Issue 10 2019

Acquisition International - Issue 10 2019 5 News : from around the world ZT Motors Expands Into Atlanta ZT Motors, a portfolio company of Houston- based Private Equity firm, ZT Corporate, recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Steve Rayman Chevrolet dealership located in Atlanta, Georgia. This major acquisition will add to the company’s auto dealership portfolio that includes Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota and Mazda dealerships in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. “This is a major win for customers in Atlanta and within the automotive industry,” said Taseer Badar, Chairman and CEO of ZT Corporate. “By leveraging Keith Monnin, president of ZT Motors’, deep experience in growing dealerships with the best brands in the automotive industry, we know that he is going to preserve Steve Rayman Chevrolet’s legacy and also elevate it to new experience that will be unlike any Chevrolet dealership in the Greater Atlanta area.” The Steve Rayman Chevrolet dealership has been Atlanta’s trusted auto resource centre since 1985. They are known for providing an impeccable auto experience and offering the most competitive prices, reliable service and transparent purchase processes. “Taseer Badar’s well-known passion for cars and Keith Monnin’s wealth of experience leading dealerships to record growth make this an exciting opportunity for the Steve Rayman Chevrolet team,” said Steve Rayman. “We are excited and honoured to be part of a regional platform led by people who know and love cars.” After rapidly growing the Fort Walton Beach dealerships, ZT Motors began seeking opportunities to acquire additional dealerships under the leadership of ZT Motors’ highly- successful automotive management team. ZT Corporate has a practice of retaining leadership talent with roots in the local community when it acquires dealerships. “Our growth thesis is to create value for our investors, customers and store-level talent by acquiring top performer and cash-flowing dealerships where we can leverage its operating strength to expand the business. The portfolio is on pace to double its EBITDA since its initial acquisition of the Fort Walton Beach, FL dealerships and plans to continue that growth story with the Steve Rayman Chevrolet dealership,” said Sheheryar Shah, Chief Investment Officer of ZT Corporate. This acquisition fits ZT Motors’ growth strategy by adding a classic American brand to its thriving dealership portfolio and by giving the company a strong footprint in a major market, with the overall goal of adding future acquisition targets in the pipeline. “ZT Motors’ growth story is about our incredible customer service and strategic acquisitions,” said Keith Monnin, PresidentZT Motors. “The Steve Rayman Chevrolet team understands how quality service drives growth, so I’m looking forward to working with them to enhance this business.” The parties representing the transaction included: Taseer Badar, Chairman and CEO of ZT Corporate; Keith Monnin, President of ZT Motors; Claire Thompson, CFO of ZT Motors, and Sheheryar Shah, COO of ZT Corporate. Legal representation services for ZT Corporate were provided by Monica Hoenshell of the Calvert Law Firm; Anwar Qadeer of Qadeer and Associates; Bob Morris, Broker, Tim Lamb Group; and transaction financing were provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Crowe LLP conducted the financial due diligence of the transaction. For more information about ZT Corporate, visit www.ztcorporate.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram at @ZTCorporate. Automotive experts with an eye for exceptional customer service poised to continue growth in Southeast United States. Certus, a new entrant to the pest control market, announces it has appointed Rich Ennis to its Board of Directors. Rich Ennis is a former pest control executive who led Steritech as Chief Executive Officer for four years, until its eventual sale to Rentokil. During his tenure, Steritech grew from $30 million of revenue to over $150 million of revenue. The widely reported sale price of $425 million made it one of the most valuable exits in the history of pest control transactions. Mike Givlin, CEO and co-founder of Certus, said, “Rich led Steritech to become a leading player in the commercial pest control industry through an intense focus on people, culture, integrity, and innovation; this aligns perfectly with our key values at Certus.” Rich Ennis further commented that “After meeting with the current board members, the executive team, and having worked with Mike for many years, I feel that Certus has the right team, philosophy and understanding of the pest control industry to be able to build a company that is truly great. I am excited to be a part of this journey with Certus, and I am looking forward to our exciting future together.” This is the first external appointment to the Certus Board of Directors. As the company continues its growth across the United States, it will add directors that “see the opportunity to be a part of a differentiated pest control consolidator and can provide valuable industry and operational experience, to ensure we continue to deliver value to our employees, customers and shareholders,” according to Givlin. Certus entered the market in May 2019 with the acquisitions of Eco Elite Pest Control and Mathis Exterminating to form a sizable platform in the Pacific Northwest. The company expects to continue to grow through partnerships with leading pest control companies and their leadership teams. Ideal partners are those who are looking for partial liquidity but are also interested in continuing to grow their company with a strategic partner who can provide them with best- in-class resources and capital. Certus is looking forward to attending its first PestWorld in October and meeting with many more entrepreneurs. Certus Appoints Rich Ennis to Board of Directors