
lsmith@baserockpartners.com
(720) 846-0004
BaseRock Partners (“BaseRock”) is pleased to announce that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to TRIO Electric, Ltd. (“TRIO Electric”) on its sale to Paceline Equity Partners (“Paceline”).
The transaction represents a significant milestone for TRIO Electric and reflects BaseRock’s continued focus on advising leading electrical and specialty trade contractors through complex ownership transitions.
TRIO Electric is a full-service electrical contractor providing electrical design, construction, and maintenance services to the non-residential construction end market. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the Company has built a strong reputation for technical expertise, reliable execution, and responsive customer service, supported by several hundred years of combined electrical contracting experience.
Paceline Equity Partners is a Dallas-based private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market companies across asset-heavy and service-oriented industries. Paceline’s investment in TRIO Electric reflects its strategy of partnering with established market leaders and management teams to drive long-term value through strategic growth initiatives and operational excellence.
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