Sterling Investment Partners, a middle-market private equity firm, made a majority equity investment in HeartLand, in partnership with management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HeartLand is a provider of commercial landscape and facilities services, currently operating in five markets across the central U.S. The company’s founder, Edward Schatz Jr., backed by a proven and entrepreneurial team of green industry executives, chose to partner with Sterling to continue to build a scalable platform in the industry.

Charles Santoro, managing partner and co-founder of Sterling, said, “We are very excited to partner with HeartLand’s entrepreneurial team, who have a compelling history of success in the space.  We look forward to working with the company to expand its geographic reach, as the team continues to build a world-class platform.

HeartLand is headquartered in Kansas City and serves clients through its five regional companies: Signature Landscape in Kansas City (Kansas and Western Missouri), Columbia Landcare (central Missouri), Keesen Landscape (Denver), Hillenmeyer Landscape (Lexington, Ky.) and JML Landscape (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Services include full-service maintenance, landscape enhancements and winter services. Each operating platform is a leader in its respective market, with strong brand reputations for high-quality work, responsiveness, reliability, excellent communication and sustaining long-term client relationships.

HeartLand’s leadership team includes CEO Ed Schatz, Chief Development Officer Bill Dellecker and CFO Peter Welch, who have decades of experience building successful businesses within the commercial landscape industry. By selectively investing in top regional providers, HeartLand has created a diverse platform that combines the power of a preeminent local service model with the financial resources, integrated systems, technical and developmental resources of a progressive industry leader, according to the company.

Edward Schatz Jr, CEO of HeartLand, said, “We conducted an intensive and focused search to secure a new financial partner who will support our continued growth; that process led us to the ultimate selection of Sterling Investment Partners. While they possess the depth of financial resources we needed, they also bring an understanding of and enthusiasm for this business. Their proven track record and management partnership philosophy has resulted in the growth and development of multiple firms over the years and we are confident they will help HeartLand achieve that same level of success. We’ll make a strong team!”