Sarasota pest control biz bags more bug firms

SARASOTA — Environmental Pest Service, on a mission to grow a pest control business through acquisitions, ended 2014 on a tear.

The firm, according to a release, closed seven merger deals in December. The Sarasota-based company, in total, completed 21 mergers and acquisitions in 2014 and has now merged with 53 companies in Florida and Georgia since August 2010. The firm's brands and entities combined for $35.1 million in 2014 revenues, according to the release.

Formerly named Arrow Environmental Holdings, EPS is the parent company of Arrow Environmental Services in west and central Florida, Bug Out Service in Jacksonville and Skyline Pest Solutions in Atlanta. EPS also recently acquired Orlando-based pest control provider PurControl, the firm's first branch in the Greater Orlando market. EPS named former Sears Automotive Group and Terminix senior executive Joe Finney CEO early last year to oversee more acquisitions and lead the integration phase.

“We are extremely pleased with our continued growth and customer retention trends,” Joe Finney says in the release. “We have found that merger partners are attracted to our high pest control standards and overarching commitment to customer satisfaction.”