Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. has acquired middle-market investment bank Petsky Prunier for up to $85 million. The deal underscores the buyer's commitment to adding scale to its fixed cost base in the U.S., diversifying its revenue streams, enhancing client offerings to clients with the aim of capturing greater marketshare, the buyer said in a release. Established in 1950, Canaccord is a full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets Petsky Prunier was founded in 1999, and focuses on the technology, media, marketing, information and services and healthcare sectors in the middle market. The target advised on more than 30 deals in 2018. "Our U.S. capital markets business has become an increasingly stronger regional competitor, and this acquisition advances our priority of investing in areas of higher margin potential, as we continue to position our company for increased stability and long-term profitability," says Canaccord Genuity CEO Dan Daviau. “The addition of Petsky Prunier creates an exceptional opportunity for our North American capital markets business, while simultaneously enhancing long-term value for our partners and shareholders.” Investment banks in the middle market have been consolidating. SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB) is buying healthcare-focused Leerink Partners for $280 million. Houlihan Lokey Inc. (NYSE: HLI) bought BearTooth Advisors, and B. Riley Financial Inc. (Nasdaq: RILY) bought FBR & Co. On the current deal, Freeman & Co. and Winston and Strawn advised Petsky Prunier. Debevoise & Plimpton advised Canaccord Genuity. Deal news InterContintental Hotels Group has acquired Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas from Pegasus Capital Advisors for $300 million. The target operates 16 hotels and resorts and 37 spas globally, and has a development pipeline of 18 signed management contracts. “This distinct proposition, combined with IHG’s scale, systems and expertise gives us an exciting opportunity to build on our success with Pegasus and accelerate the brand’s global growth," says Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs. Evercore Inc. (NYSE: EVR) and Kirkland & Ellis advised Six Senses. Millpond Equity Partners has invested in Futuri Media LLC, a provider of Software-as-a-Service products for audience engagement and sales intelligence to broadcasters and publishers. Petsky Prunier advised Futuri. JP Morgan Asset Management, Aberdeen Standard Investments, Oxer Capital, First Merchants Bank and Zapis Capital Group provided financing. NewSpring Mezzanine and Larsen MacColl Partners have invested in Turning Point Holding Co., a breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant chain. The target operates 16 locations in the Mid-Atlantic and will use the investment to fund growth. Bain Capital Double Impact-backed HealthDrive is buying New England Geriatrics, a provider of psychiatric care. Covington Associates, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC are advising the target. HKW-backed GRC has bought STR Grants, a software provider for grants management and disaster recovery programs. 3i Group is investing an additional $24 million in International Cruise & Excursion to support the company's merger with travel loyalty technology company SOR Technology. 3i originally invested in International Cruise in 2018. Intellectual property management company Anaqua has received an investment from European private equity firm Astorg. William Blair and Willkie Farr & Gallagher advised Anaqua. Evercore Inc. (NYSE: EVR) and Latham & Watkins advised Astorg. JAB has proposed to buy an additional 150 million shares in beauty company Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) at $11.25 per share to bring its stake in the company to roughly 60 percent. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is advising JAB. Fiverr, which helps connect businesses with freelancers offering digital services, including graphic design, copywriting, voice overs and music and film editing, has acquired ClearVoice, a content marketing platform and talent network that provides access to top creative professionals for customers, including Intuit, Carfax and Esurance. People moves Matthew Kirst was hired by Neptune Financial Inc., a technology-enabled lower middle-market commercial lender, as a senior managing director. Kirst previously held roles at Heller Financial, GE Capital and CapitalSource. John Martin has been named managing partner at Baker Botts. He is currently the partner-in-charge at the firm's Palo Alto, California office, and concentrates on M&A. John Sinders has joined Founders' Advisors as a managing director, where he is leading the firm's new Houston office. Sinders previously led or co-led energy transactions at Jefferies, RBC and Howard Weil. Zack Stiefler was hired by Corridor Capital as a principal, where he is focusing on evaluation, due diligence, financing and execution of new investments. He was previously with Lindsay Goldberg. John Wright has joined Ballard Spahr as a senior counsel, where he focuses on M&A. He most recently served as general counsel at aerospace and defense supplier Triumph Group Inc. (NYSE: TGI). Featured content Mergers & Acquisitions has closed the nomination process and is now looking forward to announcing the 2018 winners of the M&A Mid-Market Awards in March. The Awards are one of three special reports we produce each year to celebrate deals, dealmakers and dealmaking firms. The other two are The Rising Stars of Private Equity and The Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A. Related: For a look at the three special reports, including timelines and criteria for nominations, see Special reports overview: M&A Mid-Market Awards, Rising Stars, Most Influential Women. Technology M&A is thriving, and private equity firms are hot on the trail of innovations that will drive sustainable value to customers and make companies more efficient, more effective and less expensive to run. Among the developments appealing to PE investors are: artificial intelligence, data management, data virtualization, digital marketing, healthcare IT, industrial automation, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine learning, payment processing and Software-as-a-Service. To gain more insights into what kinds of tech deals will dominate the field in 2019, Mergers & Acquisitions reached out to 10 private equity firms that are active investors in technology: Francisco Partners, Genstar, Great Hill, HGGC, Insight, LLR, Riverside, Silver Lake, TA and Vista. Related: 10 private equity firms share strategies for tech M&A. Mergers & Acquisitions asked leading dealmakers about their outlook for the middle market in 2019. Watch the video conversations, shot at ACG Philadelphia's M&A East: It is a seller's market, and deal activity is expected to remain steady, says Ramsey Goodrich of Carter Morse & Goodrich: Outlook 2019: Great time to sell. Private equity firms and strategic buyers will use their excess cash and capital to look for deals, says Bharat Ramprasad of Stifel Nicolaus: Outlook 2019: Excess capital to fuel M&A. Rising interest rates and regulatory changes may increase volatility, cautions Mark Emrich of Murray Devine: Outlook 2019: Keep an eye on rising interest rates. Bank volume was steady, but deal values would have been the lowest in years if not for one big, and very intriguing, transaction. For more, see: Bank M&A: What January data hints about 2019. Not only do carve-outs account for 10 percent of all M&A activity, the percentage of carve-outs conducted by buyout firms (as opposed to strategic buyers) is on the rise, and sharply at that. And that’s important, because, at the risk of overextending the curveball analogy, the carve-out is ‘filthy stuff.’ The inherent complexities of the deal can puzzle even serial acquirers. Write Accordion's Gary Appelbaum and Eric Salit in this guest article: Carve-out curveball: How to hit a home run. Consumerization of healthcare, high-deductible health plans, and more self-payment by patients are contributing to the overall increased demand for PT services, write Battery Ventures general partner Chelsea Stoner in this guest article: Rising demand for physical therapy drives deals. Mergers & Acquisitions has named 36 leaders the 2019 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A, including Kainos Capital's Sarah Bradley, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors' Nishita Cummings and Pelham S2K Managers' Venita Fields. All 36 are outstanding dealmakers both inside and outside of their firms. This year, we asked the featured dealmakers to tell their own stories through Q&As, including their advice for women. Related: Meet the 2019 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A. Events The SBIA and the AM&AA are hosting a Deal Summit at The Doral in Miami from Feb. 20-22. The gathering offers networking opportunities with senior-level M&A advisors and lower middle-market private equity investors. ACG New York hosts the 11th Annual Healthcare Conference at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan on Feb. 28. Dealmakers network with healthcare-focused private equity investors and other industry professionals. ACG Minnesota and Corvus North are hosting AIM: A Women's Leadership Conference at the Minneapolis Hyatt on March 7. The conference is designed to support and encourage female leaders to grow and achieve success throughout their career journeys. ACG New York's Women of Leadership is hosting a golf event and reception on March 21 at Konnect Golf in Manhattan. The event brings together female dealmakers from private equity firms, investment banks and lenders.