Is it Time to Buy or Sell?

With large multi-nationals, major national brands, regional pest control companies and local firms looking to expand their market footprint, merger and acquisition activity in the pest control industry remains as active as ever.

Despite seismic shifts amid the COVID-19 era, the pest control industry has persevered. Many pest control businesses have emerged stronger and are looking to expand through acquisition or are contemplating cashing in their chips while their business is so highly valued.

Whether exploring the possibility of a sale, currently in the market for acquisitions or laying the groundwork for succession planning, you’ll want to attend PCT’s Mergers & Acquisitions Virtual Conference on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The event features some of the industry’s leading business minds who bring decades of real-world experience guiding entrepreneurs.

Attendees also will hear from representatives of the event’s sponsors, who will share their company’s M&A philosophy.

Sessions and speakers include:

The Changing M&A Landscape in the Pest Control Industry

Speaker: Tim Mulrooney, equity research analyst at William Blair

It’s been a busy 20 years for mergers and acquisitions in the pest control industry, capped off by the December 2021 announcement that Rentokil Initial was buying Terminix Global Holdings, making it the largest merger in the history of the pest control industry. Tim Mulrooney, equity research analyst at William Blair, will examine possible ripple effects of this deal and discuss the changing M&A landscape. Mulrooney will provide a historical look at valuation multiples through the economic cycle. He’ll also examine the influx of private equity in the pest control industry; the impact of D2D companies; and from where new large, regional pest control companies might emerge.

Business Obstacles PCOs Must Navigate in 2022 and Beyond

Speaker: Kemp Anderson, Kemp Anderson Consulting

PCOs learned to pivot and, in many cases, reinvent their business model during the COVID-19 era. While PCOs are optimistic for brighter days, the next set of business challenges is coming, namely tax issues, inflation and interest rates. Kemp Anderson, president of Kemp Anderson Consulting, will take an in-depth dive into these three topics.

Before, During and After the Sale: A PCO’s Perspective

Speaker: Jim McHale, president, JP McHale Pest Management

Staying on board post-acquisition is an option for PCOs in most mergers and acquisitions. In this session, we’ll learn how one PCO has made it work. Jim McHale sold JP McHale Pest Management in May 2019, but he has remained active in the business. In this session, McHale will discuss the history of JP McHale Pest Management; why he decided to sell; and what he got right (and wrong) in preparing his company for sale (and life after the sale).

M&A Case Studies: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Speaker: Paul Giannamore, The Potomac Company

Selling one’s business is one of the most important decisions a PCO will have to make. Mergers and acquisitions are complex business transactions that can best be navigated by having a team of experts, as well as planning, planning and more planning. In this session, global M&A expert Paul Giannamore will review commonly encountered M&A landmines and share his observations about what PCOs have done right — and wrong — before, during and after a sale.

To learn more and register for the Aug. 16 event, visit manda.pctonline.com.