Company looks to master buggy domain

A Tampa-based pest control company seeks to boost its over-the-counter Pink Sheets portfolio by joining forces with a Nevada-based competitor -- as a franchisee.

Chris Trina, CEO of Tampa-based Enviro-Serv Inc., says his company is finalizing an agreement that will bring it under the brand umbrella of Reno, Nev.-based Pestmaster Services. The deal will give Enviro-Serv the rights to the entire Tampa Bay market.

Once Enviro-Serv joins Pestmaster, it will inherit a five-year government contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Trina says is worth $307,000. But he doesn't plan to stop there.

“As Pestmaster Services Tampa, we will aggressively bid on numerous state, federal and local municipality contracts within our territory,” Trina writes in a note to shareholders. “The strategy is to bid on many to win a few.”

It's a rare opportunity for pest control companies, Trina adds, because less than half of 1% of all pest control companies even have the ability to bid on federal contracts. Pestmaster already manages government contracts in 30 locations nationwide, and has a contract locally with Veterans Health Administration, the company says.

Enviro-Serv, which trades under the symbol EVSV, hasn't filed financial reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since 2013, when it reported an annual loss of $377,000, compared with $1.3 million the year before.