Orlando, FL – Champion Nationwide Contractor and the George E. Fern Company expanded into the Florida exhibition market by acquiring The Audie Group, another general service contractor.
Terms of the deal were not announced. Audie Group founder Jim Audie now heads up the combined companies’ facility in Orlando as its general manager.
Champion CEO Mark Epstein said the acquisition was part of Fern’s strategy to capture a larger slice of the Florida market and added that further acquisitions were possible. Currently, Epstein said, Champion must truck its goods to Florida from its distribution facility in Atlanta.
Champion and Fern are linked through Wachovia Capital Partners, which acquired Fern in 2005 and also made an equity investment in Champion.
Reach Mark Epstein at (800) 387-7469 or mark.epstein@champion-nationwide.com
