Equity firm plows investment into area landscaping company

FORT MYERS — New York City-based private equity firm Bregal Partners has made an undisclosed investment in Juniper Landscaping, one of the largest and fast-growing commercial landscaping firms in Florida.

Financial terms of the investment weren’t disclosed.

Fort Myers-based Juniper, family-owned and operated since its founding in 2001, plans to use the funds to “continue to pursue acquisition growth in its target markets,” according to a statement. Under CEO Brandon Duke’s leadership, the company has expanded its presence across Florida, through both organic and acquisition growth, the release states. It currently serves more than 1,500 properties via a network of 15 local branches in Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Naples, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, Venice and Vero Beach.

Clients include homeowners’ associations, commercial clients and municipalities and the firm was ranked among the 20 largest landscaping company in the United States on the 2021 Lawn & Landscape Top 100.

Bregal Partners Managing Director Thomas Kearney notes that Juniper is an ideal platform for Bregal, which actively pursues opportunities to invest in commercial facility services businesses ripe for organic and acquisition-related growth. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Brandon and the management team at Juniper,” says Kearney in the release, “and are excited to provide them with the support they need to continue to develop Juniper into a best-in-class commercial landscaping company, particularly as it relates to accelerating the company’s acquisition strategy and continuing to be the employer of choice in the markets they serve.”

Bregal Partners is a private equity firm with $1.25 billion of committed capital specializing in three core verticals: consumer and multi-unit, food and beverage, and business services. It’s one of several dedicated funds within Bregal Investments, a global platform that’s invested or committed over $16.5 billion since its inception in 2002.

“We are proud to have established Juniper as one of the largest and most reputable providers of commercial landscaping services in Florida, and are excited to have selected Bregal as our next financial partner,” Duke says in the release. “Bregal was an ideal partner for us due to their commitment to growth while fully aligning with Juniper’s mission and employee-centric culture. We look forward to continuing our growth trajectory while providing best-in-class landscaping services to our clients and developing our talented team.”