Key Takeaways
- • L Squared Capital Partners acquired Edko, a Bossier City, Louisiana-based provider of vegetation management services for critical infrastructure, as the first platform investment from its $2 billion L Squared Capital Partners V fund, which closed in April 2026.
- • Edko operates 36 branch locations and serves customers across 30 states, offering bareground vegetation control, foliar applications, basal treatments, contract forestry, fire mitigation, and drone-based services.
- • L Squared views Edko as a platform for consolidating the fragmented U.S. vegetation management market, which is dominated by regional and local providers.
- • Demand drivers cited by L Squared include infrastructure reliability spending, grid expansion, wildfire mitigation, tightening regulatory requirements, and rising electricity demand.
- • Edko's existing CEO Jason Sellers and management team will continue to lead the company, and Ares Capital Management and BMO Bank provided debt financing.
Summary
L Squared Capital Partners, a Newport Beach, California-based private equity firm, has acquired Edko, a provider of vegetation management services for critical infrastructure assets across the United States. The transaction is the first platform investment from L Squared Capital Partners V, a $2 billion private equity fund that closed in April 2026. The purchase price was not disclosed in the source material.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Bossier City, Louisiana, Edko serves electric utilities, pipeline operators, refineries, energy exploration and production businesses, and renewable energy companies. The company operates through 36 branch locations and serves customers in 30 states. Its services help infrastructure owners control vegetation around equipment and facilities, maintain regulatory compliance, and reduce operational risks. For electric utilities, this work supports protection of transmission and distribution assets, reduces outage risk, and addresses wildfire concerns.
L Squared believes Edko is positioned to benefit from rising spending on infrastructure reliability, grid expansion, and wildfire mitigation, as well as growing regulatory requirements and rising electricity demand. The firm plans to use the investment to support organic growth, geographic expansion, and investment in workforce, equipment, technical capabilities, and professional development. L Squared also sees acquisitions as a central part of the strategy, describing the vegetation management industry as highly fragmented and Edko as a potential consolidator of complementary regional businesses.
L Squared Capital Partners V and its affiliates provided equity financing alongside Edko's management team. Ares Capital Management and BMO Bank provided debt financing. Stout Capital served as financial adviser to L Squared, with Skadden as legal counsel. Piper Sandler and Stifel advised Edko, and K&L Gates served as its legal counsel. CEO Jason Sellers and the existing management team will continue leading the company, and the partnership is intended to preserve existing customer relationships and service standards.
L Squared manages more than $5 billion in equity commitments and focuses on education technology, technology-enabled services and software, and industrial technology and services. Its principals have worked together for more than 15 years and collectively bring over 130 years of private investment experience. In announcing the deal, Managing Partner Sean Barrette called Edko "the natural consolidator" in a highly fragmented market and said the firm was "proud to make this our first investment out of Fund V." Partner Tyler Huez cited Edko's track record of growth and commitment to safety, compliance, and customer service.
Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Bossier City, Louisiana, Edko serves electric utilities, pipeline operators, refineries, energy exploration and production businesses, and renewable energy companies. The company operates through 36 branch locations and serves customers in 30 states. Its services help infrastructure owners control vegetation around equipment and facilities, maintain regulatory compliance, and reduce operational risks. For electric utilities, this work supports protection of transmission and distribution assets, reduces outage risk, and addresses wildfire concerns.
L Squared believes Edko is positioned to benefit from rising spending on infrastructure reliability, grid expansion, and wildfire mitigation, as well as growing regulatory requirements and rising electricity demand. The firm plans to use the investment to support organic growth, geographic expansion, and investment in workforce, equipment, technical capabilities, and professional development. L Squared also sees acquisitions as a central part of the strategy, describing the vegetation management industry as highly fragmented and Edko as a potential consolidator of complementary regional businesses.
L Squared Capital Partners V and its affiliates provided equity financing alongside Edko's management team. Ares Capital Management and BMO Bank provided debt financing. Stout Capital served as financial adviser to L Squared, with Skadden as legal counsel. Piper Sandler and Stifel advised Edko, and K&L Gates served as its legal counsel. CEO Jason Sellers and the existing management team will continue leading the company, and the partnership is intended to preserve existing customer relationships and service standards.
L Squared manages more than $5 billion in equity commitments and focuses on education technology, technology-enabled services and software, and industrial technology and services. Its principals have worked together for more than 15 years and collectively bring over 130 years of private investment experience. In announcing the deal, Managing Partner Sean Barrette called Edko "the natural consolidator" in a highly fragmented market and said the firm was "proud to make this our first investment out of Fund V." Partner Tyler Huez cited Edko's track record of growth and commitment to safety, compliance, and customer service.
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