The Potomac Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of Bel-O Pest Solutions by PestCo, a portfolio company of Thompson Street Capital Partners (TSCP). This is PestCo’s fourth investment since it was formed as an acquisition platform in 2021.
Bel-O has provided commercial and residential pest control in the St. Louis area since its establishment in 2006 by Ron Hodgkins. Headquartered in Belleville, Illinois, the company is locally owned and operated.
In 1984, Ron Hodgkins joined C&D Termite and Pest Control, a one-man pest control company. Ron stepped in to run the business after the owner faced a medical issue that left Ron as the only able-bodied employee. Ron trained himself on the ins and outs of the pest control industry and eventually sold C&D Termite and Pest Control in 2005. He founded Bel-O Pest Solutions the following year.
Ron is a member of the National Pest Management Association and has been appointed twice to the Illinois Governor’s Structural Pest Control Advisory Council. There, he served on the committee responsible for reviewing Illinois’ pest control rules and regulations.
On the transaction with TSCP, Ron stated, “Bel-O has consistently prioritized its team and customers. Partnering with PestCo and TSCP will enable us to continue to provide opportunities for our team and deliver excellent customer service while increasing our focus on growth.”
Jay Keating, CEO of PestCo, added, “Bel-O is an established, quality-focused company and we believe a solid way for us to enter the St. Louis market. We’re excited about this opportunity. Ron has built a solid team and we look forward to working with them in our mission to earn loyalty and create opportunities for both our employees and customers in greater St. Louis.”
“Being based in St.Louis, the TSCP team is excited for PestCo to enter the growing St. Louis pest control services market. Bel-O represents a beachhead for PestCo to aggressively grow its presence in the Missouri/Illinois bi-state region organically and via add-on acquisitions,” said Jeff Aiello, TSCP managing director.
Bel-O Pest Solutions was advised by Paul Giannamore and Franco Villanueva-Meyer of The Potomac Company.
