Viking Mergers and Acquisitions provided advisory services for the sale of this second-generation family business, with Hansen Family Office as the buyer. A competitive market process was conducted prior to the transaction.
Charlotte, North Carolina, November 6th / PRNewswire / -- After being held by the family for over 40 years, Martin Landscaping in Charlotte has become a 100% employee-owned company through a transaction with Hansen Family Office, marking a new chapter in its history. This transition allows the long-term owners, Lisa Markus and David Martin, to gradually step back from their daily operational responsibilities while preserving the company's heritage, supporting its employees, and laying the foundation for continued business growth.
Martin Landscaping was founded in April 1980 by the parents of Markus and Martin. It began as a subcontractor for seeding and erosion control services and has since grown into a respected enterprise that provides services for commercial and infrastructure projects in the Charlotte area. The siblings acquired the company from their parents in 2007 and have spent the majority of their lives since then building its reputation. Martin has worked at the company for 45 years, while Markus has been there for 35 years.
Under their leadership, Martin Landscaping has been involved in projects related to airports, roads, public utilities, landfills, parks, and commercial development. The company's work at Charlotte Douglas International Airport is so prominent that the airport has even featured it in promotional videos. Today, the demand for services provided by Martin Landscaping still exceeds its capacity.
When considering the arrangements for the next phase between Markus and Martin, their priorities are not limited to the selling price. They wish to protect the company's reputation, create opportunities for their employees, and find experienced management support so that they can continue to hold the roles they enjoy.
Viking Mergers and Acquisitions's Haydn Flores, Michael Elliott, and Franco Cacciuttolo represented the property owners throughout the selling process, introducing this opportunity to over 200 potential buyers and facilitating multiple offers.
This competitive process enables Markus and Martin to evaluate potential buyers and ownership structures based on financial results, management continuity, employee interests, and the roles they wish to assume after the transaction. In the end, Hansen Family Office stood out due to the certainty of the transaction, its ability to obtain support from experienced operational leadership, and its employee stock ownership model.
Viking M &A Senior Consultant Haydn Flores states: " ESOP may be a very good outcome for business owners, but it's important to understand how this option compares to other solutions on the market. By conducting a competitive process, Lisa and David can evaluate multiple quotes and make informed decisions about what is most beneficial for them, their employees, and the future of the business. Hansen offers appropriate financial value, operational support, and long-term arrangements that are in line with their goals."
Led by Zach Hansen, Hansen Family Office has collaborated with private enterprises to assist them in transitioning to an employee stock ownership model through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company has acquired more than a dozen firms and relies on a network of over 1,100 experienced operational personnel to support management and operations after the transactions are completed.
Through this 100% ESOP transaction, the employees of Martin Landscaping now possess the equity in the company they have jointly built. Markus and Martin will continue to participate in company affairs and receive additional management resources as well as support from experienced operational staff to help the company move on to the next stage.
Markus indicates that throughout the process of selling our company, the Viking team was outstanding. It was a complex process involving many stages, but they maintained a positive response, patience, and deep involvement from the early stages all the way to delivery. I am particularly grateful that they were always willing to explain issues, answer the many questions I raised, and to push everyone forward towards the goal.
For Martin Landscaping, this transformation is not just a change in ownership structure. Employees who have contributed to the company's success now have the opportunity to share in the future financial benefits of the company.
The day after the delivery, Martin introduced ESOP to the employees, and Cacciuttolo also helped to explain the relevant details in Spanish to ensure that team members understood what employee stock ownership meant for them and their families.
Martin Landscaping will continue to provide services to customers under its original name, carrying on the cooperative relationships, standards, and professional experience established over the past 45 years.
About Viking Mergers in Charlotte, North Carolina and Acquisitions
Viking M Charlotte Office provides support for business owners with annual incomes ranging from $2 million to $250 million. Viking We offer free business valuation services, continuous valuation updates, as well as comprehensive exit planning and strategies for small and medium-sized business owners.
As one of the largest and most successful mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firms in the United States, Viking is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tampa, Florida, with offices across the country providing exceptional brokerage services and M&A advisory work. Over the past 30 years, Viking has successfully sold more than 950 companies, with a transaction rate exceeding three times the industry average. Viking has consistently maintained an impressive transaction rate of 85%, with sellers typically receiving 96% of their asking price.
Visit https :// www.vikingmergers.com / market / business-brokers-charlotte-nc to apply for confidential and free business valuation, or to learn more about selling or acquiring businesses.
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