Environmental Services Acquisitions in Louisiana

Best Trash, a Richmond, Texas-based municipal solid waste platform, has acquired Pelican Waste & Debris, a Southern Louisiana and Mississippi residential and commercial hauling provider. The deal expands Best Trash's footprint beyond Texas into Louisiana and Mississippi and adds roll-off and construction debris services; Pelican founders Roddie Matherne and Corey Callais will retain an ownership stake in the combined company.

Pittsburgh-based private equity firm Incline Equity Partners has acquired Edko, a Bossier City, Louisiana-based provider of herbicide-based vegetation management and outsourced forestry services. Incline said it intends to support Edko’s growth through geographic expansion and M&A, with debt financing provided by Twin Brook Capital Partners.

Spectrum Water Technology (Spectrum Biotechnologies, LLC) has acquired AFCO 360, LLC, a Lake Charles, Louisiana–based provider of industrial wastewater treatment equipment, chemicals and services. The deal expands Spectrum's capabilities and footprint across the U.S. Gulf Coast while AFCO's leadership will remain with the combined business and retain an ownership stake.

Atlanta-based Arrow Exterminators has acquired McKenzie Pest Control, a full-service pest and termite control company headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The deal represents Arrow's first location in Louisiana and will see McKenzie operate as Stark Exterminators while the McKenzie team members remain with Arrow.

Waste Pro USA, Inc. has acquired Workbox, LLC, a Port Allen, Louisiana-based provider of roll-off, portable sanitation, and waste services. Workbox founder and CEO Martin Padial and his staff will remain with the business to ensure continuity of service as Waste Pro’s Louisiana divisions integrate the customers and operations.

Environmental Systems Group, a Bernhard Capital Partners-backed environmental services platform, has acquired ELOS Environmental, a Hammond, Louisiana-based environmental consulting firm. Financial terms were not disclosed; the add-on expands Environmental Systems Group’s consulting, GIS, and waste management capabilities and strengthens its Gulf Coast geographic presence.

Water Engineering, a portfolio company of Nolan Capital, has acquired Delta Chemical Corp., a Jefferson, Louisiana–based provider of water treatment chemicals, equipment, consultation and preventative maintenance services. Delta's owners, Ross Heidingsfelder and Lee Mauberret, will remain with the business as it joins the WEI platform to expand the platform's footprint and continue WEI's consolidation strategy in water treatment services.

CoLaTenTex, LLC, a private investment firm, has acquired Ecoserv, LLC, a provider of integrated waste sequestration and offshore cleaning services to the oil & gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. Brown Gibbons Lang & Company served as exclusive financial advisor to Ecoserv; terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cotton Creek Capital has sold Gonzales, Louisiana-based Vecta Environmental Services, a provider of industrial and environmental services, following a multi-year partnership that grew Vecta from three locations to eight and materially increased revenue and earnings. The business was acquired by Silver Oak Services Partners (recapitalization/ownership change), with Cotton Creek and Vecta advised by Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company and Greenberg Traurig respectively.

VLS Environmental Solutions, a portfolio company of Aurora Capital Partners, has acquired Plaquemine Point Shipyard (PPSY), a full-service barge cleaning and repair facility located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. PPSY will operate within VLS's Marine Services division to expand VLS's geographic coverage along the Mississippi River; the deal is an add-on and marks VLS's eighth acquisition since partnering with Aurora.

Kinderhook Industries partnered with management to recapitalize Live Oak Environmental, a regional solid waste collection and special waste hauling business based in Bossier City, Louisiana. The recapitalization will support an aggressive growth plan — including targeted add-on acquisitions across Northwestern Louisiana and East Texas — with financing provided by Comerica Bank; financial terms were not disclosed.

Pittsburgh-based private equity firm Incline Equity Partners has acquired Edko, a Bossier City, Louisiana-based provider of herbicide-based vegetation management services for utilities, municipalities and other rights-of-way operators. Incline said it will partner with Edko's management to expand geographic coverage and service offerings through organic initiatives and acquisitions.

MAX Environmental Holdings, a portfolio company of Altus Capital Partners II, L.P., has acquired LEI, Inc., a Gulf Coast recycling and waste management services provider. The add-on expands MAX’s geographic reach into the Gulf Coast, adds recycling capabilities and access to permitted facilities; financial terms were not disclosed.

Vecta Environmental Services, a Gulf Coast industrial and environmental services platform backed by Cotton Creek Capital, has acquired Holeshot Services, LLC, a Lake Charles, Louisiana-based provider of hydroblasting, hydro-excavation, vacuum truck and tank cleaning services. The add-on expands Vecta's footprint and equipment capacity in Southeastern Texas and Southern Louisiana, increasing its operating locations to seven and strengthening service capability for industrial, chemical and environmental customers along the Gulf Coast.