Private equity-backed Monarch Landscape Holdings has added two more regional powerhouses to its growing family of landscape firms, catapulting the Los Angeles-based company into the top 20 ranks of commercial landscape firms nationally with revenues exceeding $80 million and more than 1,000 employees across four states (California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho).
Monarch Landscape Holdings was first established in 2015 when it acquired the Seattle area’s Signature Landscape Services that May. Monarch then acquired Woodinville, WA-based Northwest Landscape Services (NLS) in February of this year, and now San Jose, CA-based Jensen Landscape in April.
Monarch is led by CEO Brian Helgoe, a distinguished horticulturalist. Helgoe has more than 20 years of experience as an operator and executive in the commercial landscape services industry, including most recently serving in a senior leadership role at ValleyCrest Companies. “I’m honored that landscape firms the caliber of Jensen and NLS have chosen to be a part of Monarch because it validates the partnership we envisioned creating with our equity partner, One Rock Capital Partners,” said Helgoe. “Our success in attracting these landscape industry leaders is directly correlated to our platform being closely aligned with their customer-first service values, landscape-based workplace culture, and collaborative team approach.”
Monarch is backed by One Rock Capital Partners, a New York-based investment firm that provides critical access to capital and connections that will allow the venture to grow. Monarch intends to continue building its West Coast presence via additional partnerships with mid-sized, regional landscape firms that generate revenues in the $10 to $50 million range.
More on the two most recent acquisitions
Jensen Landscape was founded in 1969 and has more than 350 employees from eight locations across Northern California. “We chose to be a part of Monarch because we recognized that its leadership group is filled with experienced, front-line landscapers who share our vision, and because it’s a work atmosphere that understands and values landscape expertise,” said John Vlay, Jensen’s chairman, CEO and president, who will continue to operate the firm as executive vice president. “We know our customers will appreciate seeing the same people delivering the high level of service they’ve come to expect from Jensen at their properties.”
NLS was founded in 1990 and has 400 employees from nine locations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. “The foundation NLS, established as the largest landscape company in the Northwest, serves as a great launching point for our next growth phase under Monarch’s umbrella,” said Tom DiMeco, NLS’ managing partner who will assume the role of senior vice president at Monarch. “It is terrific to see our team being warmly welcomed into a family of companies that prides itself on being a great place for landscape professionals to work.”
