DECATUR, Ala. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 20, 2021 — Warren Equity Partners, a lower middle market private equity fund, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Magnolia River International, Inc. (“Magnolia River” or the “Company”). Magnolia River, based in Decatur, AL, is a premier provider of inspection, engineering and design, and geographic information system (GIS) services for natural gas distribution and transmission pipeline and water utility infrastructure and operations. Warren Equity acquired a majority interest in Magnolia River from founder Ronnie Hoff and other shareholders. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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“We are very excited to partner with the Magnolia River team. Over its 20-year history, the Company has become a leading provider of infrastructure inspection services with a strong reputation for safety, service, and technical expertise,” said Steven Wacaster, Managing Partner at Warren Equity.
The Company offers technology-enabled underground infrastructure services to over 50 investor-owned utilities, municipalities, and industrial customers across 25 states. Magnolia River leverages a highly-trained and certified base of in-house inspectors, engineers, and GIS professionals across thirteen offices to support its customers’ pipeline replacement, deployment, and integrity management requirements. The Company supplements its services with proprietary software solutions (including flagship platforms FlowGIS™ and FieldLogIQ™) designed to help customers reduce costs, optimize field operations, boost data management, and ensure regulatory compliance.
“We chose to partner with Warren Equity because of their utility and industrial services expertise, proven track record of scaling similar business models, and strong cultural fit,” said Heath McCleskey, President and Board member of Magnolia River. “With Warren Equity, we have found a value-add partner who will help us execute our strategic growth plan and who shares our vision of making the world safer by providing innovative solutions to the utility infrastructure industry.”
“We are proud to partner with a firm who is strongly aligned with the culture and values of Magnolia River and who will provide valuable stewardship during our next phase of growth,” added Ronnie Hoff, Founder of Magnolia River.
“Magnolia River sits at the intersection of several, compelling industry tailwinds including continued investment in infrastructure safety and efficiency, growing adoption of technology and technology-enabled services to track utility asset performance and optimize field operations, and increasing demand for outsourced services,” added Michael Ouyang, Vice President at Warren Equity. “We look forward to working with management to continue to drive organic growth and deploy an effective acquisition strategy in this highly fragmented market.”
This transaction represents Warren Equity Partners’ fourteenth platform investment and 45th acquisition since its formation in mid-2015.
About Warren Equity Partners
Warren Equity Partners is a private equity firm that invests in middle market operating companies primarily in North America. The firm focuses on situations where additional capital and operating resources can accelerate growth, targeting the industrial, infrastructure, and business services sectors. Warren Equity invests in the form of buyouts, growth equity, and recapitalizations. For more information, please visit www.warrenequity.com.
About Magnolia River
Founded in 2000 and based in Decatur, AL, Magnolia River provides inspection, engineering, GIS, and technology solutions for utility and natural gas pipeline infrastructure and operations. Utility, municipality, and industrial customers across the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest rely on the Company for their pipeline replacement, deployment, and maintenance requirements. Magnolia River also offers a suite of proprietary technology solutions within its GeoCurrent business unit to empower utility and pipeline operators through value-based technology to reduce costs, make field work more efficient, and meet regulatory needs. For more information, please visit www.magnolia-river.com.
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Contact:
J. Heath McCleskey
Magnolia River
President
(256) 773-9420