Elevator firms merge to create industry-leading company

TAMPA — Oracle Elevator, headquartered in Tampa, has merged with Atlanta-based Premier Elevator in a deal that, according to a press release, creates the largest independent elevator service company in North America.

Premier, the release states, was founded nearly three decades ago and does business in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. It bills itself as the leading independent alternative to multinational elevator companies. 

“We are excited about the addition of Premier and its employees to the Oracle family,” Oracle Elevator CEO Paul Belliveau states in the release. “Premier’s reputation for dependable and professional service made them an ideal fit for Oracle and we are eager to embark on our future together. The Premier team has both a deep bench of strong technical knowledge and a culture of outstanding customer service. We look forward to continuing our growth together.”

According to the release, Premier partners Wallace Bertschin, Hugh Bertschin and Robert Barber have joined Oracle’s senior management team but will retain ownership stakes in the combined company. The firm’s other partner, 43-year elevator industry veteran Phil Reid, has retired. 

The Premier Elevator brand will continue to be used in the Atlanta and Nashville markets, the release states, while in Florida, the company will go to market using the Premier – Oracle Elevator brand. In all other current Oracle territories, the company will use the Oracle Elevator brand. Other terms of the deal, including acquisition cost, were not disclosed in the release. 

“My business partners Phil Reid, Hugh Bertschin and Robert Barber are very proud of the company and culture we have built at Premier Elevator over the last 28 years,” Wallace Bertschin states in the release. “Oracle Elevator is the perfect cultural fit for our team and we look forward to joining them to drive the next phase of growth for the combined company. The Oracle Elevator team has an impressive track record of growth and we are very happy to begin our partnership working together to build a national organization that prioritizes customer service.”