The McLean Group Advises Compass Water Solutions on Its Sale to CECO Environmental
McLean, Va. – June 1, 2022 – The McLean Group is pleased to announce that it advised Compass Water Solutions (“Compass”) on its sale to CECO Environmental (Nasdaq: CECE). Compass is a leading global supplier of membrane-based, industrial water and wastewater treatment systems that help customers achieve regulatory compliance of water discharge at the lowest lifecycle cost.
The transaction adds critical engineered solutions and an experienced leadership team to CECO’s growing industrial water capabilities. CECO expects the Compass acquisition to unlock greater value by leveraging CECO’s international sales resources, existing US Navy expertise, and global engineering and production footprint. In addition to market growth rates, the expected stricter water discharge regulations coupled with hard-to attain international certifications are expected to drive higher sales.
Over the past four decades, Compass has taken a leadership position in offering advanced membrane oily water separation (OWS) and reverse osmosis (RO) technology solutions to the marine and offshore markets with its industry leading UltraSep, Aqua-Sep®, and CRP-SEP® branded product offerings.
The McLean Group ran a very efficient and thorough M&A process, thereby allowing the Compass team to focus on the daily needs of running the business. McLean’s understanding of the water market was invaluable in finding the ideal strategic partner to further drive our Company’s vision.”
Thomas Farshler – Compass CEO
About Compass Water Solutions
Compass Water Solutions® (“Compass”) is a world-wide leader in the engineering, manufacturing, sales and service of membrane-based water and wastewater treatment systems. Compass helps customers achieve environmental compliance of water discharge (“Assurance against a spill”) at the lowest lifecycle cost using high-capacity oil-water separators, slop-water separators, reverse osmosis water-makers, water filtration and purification technology. The Company is widely recognized for its brand name, international certifications, global installed base and nearly 50 years of application expertise serving multiple industries. Compass has grown in annual revenue by providing highly differentiated solutions that protect marine environments and offshore operators. The Company is headquartered in Tustin, CA and operates an ISO 9001 certified assembly plant. For more information, please visit https://compasswater.com
About CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECE) (“CECO”)
About The McLean Group
For over 30 years, The McLean Group has been providing investment banking and financial services offerings focused on the Defense, Government & Intelligence (DGI), Security, Critical Infrastructure, Maritime, Facility Services, Unmanned Systems, and Public Safety markets. Our 60+ professionals bring deep industry experience and relentless execution to every client engagement. We provide solutions that blend financial creativity with operational expertise. Whether we are providing transaction advisory, valuation opinions, or growth capital, our services are unmatched in these core markets. Learn more at www.McLeanLLC.com.
RECENT NEWS
The McLean Group is Proud to Sponsor the 2025 Bob Kemp Classic
The McLean Group is honored to support the 2025 Bob Kemp Classic, a free community lacrosse game featuring Johns Hopkins University and Army. The event celebrates the legacy of Bob Kemp while raising funds to benefit the Washington Jesuit Academy. Families and fans alike are encouraged to attend for an afternoon of exciting competition and community spirit. […]
Fairness Opinions: Protecting Boards and Shareholders in M&A
As we approach the end of the year, many companies are finalizing strategic decisions, closing transactions, and preparing for what’s ahead. For directors and executives, this often means heightened scrutiny around governance and shareholder protection. Beyond negotiating terms and aligning on strategy, boards must also demonstrate that they acted in the best interests of shareholders. One tool has become increasingly important in this process: the fairness opinion. […]
Monthly Middle Market M&A Insider Report (August 2025)
The McLean Group’s August 2025 M&A Insider Report highlights a month of dynamic transaction activity across defense, government, technology, and infrastructure sectors. Notable deals include acquisitions in ISR software, EO/IR satellite payloads, offensive cyber, aerospace components, and laser systems — underscoring strong buyer demand for mission-critical technologies and advanced manufacturing. Valuation multiples remain robust, driven by continued interest from strategic and financial sponsors seeking growth in high-priority national security and infrastructure markets. This report provides executives with a clear view of how current deal flow, sector dynamics, and valuation trends are shaping opportunities for both acquirers and sellers. […]