Heritage Capital Group, Inc., an investment banking and financial advisory firm serving middle-market and emerging growth companies in the U.S. and worldwide, is pleased to announce that its client, AQUAfin Swim Schools (AQUAfin), has been acquired by Emler Swim School (Emler).
AQUAfin is a swim school that provides individual and group swimming lessons for infants through adults. The Company uses a proprietary progress-based curriculum model that places students in classes based on their level of proficiency, not just their age. AQUAfin was founded by two-time Olympic swimmer and the Bolles School alumnus, Nim Shapira. It is the largest privately held swim school chain in Florida, with eight locations across the state.
Emler, established in 1975, specializes in teaching children how to swim through a fun, safe, and effective approach. It offers a structured curriculum across 11 levels that focus on both swimming skills and water safety. With over 60 locations throughout 15 states, Emler provides state-of-the-art facilities, including UV-purified pools and advanced air filtration systems, to ensure a comfortable and healthy environment for children and their families.
“It was a pleasure working with the Heritage team, led by Bill Prescott, to guide AQUAfin Swim School through this transaction,” commented Nim. “Their deep understanding of service-oriented businesses opened up several valuable opportunities for us. Their expertise and attention to detail throughout the entire process were invaluable in helping us navigate each step. We could not have successfully completed this transaction without the Heritage team’s support.”
Heritage served as the exclusive financial advisor to AQUAfin. The deal team was led by Bill Prescott and included Joe Hawkins, Howard Serkin, Chuck West, Robert Cilek, and Bobby Ward. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
