Mascarene Partners announced that it has partnered with management to acquire General Drilling from Fred Weber and Venture Drilling East, doing business as Two Eight Southeast, combining the businesses to create Iron Pillar United Mining Group. The transaction closed on May 14, 2026.
Headquartered in Conyers, Georgia, Iron Pillar provides drilling services to aggregate producers and quarry owners across the Southeast and Midwest. The combination brings together two established drilling specialists under a single brand and creates a larger platform serving the U.S. aggregates industry.
Doug Weible will serve as Chief Executive Officer of Iron Pillar while continuing as Chief Executive Officer of Fred Weber. Brent Taylor has been appointed President of Iron Pillar. Fred Weber and the former owners of Venture Drilling East retained ownership stakes in the business alongside Mascarene.
Mascarene said the transaction aligns with its strategy of investing in middle-market infrastructure businesses across North America. The firm sees opportunities to expand Iron Pillar through both organic growth and additional acquisitions.
Varagon Capital Partners provided financing for the transaction. McGuireWoods served as legal counsel to Mascarene. Butcher Joseph & Co. advised Fred Weber, while Forge West Consulting acted as financial advisor to Venture Drilling East.
About Mascarene Partners
Mascarene Partners is a middle-market infrastructure investment platform focused on North American transportation and industrial businesses.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are pleased to be partnering with Doug, Brent, and the broader Iron Pillar team. Both General Drilling and Venture Drilling East have established strong reputations with their respective customer bases, and the combination creates a platform with the scale and capabilities to serve aggregate producers and quarry owners across the U.S.”
Rob Creighton, Partner, Mascarene Partners
“Bringing General Drilling and Venture Drilling East together creates a scaled drilling services provider in the U.S. aggregates industry. Our customers want a partner who can deliver consistent quality across multiple geographies, and the combined platform positions Iron Pillar to do exactly that. We are pleased to have Mascarene as our long-term partner in that effort.”
Doug Weible, Chief Executive Officer, Iron Pillar United Mining Group
“Our customers are the foundation of our business, and that does not change under the Iron Pillar banner. As we expand the scope of our operations, our priority remains delivering superior service on every job. The partnership with Mascarene provides the resources to grow our footprint while maintaining that focus.”
Brent Taylor, President, Iron Pillar United Mining Group
“Iron Pillar fits squarely within Mascarene’s investment strategy. The business is highly asset-intensive, its services are essential to ongoing aggregate production, and we see a clear path to growth through both organic execution and additional acquisitions. We look forward to supporting the team as they continue to grow the business.”
Wes Dick, Managing Partner, Mascarene Partners
