Enhanced Landscape Management (ELM), the maintenance division of Valencia, Calif.-based Landscape Development, Inc. (LDI), purchased the assets of Quality Landscape Care (QLC), located in Ventura, Calif. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
LDI is No. 18 on the LM150 list, with a projected 2018 annual revenues of $90 million. It was founded in 1983 by Gary Horton; he continues to serve as president and CEO. LDI currently operates nine regional offices throughout central and Southern California.
“QLC is a leading public works maintenance provider in Ventura County and presented a great opportunity for us to more solidly enter that market and diversify our maintenance portfolio,” Horton said.
LDI now runs about $22 million in revenue in recurring landscape maintenance operations, according to Horton. He said the company’s goal is to top $35 million in maintenance this year.
The entire staff of approximately 50 employees of QLC is being retained in this transition. Michael Robinson, founder and owner of QLC, joins the ELM executive team as the leader of its Ventura branch operations and will play a key role in business development in the Ventura and Central Coast markets.
“We have been on a steady growth trajectory for the past several years, and we are continuing this through organic and acquisition-based opportunities,” said ELM Division President Ron Reitz. “When we have opportunities such as this to bring on board a team that shares our passion for quality, service and commitment, it is very exciting.”
Robinson added, “I’ve long admired ELM, and consider joining ELM an optimal union between our two companies sharing identically matching customer-facing priorities.”
The QLC business will be branded as ELM immediately to ensure a consistent brand in the ELM service areas. The clients of QLC will continue to experience the same service, staff and management they’re accustomed to. As a result of this acquisition, clients of QLC will be offered a broader range of services including landscape construction, maintenance, water management, landscape architecture and erosion control in an expanded service area.
“This is an exciting addition to our LDI family and one which will bolster our presence in a key market for us,” Horton said. “We continue to pursue acquisition opportunities to further grow and diversify our business while providing ever-expanding, best-in-class service to our valued clients.”
Additional reporting by Abby Hart.
