One of the nation’s largest Motorola Solutions providers expands to 33 locations with 13th add-on acquisition

WJ Partners, a private investment firm focused on growing lower-middle market companies, today announced the add-on acquisition of Myrtle Beach Communications (MBC) to its existing portfolio company Mobile Communications America (MCA), a leading provider of two-way radio solutions and services for the construction, transportation, manufacturing, public safety and government industries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Since being acquired by WJ Partners in 2013, MCA has grown from five locations primarily serving metro Atlanta to 33 locations across six Southeastern states. The rapid expansion has been fueled by 13 add-on acquisitions that not only expanded MCA’s geographic reach but also added new capabilities to better serve the company’s customers.

“WJ Partners is very pleased by the significant growth of MCA and the outstanding work performed by the management team,” said Benjamin Wall, co-founder and managing partner of WJ Partners. “These strategic acquisitions over the past five years illustrate the successful execution of our investment thesis, which is to consolidate the fragmented Motorola dealer market, build a talented executive team capable of integrating targets, and invest heavily in strategic systems and training that support the company’s growth.”

WJ Partners has grown MCA into the nation’s largest Motorola Solutions service provider, Motorola’s largest manufacturer’s representative, and one of the largest resellers of Motorola Solutions in the country for 2017. Through its 2016 acquisition of Wireless Communications, MCA also became the sole North American distributor of Nokia microwave backhaul systems and MPLS technology, a complementary service to MCA’s two-way radio solutions.

Other acquisitions over the past 12 months have improved the company’s geographic reach, including Amerizon Wireless of Fayetteville, North Carolina; Communications Specialists Inc. of Columbia, South Carolina; and Communications & Electronics Inc., which has locations in Dalton, Georgia, as well as Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee.

The acquisition of MBC extends MCA’s reach into the Grand Strand area of South Carolina, filling a gap between existing locations in Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina. In addition, MBC’s robust video surveillance capabilities and expertise will enhance MCA’s current offerings to all of its customers across the Southeast.

“MBC’s service capabilities and commitment to superior customer service align perfectly with our core values, making them a perfect partner,” said Mark Blackman, CEO of MCA. “We’re excited to bring MCA’s expanded services and solutions to the Myrtle Beach area while continuing to build on MBC’s stellar reputation for quality and service, and we’re pleased to be retaining all of MBC’s current employees.”

First Tennessee Bank provided the debt capital for WJ Partners to complete the acquisition.