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Sterling Construction Company, Inc. (STRL) has completed the acquisition of Petillo Incorporated for $195 million, consisting of $175 million in cash and shares valued at $20 million. This acquisition enhances Sterling's position as a leading specialty site development firm, particularly for e-commerce clients on the East Coast. Petillo reported approximately $212 million in revenue for 2021, and the deal is expected to be accretive immediately. Although the pro forma leverage ratio will increase from 2.14 to 2.35, it remains within target limits, ensuring sufficient liquidity.
Positive
Acquisition expands geographic footprint to serve blue-chip e-commerce customers on the East Coast.
Expected to create one of the largest specialty site development companies in the U.S.
Acquisition is accretive immediately.
Strong cultural alignment between Sterling and Petillo.
Negative
Pro forma total leverage ratio increases modestly to 2.35 times, indicating higher debt levels.
One of the largest specialty site development companies in the Northeast
Expansion of geographic footprint to cover blue chip e-commerce customers in all major East Coast markets
Positions Sterling to be an industry leader in E-infrastructure specialty site development
Strong cultural alignment
Pro forma Total Leverage Ratio increases modestly from 2.14 to 2.35 times, remaining comfortably within our target range and providing ample liquidity
Accretive day one
Conference Call with Accompanying Slide Presentation, Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 9:00 am ET
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. (NasdaqGS: STRL) (“Sterling” or “the Company”) entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement and closed on the acquisition of Petillo Incorporated and its related operating entities (collectively “Petillo”), on December 30, 2021. Petillo is a leading specialty site development solution provider in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Founded in 1994 by owner and CEO Michael Petillo, Petillo has seen compound revenue growth from 2017 to 2021 of 29% through continued expansion of its geographic footprint, customer base and service offerings. Petillo’s 2021 revenues and income from operations are expected to be approximately $212 million and $29 million, respectively.
“We are excited to welcome the Petillo team, its culture and capabilities into our E-infrastructure solutions sector,” said Joe Cutillo, Sterling’s Chief Executive Officer. “Their entrepreneurial spirit focused on delivering customer-centric solutions coupled with their geographic footprint will enable us to service our key blue-chip e-commerce customers up and down the entire East Coast with even more offerings than we had before. Petillo’s capabilities along with our current Plateau capabilities will not only create one of the largest specialty site development companies in the U.S. but will also add broader capabilities and service offerings to both end markets.”
The aggregate consideration of $195 million paid on the Closing Date (the “Base Purchase Price”) consisted of $175 million of cash and 759,447 shares of Sterling common shares valued at $20 million. Additionally, under the purchase agreement, upon the satisfaction of achieving the specified annual operating income growth thresholds, and certain other conditions, the sellers are entitled to earn-out payments not to exceed $20 million over the next five years. The Company also entered into a five-year employment agreement with Michael Petillo, which provides for five equal annual retention payments totaling $15 million.
Effective December 29, 2021, Sterling entered into a Third Amendment to it’s Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) which, among other provisions, increased the Company’s Existing Term Loans through a new incremental $140 million term loan with the same maturity as the Existing Term Loans to fund a portion of the Petillo acquisition. The Amendment was led by BMO Capital Markets Corp, as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Runner, and BMO Harris Bank N.A., as Administrative Agent. The balance of the Base Purchase Price, together with acquisition related costs, was funded from Sterling’s cash balance.
Stifel served as exclusive financial advisor and Jones Walker LLP served as legal advisor to Sterling on this transaction.
Conference Call
Sterling’s management will hold a conference call to discuss this transaction on Thursday, January 6th at 9:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. CT. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing (201) 493-6744 or (877) 445-9755. Please call in ten minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin and ask for the Sterling call. Following management’s opening remarks, there will be a question and answer session. Additionally, a slide presentation that will accompany management’s comments will be posted to the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, which can be found at www.strlco.com, where a simultaneous webcast of the call will be available as well. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for thirty days.
About Sterling
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. operates through a variety of subsidiaries within three segments specializing in Heavy Civil, Specialty Services and Residential projects in the United States (the “U.S.”), primarily across the southern U.S., the Rocky Mountain States, California and Hawaii, as well as other areas with strategic construction opportunities. Heavy Civil includes infrastructure and rehabilitation projects for highways, roads, bridges, airports, ports, light rail, water, wastewater and storm drainage systems. Specialty Services projects include site development activities, foundations for multi-family homes, parking structures and other commercial concrete projects. Residential projects include concrete foundations for single-family homes. From strategy to operations, we are committed to sustainability by operating responsibly to safeguard and improve society’s quality of life. Caring for our people and communities, our customers and our investors – that is The Sterling Way.
Joe Cutillo, CEO, “We build and service the infrastructure that enables our economy to run, our people to move and our country to grow.”
Important Information for Investors and Stockholders
This press release contains statements that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which may include statements about: our projections or expectations relating to synergies and other benefits from the transaction; our business strategy; our financial strategy; our industry outlook; and our plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts, outlook and intentions. All of these types of statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “target,” “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. In addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control, including the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the transaction cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, the possibility that the costs or difficulties of integration of the Petillo business will be greater than expected and our ability to hire and retain the Petillo employees. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to such factors as well as the other factors included in the “Risk Factors” section in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and elsewhere in those filings. Additional factors or risks that we currently deem immaterial, that are not presently known to us or that arise in the future could also cause our actual results to differ materially from our expected results. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions upon which our forward-looking statements are based are likely to change after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances or otherwise, notwithstanding any changes in our assumptions, changes in business plans, actual experience or other changes. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.
Company Contact:
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. Ron Ballschmiede, Chief Financial Officer
(281) 214-0777
Investor Relations Contact:
The Equity Group Inc. Jeremy Hellman, CFA
(212) 836-9626
Source: Sterling Construction Company, Inc.
FAQ
What is the significance of Sterling's acquisition of Petillo (STRL)?
The acquisition positions Sterling as a leading specialty site development company, enhancing its capabilities to serve e-commerce clients on the East Coast.
How much did Sterling pay for Petillo?
Sterling paid $195 million for Petillo, which included $175 million in cash and $20 million in Sterling shares.
What were Petillo's financials before the acquisition by Sterling?
Petillo reported approximately $212 million in revenue and $29 million in operating income for 2021.
Will the acquisition of Petillo impact Sterling's leverage ratio?
Yes, the pro forma total leverage ratio will increase from 2.14 to 2.35 times, but it remains within the company's target range.
When will Sterling discuss the acquisition of Petillo?
Sterling will hold a conference call on January 6, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss the acquisition details.
