Jackim Woods & Co. Sells Chemical Maintenance, Inc. to Area Distributors
Champaign-based janitorial supplies distributor finds perfect buyer through strategic sale process
Deal Highlights
Jackim Woods & Co. is proud to announce the sale of Chemical Maintenance, Inc. (CMI), a leading janitorial supplies distributor in Champaign, Illinois, to Area Distributors of Quincy, Illinois. This strategic acquisition creates value for both companies while ensuring continuity for CMI’s employees and customers.
The CMI Success Story
CMI represents true entrepreneurial success. Betsy Parks started as a salesperson after college and worked her way up over 20 years to eventually buy the company from the founder’s family. Along with her husband Brad, she grew CMI into a thriving regional distributor, even acquiring a local competitor to strengthen their market position.
When the Parks family decided to retire and spend more time with family, they chose Jackim Woods & Co. to handle the sale.
A Competitive Sale Process
Our comprehensive marketing strategy reached buyers across the janitorial supplies industry, generating exceptional interest:
- 50+ qualified buyers signed NDAs and received detailed information
- Nearly a dozen formal offers demonstrated strong market demand
- Area Distributors emerged as the ideal strategic partner
Why This Deal Works
The acquisition creates compelling benefits for both companies:
For Area Distributors:
- Geographic expansion into an attractive adjacent new market
- Enhanced purchasing power through increased scale
- Access to CMI’s prestigious customers (universities, hospitals, hotels)
- Operational synergies with a well-run organization
For CMI:
- Continuity under experienced ownership
- Cultural alignment with similar values
- Foundation for continued growth
“We are elated to connect with the Area Distributors group going forward. They will maintain our company culture for our customers, employees, and valued suppliers. We really have a lot of similarities, and it is important to me that the whole team will remain intact in Champaign.”– Betsy Parks, Former Owner, CMI
Industry Expertise Drives Results
This successful transaction highlights Jackim Woods & Co’s deep expertise in the janitorial supplies sector. Our understanding of industry dynamics, buyer networks, and deal structures helps clients achieve optimal outcomes.
The Jan/San sector continues to show resilience and consolidation opportunities as companies expand geographically and seek operational efficiencies through strategic partnerships.
About Jackim Woods & Co.
Jackim Woods & Co. is a specialized investment banking firm focused on middle-market transactions across distribution, manufacturing, and service sectors. We provide comprehensive M&A advisory services, helping business owners achieve their strategic and financial objectives.
Ready to explore your options? Contact Rich Jackim, Managing Partner, to learn more about our Jan/San sector expertise.
About the Author and Jackim Woods & Co.
Rich Jackim is an investment banker, entrepreneur, and former mergers and acquisitions attorney.
For the last 25 years, Rich has been providing boutique investment banking services to middle-market companies in a wide range of industries, including the janitorial supply sector.
Rich also founded a successful training and certification company called the Exit Planning Institute, which he sold to a private equity group in 2012.
Rich is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, The $10 Trillion Dollar Opportunity: Designing Successful Exit Strategies for Middle Market Businesses.
Jackim Woods & Co offers skilled mergers and acquisitions advisory services to privately owned janitorial supply companies in both sell-side and buy-side transactions. Jackim Woods & Co has arranged over 100 successful transactions, ranging from less than one million to more than eighty million dollars in value.
If you own a janitorial supply company and are interested in exploring your options, I would welcome an opportunity to speak with you.
Feel free to contact me at 224-513-5142 or rjackim@jackimwoods.com.
This article is also available on LinkedIn.
