Joe Wagner
Managing Director
Joe Wagner is a Managing Director with PMCF. He leads the firm’s Industrials Services & Distribution team. He has nearly 25 years of investment banking experience advising his clients on buy side and sell side M&A advisory, shareholder recapitalizations, leveraged and management buyouts, and the private placement of equity and debt. He specializes in advising businesses that operate in the flow control, construction & building products, capital equipment, food & beverage, aerospace & defense, metals, and transportation & logistics end markets. Joe’s clients include domestic and international privately-held businesses, publicly-listed companies, and private equity groups.
Joe began his investment banking career as an Analyst at PMCF. Over his tenure at the firm, he was promoted several times, advancing to his current role as Managing Director. Joe has authored numerous M&A reports and is a frequent speaker at M&A-focused events. In addition, Joe has been a featured author and podcaster for several industrial trade publications. In 2025, Joe was named by Crain’s as a Dealmaker of the Year.
Joe earned a BBA with an emphasis in finance from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, graduating with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. He is a licensed securities representative holding his Series 7, 63, and 24 registrations.
Transaction Experience
PMCF Advises ePost Global on its Partnership with GLS Group
PMCF Advises The Grote Company Family of Brands in its Transaction with BBH Capital Partners Private Equity
PMCF Advises Airsupply Jeyco in its Sale to Tide Rock
PMCF Advises Home Pro Exteriors in its Transaction to Aligned Exteriors Group
PMCF Advises Pro-Vision in its Sale to Vance Street Capital
PMCF Advises P&B Intermodal in its Sale to AEA Investors
PMCF Advises RPM Freight Systems in its Sale to Trive Capital and Bluejay Capital
PMCF Advises Crane Engineering in its Acquisition of Geiger Pump & Equipment Company
Publications
Distribution M&A Pulse – Q1 2026
U.S. distribution M&A activity remained relatively stable in Q1-26, with 78 announced transactions compared to 82 in the prior-year period, reflecting a resilient domestic backdrop despite a somewhat uneven macroeconomic environment.
Fresh Flavors, Functional Foods, and GLP-1: Key Food & Beverage M&A Trends in 2026
Market trends in Food & Beverage are leaning toward innovative products, international flavors, and functional, healthy foods, with GLP-1 naturally influencing consumer purchases.
Food & Beverage M&A Pulse – Q1 2026
FOOD & BEVERAGE M&A MARKET DYNAMICS Global transaction activity declined in Q1‑26, with deal volume falling 14.1% year‑over‑year to 208 transactions. In contrast, U.S. transaction volume remained stable versus Q1‑25 at 81 transactions, marking a clear improvement relative to prior quarters and suggesting an early inflection favoring U.S. activity versus global M&A markets. Strategic buyers…
Distribution M&A Pulse – Q4 2025
Q4 2025 reflected lower transaction volumes alongside sustained strategic engagement. Global distribution M&A activity declined 36% year over year during the quarter, with U.S. volumes exhibiting a similar contraction.
Food & Beverage M&A Pulse – Q4 2025
Q4-25 U.S. and global transactions fell 25 percent and 38 percent, respectively, compared to the same quarter in the prior year.