BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., a GREEN and Sustainable Award-Winning Company, Acquires Lawn Maintenance Company in Dallas

Houston, Texas – On July 13, 2010, BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. (BIO), a Yellowstone Landscape Group company, expanded its Texas presence through the acquisition of Forest Hills Lawn Service, Inc. based in Dallas. Forest Hills Lawn Service, Inc. was established by Bob Ford, in 1975 as a lawn maintenance and landscaping company primarily focused on municipal and governmental accounts including the City of Dallas, the City of Rowlett, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Dallas Public Libraries.

Robert Taylor, President of BIO, commented, “BIO’s geographic footprint in Texas continues to grow rapidly. We felt that the next strategic branch for BIO should be in Northeast Texas. BIO’s maintenance division has been hard at work winning prestigious accounts in the Dallas area, so when we learned of the acquisition opportunity we knew it was a good fit. With the Forest Hills Lawn Service, Inc. acquisition, BIO gains valuable employees, a state of the art facility, and an equipment repair dealership business which allows BIO to bring additional value to customers. Ford will continue to play a significant role as an advisor while preparing for retirement. Craig Duttarer, a BIO employee with over 15 years of landscape industry experience, will become the onsite Dallas Branch Manager.”

Ford commented on the acquisition, “I feel good about the sale. Now I can be a part of a great organization while looking forward to a new stage in my life; more time for family, relaxation, and my other interests. I also look forward to helping BIO build their Dallas branch.”

Duttarer said, “I’m excited to play a part in expanding the BIO brand into North Texas. My focus for the upcoming year will be on strengthening relationships while enhancing customer service in the Dallas market.”

With the acquisition of Forest Hills Lawn Service, Inc., BIO now serves 21 counties with a combined workforce of over 500 professionals throughout Texas. The transaction marks the third addition to BIO over the last year. In October of 2009, BIO acquired Outdoor Environments, LLC; a Houston based commercial landscape maintenance company. In December of 2009, BIO acquired Texas Services, Ltd., a sustainable Tree Care focused lawn maintenance and landscape company in Houston. In May of 2010, BIO officially opened a maintenance branch in Beaumont. BIO operates multiple branches in the state of Texas.

About BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc.

BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., established in 1982, is a full service sustainable landscape contractor providing turnkey landscape services for a range of commercial, municipal, institutional, retail, athletic, medical, resort, and multi-family properties. Services include landscape maintenance, landscape installation, irrigation installation and maintenance, arbor care, athletic field construction, colorscaping and green programs. BIO staff consists of Licensed Irrigators, Licensed Drain Layers, a Certified Water Auditor, Licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers, Chemical Applicators, ISA Certified Arborists, Texas Certified Landscape Professionals and a LEED Accredited Professional.

A natural leader in the landscaping industry, BIO has established itself as a leading green advocate with its compost BIOtea program, organic BIOlife fertilizer and propane powered maintenance equipment. BIO’s green capacities were realized when it was chosen to install and maintain Shangri La Botanical Gardens, the first Platinum LEED certified job in the state of Texas. In 2010, BIO was recognized by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) as a Gold winner of the coveted Texas Excellence in Landscaping (TEIL) award for the Shangri La Botanical Gardens.

Additional green and sustainable services BIO offers include a green waste management program, recycling plant containers, utilizing drip and Smart irrigations systems for water conservation, fertigation, worm casting and organic soil amendments.

BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. is a philanthropic community leader, with staff serving on a variety of charitable committees. The company is involved with numerous industry related groups including the Greater Houston Partnership, Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors, NAIOP, the Houston Apartment Association, Sports Turf Management Association and the Houston Gulf Coast Irrigation Association.

In April of 2008, BIO became a member of the Yellowstone Landscape Group, a leading national green and sustainable full service landscape management company.

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For more information about BIO please call (713) 462-8552 or visit www.biolandscape.com.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group

Yellowstone Landscape Group, Inc. headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family, HOA and estate markets. Yellowstone offers a comprehensive landscape service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values. Services include landscape maintenance, landscape installation, irrigation installation and maintenance, arbor care, athletic field construction and colorscaping. Yellowstone currently serves customers in Texas, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina with plans for substantial geographic expansion. By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and the scales of scope and efficiency the Yellowstone Landscape Group, Inc. provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering.

Yellowstone currently oversees three major operating subsidiaries: Austin Outdoor based in Florida, BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. based in Texas and Piedmont Landscape based in Georgia, making it the seventh largest full-service commercial landscape group in the United States. 

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Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

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Houston, Texas – On December 31, 2009, BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. (BIO), a Yellowstone Landscape Group company, expanded its Texas presence through the acquisition of Texas Services, LTD. (Texas Services). Texas Services, a sustainable Tree Care focused Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping Company, is headquartered in Houston, Texas. They were founded in 1976 and currently provide services to Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and the surrounding areas. Texas Services will now become the Tree Care Department of BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc.

Robert Taylor, President of BIO, said, “Texas Services will further expand BIO’s geographic footprint by adding a stationed office in the growing Sugarland area while allowing us to offer an expanded portfolio of sustainable services, including Tree Care, to all of Texas. Jim Sivils, Jeff Hanawalt and Robert Jaynes, who were prior owners of Texas Services, will join BIO’s management staff in key roles. We welcome Jim, Jeff and Robert to the organization and are excited about this expansion. Texas Services brings a team of ISA certified professionals invested in the Tree Care business with a focus in customer service. BIO is honored to partner with this respected Houston icon.”

Jim Sivils, the former majority partner of Texas Services, is the new Strategic Accounts Business Developer for BIO. Sivils commented on the acquisition, “We are excited to join an organization with the same culture and commitment to customer service, safety and employee development. When companies with the same objectives are integrated the opportunities for customer and employee success along with organic growth are a certainty. We  are really impressed by the BIO/Yellowstone company structure and relationship, their team focused attitude, how most decisions are left in the operating company hands, the attention to customer needs versus company structure, and the additional benefits offered to Texas Services by becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of BIO. It is safe to say that the future of our company is much brighter and that our customers will continue to be placed first.”

With the addition of Texas Services, BIO now serves 15 counties with a combined workforce of 440 professionals throughout Central and Southeast Texas. The transaction marks the second addition to BIO in 2009. In October of 2009, BIO acquired Outdoor Environments; a Houston based commercial landscape maintenance company.   

About BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc.

BIO, established in 1982, is a full service sustainable landscape contractor providing turnkey landscape services.  These services include landscape and irrigation installation, maintenance, tractor mowing, colorscaping, athletic fields, Tree Care and green programs.

A natural leader in the landscaping industry, BIO has established itself as a leading green advocate in the industry with its compost tea program, organic BIOLife fertilizer and propane powered maintenance equipment. BIO’s green capabilities were realized when it was chosen to install and maintain Shangri La Botanical Gardens, the first Platinum LEED certified job in the state of Texas.

BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc. is active in the community, with staff serving on a variety of philanthropic committees along with industry related groups including The Greater Houston Partnership and Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. Other industry affiliations are with Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors, NAIOP, the Houston Apartment Association and the U.S. Green Building Council.

In April of 2008, BIO became a member of the Yellowstone Landscape Group, a national leading green and sustainable full service landscape management company.

For more information about BIO, please call (713) 462-8552 or visit www.biolandscape.com.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group

Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family and estate markets by offering a comprehensive service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values in a variety of geographic locations.  Yellowstone currently serves customers in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida with expansion plans already in place to increase its geographic footprint.  By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and the scales of scope and efficiency, the Yellowstone Landscape Group provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering. 

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Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

Yellowstone Landscape Group acquires three companies to form a strong hold on the industry

In about a year’s time, Yellowstone Landscape Group of Dallas, Texas, went from total obscurity in the landscaping industry to climbing into the top 20 largest landscape companies based on revenues.

Gridiron Capital, LLC of New Canaan, Conn., is the private equity firm behind the formation of Yellowstone, previously known for manufacturing youth athletic equipment, aftermarket products and specialized industrial parts. So, why did they delve into the uncharted waters of the highly fragmented $50 billion landscape services industry?

For starters, Gridiron knew they could place their trust in a well-seasoned entrepreneur with a unique vision for the landscaping industry who could use his vast knowledge in business administration and business mergers. What’s more, this new CEO was to come full circle from when he was a kid in high school operating his own successful lawn care company.

“Yellowstone Landscape Group, the holding company, doesn’t profess to be an expert in the landscaping industry,” explains John Miller, the entrepreneurial CEO and green industry visionary for Gridiron. “Our three operating companies are the experts. What we offer is support in such areas as insurance, IT systems, financing and acquisitions. The operating companies share their expertise in their respective specialty areas with each other. Altogether, we prefer to look at it as shared business intelligence.”

This trio began as a duo first with BIO Landscape & Maintenance in Houston, Texas, and Piedmont Landscape Contractors in Atlanta, Ga., acquired in April 2008, immediately placing Yellowstone in the top 20. Then, Austin Outdoor in Bunnell, Fla., acquired eight months later, gained them an even firmer foothold in the top 20.

Today, Yellowstone is meeting projections with expectations of nine-figure revenues in the coming year. For now, it will be staying true to its key geographic markets in the Sunbelt states in, or near, their respective member’s headquarters of Florida, Georgia and Texas. Unique to the industry, its goal is to maintain a 60/40 mix of maintenance versus construction sales.

Yellowstone, unlike past landscaping industry merger and acquisition models, didn’t want to force its acquired companies into any common template. It recognized that their markets and customer bases were different, and each company’s management was proven.

A trio of acquisitions

Robert Taylor, founder of BIO, chose Yellowstone after prepping a couple of really good books for presentation purposes with several interested buyers. BIO began as a liquid fertilizer company in 1982. Since then, it has expanded and is recognized as a premiere landscape services company in the greater Houston area.

“Yellowstone fit my exit strategy perfectly,” Taylor explains. “I didn’t have a son or daughter to pass on the baton. I wanted my top managers to be protected and even benefit from any sale.”

As the most senior of the three partners, yet only in his early 50s, Taylor wasn’t ready to quit the business he loved running. Yellowstone had no problem with that. Beyond bringing in the important geographic market of east Texas, BIO’s expertise on large government contracts was attractive.

Now a partial owner of Yellowstone, Taylor and BIO’s leadership team retain significant ownership in BIO and will also be leading Yellowstone’s expansion throughout Texas. He now has some liquidity and has spread out his risk. The other two partners at Piedmont and Austin also have an equity stake. Yellowstone believes it’s crucial for its acquired companies to have skin in the game.

Although Piedmont is a young company, merely a decade old, it was approached by Yellowstone for not only being one of the largest locally owned landscaping companies in Georgia, but also for being skilled at obtaining maintenance contracts with major HOAs.

“Many of our people were leery about going into this arrangement because of all the negative things they’ve heard about similar acquisitions in this industry in the past,” says Drew Watkins, Piedmont’s co-founder. That was quickly dissipated when Yellowstone allowed the company to continue to run like it always had with Watkins still making the day-to-day decisions on an operational basis.

“Yellowstone is not interested in micromanaging us,” explains Taylor. “They didn’t come in and change things indiscriminately. Rather, they focus on big picture items by telling us ‘This is where we want to be and what are your ideas for getting us there?’”

Working through an investment advisor to find a private equity firm to partner with and grow its business to the next level, Austin looked seriously at about half a dozen other private equity firms. None of them provided the same level of opportunity that Gridiron offered through Yellowstone. Its lucrative Florida market and experience with the installation and management of Class A communities and resorts extending to the Bahamas attracted Yellowstone.

“We now have the financial strength to focus on what we do best,” says founder Edward Schatz Jr. “That is taking care of our clients, as well as our employees who serve them.”

Changes

Taylor admits that his job has changed since the merger. He is now spending much of his time communicating with corporate, acquiring other companies and preparing long-term budgets. There is now a huge shift within his organization on sales and contract retention. “The refocus of attention and reporting up has changed my workday, but I understand how necessary it is to achieve long-term goals,” he says.

From an operational standpoint, Yellowstone brought Piedmont to a whole new level with fresh ideas operationally. “Prior to Yellowstone, we were in the Dark Ages with our IT systems,” says Watkins. “Now we are using state-of-the-art financial software and are going through the process mapping exercise companywide. As we grow, there will be HR improvements in healthcare benefits and talent sharing.”

Since Austin’s acquisition, Schatz has had to take on additional reporting requirements, but doesn’t find it overburdening. “Now my focus has expanded to handling all of Florida for Yellowstone, not just the markets we were currently serving [Florida’s Atlantic north coast].”

The three operating companies share their ideas on sales markets. Each company shares bid strategies with the other operating companies to allow expansion into all types of work. The principals speak over the phone regularly, there are weekly conference calls with each company’s sales managers and key decisions are made at quarterly roundtable meetings with the four partners.

“I have learned a tremendous amount from the other principals in areas where Austin hasn’t been traditionally strong,” says Schatz. “For example, Robert Taylor taught me about bidding on government contracts; Drew Watkins, apartment maintenance; John Miller, long-range planning and keeping an eye on the big picture.”

Watkins adds, “When you operate on your own, you are on an island. You don’t have the benefit of picking the brains of other companies. Now I have access to free-flow of valuable information whenever I want it. I can pick up the phone anytime, ask tough questions and get other valuable opinions.”

Gathering consensus on how to bring in the branding of Yellowstone’s well-established companies in their respective markets presents an interesting challenge. “Everyone has a different idea about icons, logos and colors,” says Taylor. “The result of those discussions is a totally different look for our trucks, uniforms and marketing material.”

Miller is OK with the Yellowstone label added somewhere near each company name like a “Good Housekeeping” seal. “We want to position our companies in our clients’ minds that each one is part of a broader entity enhancing its financial capability to deliver, but focused on local needs and relationships.”

For the past 20 years, Tom Crain has been a regular contributor to B2B publications including many in the green industry. He is also a marketing communications specialist for several companies in the travel, agriculture and nutrition industries.

Robert Taylor, president of BIO, said, “Outdoor Environments and its principal, Chris Lallier, will quickly become an integral part of the BIO team.  Chris worked for BIO some years back, went out on his own, and we welcome him back to share in the vision we have for BIO and Yellowstone.  Chris is a very capable manager and will soon be running our North Houston Branch.  Chris models the values within our organization in regard to integrity, customer service, and professionalism.”

Outdoor Environments, led by Chris Lallier over the past 8 years, was built from the ground up through aggressive sales, referrals, and word of mouth.  “Outdoor Environments is fortunate to now have adequate resources and support for our customers to enhance the quality of their service.  Together with BIO, we will establish a significant presence in the North Houston market.”  This transaction allows Chris to pursue his strength of relationship building in the role of Branch Manager with a focus on business development.

With the addition of Outdoor Environments, BIO now serves 10 counties with a combined 380 employees throughout Southeast Texas.  In April 2008, BIO merged with the Yellowstone Landscape Group, one of the largest full service and environmentally focused landscape providers in the United States.

About BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc.

BIO, established in 1982, is a full service landscape contractor providing turnkey landscape services.  These services include landscape and irrigation installation, maintenance, colorscaping, athletic fields, arbor care and green programs.

A natural leader in the landscape industry, BIO has established itself as a leading green advocate in the industry with its compost tea program, organic BIOLife fertilizer and propane powered maintenance equipment.  BIO’s leadership was realized when it was chosen to install and maintain Shangri La Botanical Gardens, the first Platinum LEED certified job in the state of Texas.

BIO is active in the community, with staff serving on committees at The Greater Houston Partnership and Texas Nursery and Landscape Association.  Other industry affiliations are with Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors, NAIOP and the Houston Apartment Association.  For more information about BIO, please call (713) 462-8552 or visit the Web site at www.biolandscape.com.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group

Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family and estate markets by offering a comprehensive service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values in a variety of geographic locations.  Yellowstone currently serves customers in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida with expansion plans already in place to increase its geographic footprint.  By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and the scales of scope and efficiency, the Yellowstone Landscape Group provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering.  Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

Edward Schatz, Jr., president of Austin Outdoor, said, “Dolphin Landscape was a perfect fit for our company.  We were drawn to the enthusiasm of Dolphin’s leadership and their impeccable landscape care practices and their long-term client relationships.  They truly understand and have a passion for the aesthetic beauty they provide in the communities they serve.”

Dolphin Landscape has been led by Kenny Lopez throughout the past 27 years.  Lopez has developed the company mainly through word of mouth, which has grown to include 150 employees with offices in Loxahatchee, Palm City and Port St. Lucie.  The merger allows Lopez to pursue his strength of relationship building by taking on the role of business development professional with Austin Outdoor.

“I feel honored that Dolphin Landscape is now part of Austin Outdoor.  This strategic decision provides my clients with expanded services, resources, expertise and efficiency.  Austin Outdoor is the type of company I was looking for with their local, focused Florida presence.  I look forward to this endeavor with Austin Outdoor,” said Lopez.

With this merger, Austin Outdoor now serves 12 Florida counties with a combined 500 employees throughout the East Central, Northeast, Central and Southeast regions.  In January 2009, Austin Outdoor merged with the Yellowstone Landscape Group, one of the largest full service and environmentally focused landscape providers in the United States.

About Austin Outdoor

Austin Outdoor, established in 1994, is a horticultural organization dedicated to creating, building and maintaining sustainable landscapes. The organization provides landscape architecture, landscape construction and landscape management for premier properties and is dedicated to offering a wide range of services that enhance clients’ investments and improve the quality of life.  Austin Outdoor operates from its Florida offices in Bunnell/Flagler County (headquarters), Jacksonville, Orlando, Port St. Lucie and newly-acquired West Palm Beach location as well as its out-of-state office in Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas.  For more information about Austin Outdoor, please call (386) 437-6211 or visit the Web site at www.austinoutdoor.net.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group

Yellowstone Landscape Company was founded by Gridiron Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in New Canaan, Connecticut.  Yellowstone, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national leader led by a team of dedicated professionals with years of experience in all service lines of landscape architecture, maintenance and construction.  Yellowstone serves the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, resort, multi-family, HOA and sports markets by offering services with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values. In addition to Austin Outdoor, the Yellowstone Landscape Group presently includes Atlanta-based Piedmont Landscape and Houston-based Bio Landscape and Maintenance. Yellowstone serves customers in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and the Bahamas with plans for geographic expansion. Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com and www.gridironcapital.com for more information.

Bunnell, Florida, January 6, 2009 – Bunnell-based Austin Outdoor (www.austinoutdoor.net) today announced that it has become part of the Yellowstone Landscape Group (www.yellowstonelandscape.com), one of the largest full service and environmentally focused landscape providers in the United States.  Austin Outdoor’s leadership will retain significant ownership in Yellowstone and will lead the Company’s expansion in Florida and the Bahamas.  Edward Schatz, Jr., founder of Austin Outdoor, said, “Our focus on creating premier properties, building lasting relationships is closely aligned with Yellowstone’s vision of building a world class landscape organization dedicated to customer experience, return on investment and environmental stewardship.” William Dellecker, Executive Vice President and head of operations, added, “We’ve built a team of landscape specialists whose common goal is to continually deliver the most knowledgeable and professional service to every customer and project. Joining Yellowstone will enable us to provide our customers with additional professional expertise, enhanced sustainable services and the ability to expand into larger geographic markets.”

Austin Outdoor is an award winning market leader in Florida and the Bahamas, and has risen to prominence by building a reputation based on quality, innovative design, reliability, value-added solutions and the ability to handle large and complex projects. The company provides comprehensive landscape services to the commercial, resort and hospitality, municipal, multi-family and master planned community markets. As a Yellowstone Landscape Group Company, Austin Outdoor will continue working in partnership with general contractors, developers, owners, property managers, architects, and real estate professionals to enhance the value of their landscape investments.

Yellowstone’s CEO, John Miller, stated, “Our joint vision of building a world-class landscape organization by providing our customers with the best team, most efficient operational processes and environmentally intelligent services makes the Austin Outdoor and Yellowstone merger a natural fit.  In addition to making Yellowstone one of the nation’s largest full-service landscape companies, the merger of Austin with Yellowstone provides additional management depth, a diverse customer base, new service capabilities and sophisticated IT systems. We believe that by joining forces with Austin Outdoor we’ve created the strongest value proposition for our stakeholders.”

About Yellowstone Landscape Group
Founded by Gridiron Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national leader with a team of dedicated professionals with years of experience in all service lines of landscape architecture, installation, maintenance and construction. Yellowstone serves the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, resort, multi-family, HOA and sports markets by offering a portfolio of green and sustainable services with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values. In addition to Austin Outdoor, the Yellowstone Landscape Group presently includes Atlanta-based Piedmont Landscape Contractors and Houston-based Bio Landscape and Maintenance. Yellowstone
serves customers in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and the Bahamas with plans for geographic expansion. Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com and www.gridironcapital.com for more information.

Press contacts:

Judith M. Guido
(818) 800- 0135
jguido@yellowstonelandscape.com

Owen Tharrington
(203) 972-1100
otharrington@gridironcapital.com

William Dellecker
(386) 437-6211
bdellecker@austinoutdoor.net

Download Press Release (PDF)

Houston, Texas, April 30, 2008 – Houston based BIO Landscape & Maintenance Inc. (www.biolandscape.com) today announced that it has become part of the Yellowstone Landscape Group, one of the largest full service landscape providers in the United States.  BIO’s leadership team will retain significant ownership in Yellowstone and will lead the Company’s expansion throughout Texas.

Robert Taylor, President of BIO Landscape & Maintenance, said, “Yellowstone joins us in recognizing that our people are our most trusted asset in delivering the same high quality of customer service that our customers have come to expect for decades.  Our shared culture and vision for delivering the highest quality service will be greatly enhanced by bringing additional resources for growth through technology, business and landscaping processes.  Our entire organization and key stakeholders are excited about the opportunities that this strategic opportunity brings to all of our customers, employees and community.”

BIO Landscape & Maintenance is recognized as a premier landscape services Company in the greater Houston area and provides comprehensive landscape and horticultural services to the commercial, municipal, institutional and estate markets.  BIO is a true environmental steward and market leader as it has been utilizing green and sustainable horticultural and integrated pest management practices for decades.  Yellowstone Landscape Group’s CMO and Executive Vice President, Judith M. Guido, stated, “I’ve been privileged to be a part of this industry for a very long time, and the team at BIO and the Yellowstone Landscape Group are some
of the brightest and most experienced people I’ve met in the Green Industry.  The opportunity to work with a team of true professionals and take landscape management to a new level for our customers, employees and industry is a very exciting and rare opportunity.”

BIO Landscape & Maintenance, which will go by the name of BIO Landscape & Maintenance, a Member of Yellowstone Landscape Group, is one of the largest professional landscape firms in the country.  They have successfully served the greater Houston area for twenty five years by working with municipalities, general contractors, developers, owners, property managers, HOA boards, architects and real estate professionals to provide them with environmentally fiscal landscape solutions in addition to a positive return on their landscape investments.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group
Founded in 2008 by Gridiron Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family, and estate markets by offering a comprehensive service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values in a variety of geographic locations.  Yellowstone currently serves customers in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina with expansion plans already in
place to increase its geographic footprint.  By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and green initiatives, the Yellowstone Landscape Group provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering.  Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

Press contacts:

Judith M. Guido
(818) 800- 0135
jguido@yellowstonelandscape.com

Owen Tharrington
(203) 972-1100
otharrington@gridironcapital.com

Robert Taylor
(281) 924-7664
roberttaylor@biolandscape.com

Download Press Release (PDF)

Atlanta, Georgia, April 30, 2008 – Atlanta based Piedmont Landscape Contractors, LLC (www.piedmontlandscape.com) today announced that it has become part of the Yellowstone Landscape Group, one of the largest full service landscape providers in the United States. Piedmont’s leadership team will retain significant ownership in Yellowstone and will lead the Company’s expansion throughout the Southeast.

Drew Watkins, a co-founder and head of maintenance services for Piedmont, said, “We are energized by the opportunity to become part of such a talented, customer focused and committed team like the Yellowstone Landscape Group. The people, culture and vision of Yellowstone are aligned with our success, goals and vision for our great employees and customers. The additional resources and expertise that Yellowstone provides brings unparalleled value to all of our stakeholders.” Phil Walters, co-founder and head of installation services, added “We have always been the provider of choice for the highest quality, most responsive services. I view this as a great opportunity which will help us expand into larger geographic markets and support our valued customers as their
needs grow.”

Piedmont is a leading comprehensive landscape and horticultural Company that employs green and sustainable services to the commercial, municipal, multi-family, resort and residential markets throughout the Southeast including Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia.  The Company is recognized as an industry leader in enhancing the design and value of landscapes as well as providing award-winning customer service.

Yellowstone Landscape Group’s CEO, John Miller, stated, “Our vision as one of the nations leading full service landscape companies is to provide industry-leading customer service, while delivering best-in-class green and sustainable practices and increasing the overall value of our customers’ real estate assets.  The culture and customer focus of the Piedmont team makes this the perfect fit for Yellowstone.”

Piedmont, which will go by the name of Piedmont Landscape Contractors, LLC, a Yellowstone Landscape Group Company, is one of the largest professional landscape firms in the country, and an award-winning Company that has been successfully serving the Southeast by working with general contractors, developers, owners, property managers, architects and real estate professionals to provide them with full service landscape solutions in addition to a positive return on their landscape investments.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group
Founded in 2008 by Gridiron Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in New Canaan, Connecticut, the Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family, and estate markets by offering a comprehensive service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values in a variety of geographic locations.  Yellowstone currently serves customers in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina with expansion plans already in place to increase its geographic footprint.  By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and green initiatives, the Yellowstone Landscape Group provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering.  Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

Press contacts:

Judith M. Guid0
(818) 800- 0135
jguido@yellowstonelandscape.com

Owen Tharrington
(203) 972-1100
otharrington@gridironcapital.com

Drew Watkins
(770) 318-1054
dwatkins@piedmontlandscape.com

Download Press Release (PDF)

“Our management team is extremely excited to become owners of Yellowstone, and we are thankful for Gridiron’s financial commitment and partnership with the Company,” stated John Miller, CEO of Yellowstone. “Together we will be able to utilize our management and industry experience and build on BIO and Piedmont’s leadership to accelerate market share growth, expand our service offering and differentiation while supporting our customers efforts more aggressively in other U.S. markets,” stated Judy Guido, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Yellowstone. Yellowstone has grown to become one of the 20 largest landscape services companies in the United States and is a market-leader in landscape services in its focus markets, serving the Southeast, South Central and Southwest United States. The Company’s environmental focus, customer service orientation, desire to expand its geographic reach and belief in the value of its employees as the drivers of a Company’s success, complements the culture at both BIO and Piedmont. The Company looks to identify opportunities within each of its platform markets and achieve growth through cross-training, expanding service offerings, sharing best practices throughout the organization and strategic acquisitions.

“Yellowstone has carved out a strong niche as the leader in innovative services adding value to their customers’ properties. Creating value for customers is consistent with Gridiron’s strategy of partnering with superior management teams and owners to build businesses and add value by providing the support necessary to grow and realize the companies’ full potential,” said Gridiron Capital Managing Partner Eugene Conese Jr. “BIO and Piedmont are premier brands within the highly-fragmented $50 billion landscape services industry. Combined, BIO and Piedmont’s comprehensive service offering and diverse customer base will allow them to build on their proven track record of profitable growth in a dynamic sector,” stated Gridiron Capital Principal Owen Tharrington.

About Gridiron Capital:

Gridiron Capital, LLC, headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut, is a private equity firm focused on creating value by acquiring and building middle-market manufacturing, service and specialty consumer companies in the United States and Canada. The firm’s principals have historically achieved superior investment returns by employing a combination of strategic, operating and financial experience to provide portfolio companies with competitive advantages. Gridiron’s portfolio includes Schutt Sports, PAS Technologies, Ramsey Winch, Auto Crane, McKenzie Sports and Electronic Systems Protection. Visit www.gridironcapital.com for more information.

About Yellowstone Landscape Group:
Yellowstone Landscape Group, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a national landscape leader dedicated to serving the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, institutional, resort, multi-family, and estate markets by offering a comprehensive service solution of green and sustainable practices with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values in a variety of geographic locations. Yellowstone currently serves customers in Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida with expansion plans already in place to increase its geographic footprint. By delivering best-in class horticultural and business practices, a highly skilled workforce, value-added pricing strategy and green initiatives, the Yellowstone Group provides its customers with a premium comprehensive service offering. Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com for more information.

About BIO:
BIO Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, offering a full range of commercial and institutional services for customer types including governmental, commercial, general contractors and home owners associations. Visit www.biolandscape.com for more information.

About Piedmont:
Piedmont Landscape Contractors, LLC, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, provides comprehensive maintenance and installation services for retail, commercial, municipal, industrial and multi-family communities. Visit www.piedmontlandscape.com for more information.

Press Contacts:
Eugene P. Conese, Jr., Managing Partner, Gridiron Capital, LLC
gconese@gridironcapital.com; (203) 972-1100 x 102

Owen G. Tharrington, Principal, Gridiron Capital, LLC
otharrington@gridironcapital.com; (203) 972-1100 x 310

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