PHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK, May 28, 2014: The Brickman Group. Ltd. LLC and ValleyCrest Companies, LLC announced on May 21 that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement, creating a world-class landscape and snow services company delivering customized solutions for commercial clients throughout the U.S.
The merger, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close by mid-2014. Brickman is currently owned by private equity firm KKR & Co. L.P., and ValleyCrest is currently owned by affiliates of investment firm MSD Capital, L.P. Following the close, KKR will have majority ownership of the combined company and MSD Capital will retain a significant minority ownership interest.
Rockville, MD-based Brickman is the leading provider of landscape maintenance and snow removal services in the U.S. Calabasas, Calif.-based ValleyCrest Companies is the nation’s largest integrated landscape services company with 11,200 employees and operations in more than 150 locations nationwide.
Morgan Lewis represented The Brickman Group in negotiating the merger agreement, serving as counsel in connection with the transaction on employee benefits, labor and employment, immigration and government contracts matters. The Morgan Lewis team was led by Employee Benefit and Executive Compensation Practice partners Amy Pocino Kelly and Gary Rothstein. Assisting on the transaction were Labor and Employment Practice partners Melinda Riechert and Eric Bord and associates Jeffrey Sturgeon and Jocelyn Cuttino and senior attorney Michael Lignowski, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation associate Carly Grey, Litigation Practice partner Todd Steggerda and FDA Practice partner Stephen Ruscus.
For further information about the transaction, please see Brickman’s press release.