This month’s top deals from around Southern California
In the dynamic mergers & acquisitions environment of Southern California, companies expand, acquire others and reorganize themselves every day. Here are some of the biggest splashes companies have made since the beginning of 2025.
Huntington Beach-based KabanaSoft Acquired by New York-based Yext Inc. for $20.3M
KabanaSoft, a Huntington Beach-based software company doing business as Places Scout, was acquired by New York-based Yext Inc. for $20.3 million on February 7. The company’s search engine optimization software targets online business marketing and visibility reporting, such as brand audits, rank tracking, reputation monitoring, listing audits, competitive analysis and lead generation. KabanaSoft was founded in 2011.
“Bringing Places Scout’s data into Yext immediately enhances our competitive intelligence capabilities, helping brands not just see where they stand but know exactly what steps to take to outperform their competition,” said Michael Walrath, chief executive of Yext, in a statement.
Bidna & Keys served as legal advisor to Places Scout, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal advisor to Yext.
Encore Fire Protection Sold to Permira for $1.8B
Encore Fire Protection, a company backed by Los Angeles private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, was sold to Permira, a London-based investment firm, for $1.8 billion, including debt.
The company specializes in fire safety services such as inspection, installation and maintenance of fire alarms and equipment.
In January, Encore Fire Protection recently acquired Fireline Corp., a Mid-Atlantic provider of fire and life safety equipment.
Encore was founded in 1983 and primarily works with businesses from Virginia to Northern Maine. Commercial customers include commercial real estate, education, healthcare, hospitals and apartment buildings, among others.
Biotech Firm Acelyrin Inc. to Merge with Alumis Inc. in $320M Deal
Agoura Hills-based biotech firm Acelyrin Inc. agreed to merge with San Francisco-based Alumis Inc. in a deal valued at $320 million on February 6. Upon completion of the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, approximately 55% of the combined company will be owned by Alumis shareholders and 45% by Acelyrin shareholders. The combined company will operate under the Alumis name, and its headquarters will remain in South San Francisco. It will be led by the current Alumis executive team.
"Through this combination with Acelyrin, Alumis will have the financial flexibility and runway to advance an expanded late-stage pipeline, now including Lonigutamab, and build commercial capabilities," said Martin Babler, chairman and chief executive of Alumis, in a statement.
Morgan Stanley & Co. served as financial advisor to Alumis, and Cooley served as legal counsel. Guggenheim Securities served as financial advisor to Acelyrin, and Fenwick & West served as its legal counsel.
-David Nusbaum
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