HCI Equity Partners acquires Custom Lawn Care

HCI Equity Partners, a lower middle-market private equity firm, has acquired Custom Lawn Care. This is the second investment in HCI’s thesis-driven strategy to consolidate companies in the large and fragmented market of residential lawn care treatment, tree and shrub services and pest control. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Based in Butler, Pennsylvania, Custom is a second-generation, family-owned provider of lawn care treatment services to residential and commercial customers in the Pittsburgh metro area. The company specializes in lawn care, tree and shrub care, tick and pest control, aeration and hydroseeding, and has built a reputation for quality service and customer satisfaction. HCI’s acquisition of Custom provides its lawn care treatment platform with geographic expansion into a second Pennsylvania market, as Grasshopper Lawns, Inc., the first acquisition completed within the platform, is located adjacently in Larksville, Pennsylvania. Custom is led by brothers Rick and Robb Ritenour, who will remain with the company after the transaction and continue to run the day-to-day operations.

“We’re very impressed by the Ritenour family and the high standard of service and customer satisfaction that Custom has established among its customers in the Pittsburgh metro area,” says Nate Novak, principal at HCI. “Growing the platform’s presence in Pennsylvania and the broader Mid-Atlantic is a key priority, and the acquisition of Custom is a positive step in that direction.”

“The HCI team has been great to work with and stuck to their word the whole process,” says Rick Ritenour of Custom. “We are excited to partner together and help HCI build a leading lawn care platform in Pennsylvania and beyond.”

“Our vision is to build a leading player in the lawn care industry, and Custom is a strong addition," says Doug McCormick, Managing Partner at HCI. "Custom brings an excellent customer-focused service model and expands the platform to a second market in Pennsylvania. We look forward to partnering with the Ritenour family and entire Custom team.”