Infrastructure M&A Transactions

Craig Decker quoted in, “From jobs to safety, biggest railroad union fears ‘meltdowns’ from Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger,” CNBC

BGL Managing Director Craig Decker, who leads the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Infrastructure investment banking team, is quoted in an article published by Lori Ann LaRocco at CNBC entitled, “From jobs to safety, biggest railroad union fears ‘meltdowns’ from Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger.”

In the article, Craig discusses how a potential Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger could impact various logistics partners in the supply chain.

For all of Craig’s insights, read the complete article on CNBC.

Effram E. Kaplan Shares his Outlook for M&A and Capital Markets Environment in Second Half of 2025 on Schwab Network

BGL Executive Committee member Effram Kaplan recently appeared on the Schwab Network to share the firm’s outlook on what’s shaping M&A for the second half of the year.

In the segment, Effram points to emerging “green shoots” in the market and explores how the private markets continue to evolve, playing an increasingly more meaningful role in the value to shareholders and liquidity and growth of companies.

For more of Effram’s insights on the sectors showing increased optimism for M&A, the tailwinds that are supporting an improved market, and his view on the private markets, watch the full interview here.

BGL Advises Lakefront Fiber

Midwest Fiber Networks acquried by Everstream

Client Description

Lakefront Fiber is a newly formed joint venture between Midwest Fiber Networks (“MWFN”) and Manulife Investment Management (“Manulife IM”). The Everstream transaction is the first acquisition for Lakefront Fiber, supporting the joint venture’s ability to deliver high-capacity fiber connectivity and to serve hyperscale, carrier, and municipal customers across key markets in the Midwest.

BGL Advises Lakefront Fiber on the Acquisition of Select Everstream Assets

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce that Lakefront Fiber, LLC (“Lakefront Fiber”) has acquired select network assets in the state of Illinois from Everstream, a business-only fiber network. BGL’s Digital Infrastructure investment banking team served as the exclusive buy-side financial advisor to Lakefront Fiber in the transaction. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Glendale, Wisconsin, MWFN designs and delivers secure, high-speed fiber connectivity across the Midwest. Since 2001, MWFN has supported mission-critical operations for businesses, educational institutions, healthcare systems, and government entities. Manulife Financial Corporation, the parent of Manulife IM, provides global investment, financial advice, and retirement plan services to 19 million individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide.

Everstream, based in Cleveland, Ohio, owns and operates fiber optic networks across 10 states. The company provides robust business fiber services, including dedicated internet access, dark fiber, Ethernet, and data center solutions to businesses across the Midwest.

BGL’s Digital Infrastructure investment banking team advises clients across various sectors, including data centers, fiber, towers, managed services, and digital infrastructure services.

Effram Kaplan quoted in, “Small Companies Keep Going Public Even as Russell 2000 Struggles,” Bloomberg

BGL Managing Director and Head of the firm’s Services and Infrastructure verticals Effram Kaplan was recently quoted in a Bloomberg article entitled, “Small Companies Keep Going Public Even as Russell 2000 Struggles.”

In the article, Effram talks about broader market volatility and its impact on small-cap IPO activity as investor focus has shifted.

For Effram’s insights, including his thoughts on market volatility and its impact on small-cap IPOs, read the complete article on the Bloomberg website.

BGL Growth Conference 2025

BGL’s Growth Conference is the premier gathering for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and private equity professionals designed to spark meaningful connections and create opportunities for future growth.

350+ ATTENDEES
Take advantage of several opportunities to meet and engage with other industry participants during the event

40+ PRESENTING COMPANIES
Hear dozens of high-quality middle market companies present overviews and growth strategies for their businesses

500+ 1×1 MEETINGS
Engage in two days of targeted meetings, facilitated by BGL, for presenters and prospective investors

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Take advantage of several opportunities to meet and engage with other industry participants during the event

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
This year, BGL is pleased to welcome Peter Diamandis as our Keynote Speaker. Recently named by Fortune to its list of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Dr. Diamandis is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which has launched $600 million in incentive prize competitions focused on solving humanity’s grand challenges. As an entrepreneur, he has started over 25 companies in the areas of health-tech, space, venture capital, and education. Dr. Diamandis is Co-Founder & Chairman of Fountain Life, a fully integrated platform delivering predictive, preventative, personalized, and data-driven health solutions. Diamandis is also a New York Times bestselling author of four books: Abundance, BOLD, The Future is Faster Than You Think, and most recently, LIFE FORCE, a #1 best seller co-authored with Tony Robbins.

Registration for BGL’s 2025 Growth Conference is now open. For additional information, please reach out to BGL’s Conference Team or complete the form below.

The 2025 NAFC Annual Convention & Exhibition

The 2025 ATA National Accounting & Finance Council (NAFC) Annual Conference is one of the leading gatherings for financial professionals in the trucking industry, bringing together executives, regulatory experts and service providers to explore trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the industry.

BGL Managing Director Craig Decker will be speaking on a panel entitled, “Update on M&A Activity,” on Wednesday, June 4^th from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. ET. He’ll discuss upcoming opportunities in the transportation and logistics industry.

BGL’s Transportation & Logistics Infrastructure investment banking team has decades of experience across the sector. With this in-depth knowledge and deep sector expertise, we have executed transactions across all sub-sectors, including in trucking and logistics, transportation infrastructure, supply chain, maritime and offshore, and passenger transport.

Connect (X) 2025

Connect (X) 2025 is the premier communications infrastructure conference for market intelligence, networking, and dealmaking.

BGL Managing Directors Owen Weihman and Nick Melton will be attending and meeting with investors, entrepreneurs, company leaders, and other digital infrastructure players.

BGL’s Digital Infrastructure investment banking team helps clients both create and maximize value across various sectors, including broadband, wireless, data centers & managed services, towers & wireless infrastructure, and digital infrastructure services.

BGL Advises Stonepeak

Client Description

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $72 billion of assets under management. As a sponsor of private equity and credit investment vehicles, Stonepeak provides capital, operational support, and committed partnerships to grow investments in its target sectors, which include digital infrastructure, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, and real estate.

BGL Advises Stonepeak in its Partnership with Dupré Logistics

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce that its Transportation & Logistics Infrastructure investment banking team served as the exclusive buy-side financial advisor to Stonepeak in its recently announced partnership with Dupré Logistics (Dupré), a privately held transportation company specializing in innovative logistics solutions.

Founded in 1980, Dupré provides energy distribution services, onsite and private fleet services, and strategic capacity brokerage services to a diverse group of blue-chip customers throughout the United States. The Company, headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, has an extensive presence on the Gulf Coast and widespread coverage across the rest of the country. Today, Dupré maintains a fleet of more than 700 trucks and 1,000 professional drivers, and is partnered with more than 16,000 preferred carriers.

Over the last 40 years, Dupré has established an impressive footprint, becoming an integral part of the supply chain in the Sun Belt. With Stonepeak’s extensive supply chain expertise and experience with similar transportation and logistics businesses, Dupré will have an expanded toolkit at its disposal to be able to better deliver for its customers.

BGL’s Transportation & Logistics Infrastructure investment banking team, led by Managing Director Craig Decker, has deep sector knowledge and extensive transaction experience representing companies across road, rail, marine, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Our Transportation & Logistics team is deeply connected across the industries we serve, maintaining strong relationships with strategic and financial buyers.