PITTSBURGH, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rochester-based Cardinal of Minnesota, which provides residential and in-home services for people with disabilities and employs about 450 people, is under new ownership as longtime CEO Jack Priggen retires. 

The Cottages Group of Burnsville, a family-owned, 24-year-old company providing the same services, is now behind the wheel at Cardinal. This acquisition more than doubles the company's footprint in Minnesota and grows its workforce from 250 to 700. 

The Braff Group served as the exclusive financial advisor for Cardinal of Minnesota. 

"Our intention is to make as little changes as possible. We're just merging the two companies together. Jack and Michelle (Priggen) did such a great job with Cardinal," said Cottages CEO Brittany Eriksmoen. "We're not changing the name. We're keeping all of the employees. We want to make this seamless for both employees and clients." 

Cardinal's headquarters will remain in the complex at 3008 Wellner Dr. NE, which it built in 2008. All of the 45 care residences that provide care and housing for people with developmental disabilities and related conditions will continue to operate as they have in Rochester, Winona, Austin, Red Wing, Harmony, Chatfield, Spring Valley, Mantorville and Bemidji. The Cottages' facilities are located in St. Cloud, Burnsville, Dakota County and now in southern Minnesota. 

Priggen explained that the fit between the companies, both geographically and philosophically, made sense. 

"I'm delighted that a buyer was found who is so well aligned with our mission, vision and values, and I couldn't be more excited about the future of the company that I spent 30 years building, being in good hands," he said. "It was a key filter for us to find an organization that not only shares our values but also isn't headquartered in Arizona or Michigan and just wants to expand their national footprint." 

Cardinal worked with The Braff Group, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm specializing in health care services, to line up The Cottages as a buyer and to guide the sale process. 

"It was an honor to work with Jack and the Priggen family," said Steve Garbon, The Braff Group Managing Director that headed up the deal team.  "Jack's entrepreneurial start is a fantastic story and one of the many reasons why working with business owners is so rewarding." 

About The Braff Group:

Founded in 1998, The Braff Group is the leading health care advisory firm specializing exclusively in behavioral health, home health, home care and hospice, health care staffing, home medical equipment and pharmacy services. The firm has completed over 385 transactions and has been repeatedly ranked among the top five health care mergers and acquisitions advisory firms. Visit thebraffgroup.com and follow The Braff Group on LinkedIn.

Contact:  Karen Cullen kcullen@thebraffgroup.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-braff-group-advises-cardinal-of-minnesota-in-its-sale-to-the-cottages-group-302533081.html

SOURCE The Braff Group