IMB Partners has acquired Strategic Land Services, a Georgia-based heavy civil contractor specializing in site preparation and infrastructure services for electric utility projects. The transaction was completed in late May, and its financial terms were not disclosed.
The investment expands IMB’s portfolio of utility and infrastructure services companies as demand for electric grid modernization and expansion continues to increase across Georgia and the broader southeastern United States.
Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Oakwood, Georgia, Strategic Land Services provides the civil construction work required to develop and maintain electric utility infrastructure, including power substations and transmission lines.
The company’s services include land development, grading, erosion control, stormwater management, right-of-way clearing, access road construction, and the development of structure pads for utility equipment.
Strategic Land Services has built long-standing relationships with major electric utilities in Georgia, with some customer relationships extending for more than 20 years. The company is known for its value engineering capabilities, operating reliability, and safety performance.
IMB plans to support Strategic Land Services as it adds crews, strengthens its organization, expands its service offerings, and pursues opportunities across a larger geographic market.
The company will also seek to deepen its presence throughout the broader Southern Company utility system and enter adjacent states as electric utilities increase spending on transmission, substations, and related infrastructure.
Strategic Land Services is positioned to benefit from growing electricity demand associated with population growth, advanced manufacturing projects, and the development of large data centers throughout the Southeast.
These trends are requiring utilities to add transmission capacity, upgrade substations, improve access to infrastructure sites, and complete additional civil work before electrical equipment can be installed.
IMB and Strategic Land Services also plan to build a broader regional site preparation platform through partnerships with other infrastructure services businesses. The strategy could include additional acquisitions that expand the company’s capabilities, customer relationships, and geographic reach.
IMB has previous experience investing in and growing utility services companies, including LaFata Contract Services, Carr & Duff, and Farwest Corrosion Control Company.
The private equity firm focuses on partnering with management teams at middle-market companies operating in utility services, infrastructure, information technology, cybersecurity, and food-related sectors.
IMB typically invests in profitable, privately held businesses generating between $10 million and $250 million in annual revenue. The firm provides capital and operational resources intended to help founder-led companies institutionalize their operations and scale.
Strategic Land Services President Randall Humphrey and the company’s existing team will continue building the business in partnership with IMB.
IMB believes Strategic Land Services’ experienced workforce, established utility relationships, and reputation for completing challenging projects provide a strong foundation for expansion.
The investment will allow Strategic Land Services to pursue additional projects while maintaining its focus on completing work safely, on schedule, and within customer budgets.
KEY QUOTES:
“Strategic Land Services is exactly the kind of mission-critical, founder-led business we seek to partner with. Randall, David, and their team have spent nearly three decades earning the trust of Georgia’s largest utilities at a moment when those utilities are investing heavily to modernize and expand the grid. We are excited to partner with the team to add crews, strengthen the organization, and help SLS scale.”
Lamar Warren, Director at IMB Partners
“We built SLS by showing up for our customers and delivering work on the difficult jobs by value engineering to help bring projects in on budget and on time. In IMB, we found a partner that shares our values and our commitment to our people and our customers. We’re excited to roll up our sleeves alongside the IMB team and take the company to the next level.”
Randall Humphrey, President of Strategic Land Services
