Private investment firm GI Partners is making a majority investment in American Residential Services (ARS), a provider of residential heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing services.Existing investor Charlesbank Capital Partners (Charlesbank) and management are also making significant new investments in the business.
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally managed service centers in 23 states, with approximately 6,500 highly talented employees and the largest team of HVAC technicians and plumbers in the US. The company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with an emphasis on highly skilled employees, state-of-the-art technologies including smart home and remote diagnostics, 24/7 service and a 100% money-back guarantee. It operates under the well-known national brand ARS, as well as through trusted local brands in select markets, while capitalising on differentiated relationships with leading national retailers.
“We welcome GI Partners, our new majority partner, and are excited to work with them to build upon the considerable momentum in the business and execute on our growth opportunities,” says Dave Slott, CEO of ARS. “The GI Partners team brings deep services investment experience and operational and technological expertise that will provide significant opportunities for ARS’s employees while enhancing the customer experience. As we enter this next chapter of our evolution, we are also thrilled to continue our successful partnership with Charlesbank and are confident that these investments will accelerate our pace of both organic growth and M&A.”
Hoon Cho, Managing Director at GI Partners, says: “We have great appreciation for the business that the team has built and have been impressed by the growth and resiliency evidenced by the Company to date. We are very excited to partner with management and Charlesbank to accelerate positive change and execute on the significant opportunities ahead.”
Jeff Sheu, Managing Director at GI Partners, adds: “We look forward to collaborating with ARS and Charlesbank to aggressively expand ARS’s national footprint both organically and by acquiring best-in-class operators to strengthen ARS’s leading market position. We will remain committed to accelerating growth by deepening our strong relationships with customers, partners, and employees.”
Andrew Janower, Managing Director at Charlesbank, says: “We appreciate the dedication of the senior leadership team since our initial investment in 2014, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them for the next phase of ARS’s growth as a national leader in the residential HVAC industry. We are especially grateful for the continued commitment of ARS’s front-line employees and technicians, who have worked tirelessly to provide outstanding uninterrupted service to consumers across the country through the Covid pandemic.”
The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
