Read more about these NALP members and partners in the news.
APHIX Receives Investment from Caltius Equity Partners
APHIX, based in Frankfort, Kentucky, has partnered with Caltius Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on lower-middle market companies. This is the first time the company has partnered with an institutional investor.
APHIX has grown from a single-location operation focused on residential customers to a provider of commercial landscaping services in Louisville, Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. They provide landscape maintenance, enhancements and winter services.
“With the strong alignment between our cultures, we are thrilled to have CEP as our financial partner,” says Allen Sweeney, president and founder of APHIX. “Their deep knowledge of the facility services industry and experience helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses is an ideal combination as we move to the next phase of growth at APHIX.”
CEP is looking to build a leading company in the landscaping services industry and is actively evaluating add-on acquisitions of companies with strong maintenance revenues and $0 to $12 million of EBITDA.
“We are confident that our capital and industry experience will help Allen and the rest of the management team achieve their growth goals, organically and through acquisitions,” says Jeffrey Holdsberg, managing director of CEP.
Bland Landscaping Company Acquires The Byrd’s Group
Bland Landscaping Company, Inc., based in Apex, North Carolina, has acquired The Byrd’s Group in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bland Landscaping is a full-service provider of landscape design, installation, enhancement and maintenance services to commercial customers, including offices, hospitals, universities and HOAs. They serve the Triangle, Triad, Charlotte and Coastal regions of North Carolina. The Byrd’s Group was founded in 1980 by Bobby W. Byrd and provides landscape maintenance, enhancement and irrigation services.
“We are very excited to partner with The Byrd’s Group,” says Kurt Bland, Bland Landscaping’s president and CEO. “Since 1976, Bland Landscaping has built a brand centered around quality work, attentive customer service, and a commitment to excellence in everything we do. The Byrd’s Group team has a terrific reputation and shares our passion for landscape management. As Bland Landscaping continues to grow and expand our regional platform, The Byrd’s Group provides a key branch location on the eastern edge of the fast-growing metropolitan Charlotte market. This 9-acre facility gives us ample room for growth and puts us one step closer to building out the multi-prong model we are working towards to efficiently serve the Greater Charlotte area.”
Bland Landscaping is continuing to seek acquisitions of other maintenance-focused commercial landscape management providers, with a focus on companies based in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Action Lawn and Tree Service Merges with Weller Brothers Landscaping
Recently Action Lawn and Tree Service, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, merged with Weller Brothers Landscaping, also located in Sioux Falls.
Action Lawn and Tree Service has specialized in lawn, tree, and pond care and pest control services since 2016. Their 14 employees will join Weller Brothers’ 100-person staff. Owner Ryan Myott says their customers will receive the same quality services from the same team.
“We are very excited about this merger,” says Cole Weller, president and CEO of Weller Brothers Landscaping. “With the addition of Ryan and his team, we are able to expand our services to include enhanced pest control, and a full scope of tree healthcare, pruning, and removal services. This aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering our customers a full scope of the highest quality lawn and landscape maintenance services in the Midwest.”
SavATree Merges with West Michigan Tree Services
SavATree has merged with West Michigan Tree Services, making it their third branch in the state.
“West Michigan Tree Services is a distinguished company in the West Michigan region that shares many of SavATree’s core values and commitment to top quality care,” says Carmine Schiavone, SavATree CEO. “We’re very happy to continue the company’s legacy and support its clients with augmented service lines and science-backed treatment options.”
West Michigan Tree Services specializes in caring for residential and commercial clients. Owners Dan Klaver and Larry Pfeifer, along with their team, will remain on board with SavATree as part of their ongoing commitment to building and maintaining quality relationships. The owners say when they reviewed the companies SavATree has partnered with, they saw the highest quality leaders in the industry,
“We want to be a part of this melting pot of family-owned businesses that retain their local feel while benefitting from enhanced resources and dedicated staff,” says Klaver and Pfeifer.
Davey Tree Expert Company Adds Arboristry Associates
Arboristry Associates, based in Faber, Virginia, has joined Davey Tree Expert Company’s family of brands.
The company started in 1993 and provides residential and commercial tree and plant health care to the Charlottesville, Virginia, region. All 12 of Arboristry’s employees plan to stay on with Davey.
“Joining Davey will provide a huge benefit to our clients and team members,” says Mike Neal, founder and owner of Arboristry. “The Arboristry our clients are familiar with will be gaining new Davey team members from across the continent to exchange knowledge and experience, which will ultimately benefit our clients’ properties.”
The Arboristry team will now have access to Davey’s diagnostic lab, the Davey Institute, which provides scientific support to the team and clients’ needs.
