Certus adds Santiano Brothers

LOGO: CERTUS

Guilford, Conn.-based Certus Pest has purchased Miami, Fla.-based Santiano Brothers Pest Management Professionals. Terms were not disclosed, but this acquisition continues Certus’ expansion throughout the Southeast.

Founded in 1981 by Mike and Julio Santiano, the company provides commercial pest management services to the South Florida market.

When discussing their decision to sell, Mike and Julio commented in a news release, “After 39 years, we were ready to retire. However, we have numerous long-tenured employees and customers who we wanted to make sure were looked after properly. After meeting with the Certus management team, we were sure that they would look after our people and customers, allowing us to retire with no concerns.”

Mike Givlin, CEO and co-founder of Certus, said, “Mike and Julio have built a great commercial business with a diverse portfolio of fantastic customers. They focused on providing world-class service by hiring great people, providing them with the training and tools for success, and then keeping them focused on delivering outstanding service. It was a great recipe for success.”

Santiano Brothers was represented by Kemp Anderson Consulting during the transaction.

“Given the chaos of 2020, we were honored to represent the Santiano family and their business with the acquisition by Certus,” said Kemp Anderson, founder and president of Kemp Anderson Consulting. “It is always rewarding to help high quality companies come together. We were able to work collectively as a team, including attorney David Gunter, to represent the Santiano’s in this transaction despite the complications of COVID.”

Mike and Julio added, “No amount of foreshadowing could have predicted that COVID would strike while negotiating the sale of our business. We are immensely thankful that we had Kemp and Theresa by our side to help guide us through a successful transaction. They were patient, knowledgeable and always accessible while guiding us through the process.”

Earlier this year, Certus completed its first acquisition in Florida with Hoskins Pest Control, its first acquisition in Arizona with Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control, and its first acquisition in California with Rodent Pest Technologies.

The company also purchased Portland, Ore.-based Pioneer Pest Management; Cape Coral, Fla.-based Strategic Pest Control of Southwest Florida; Seattle, Wash.-based Dominion Pest Control; Meridian, Idaho-based Perx Pest Control; Beaverton, Ore.-based Halt Pest Control; and most recently Puyallup, Wash.-based Whitworth Pest Solutions.

Certus now operates in Washington, Oregon, Florida, Idaho and Arizona. The company expects to continue to grow in its existing markets and enter new markets into 2021.

Certus entered the pest control market in 2019 in the Pacific Northwest with its first two acquisitions: Mathis Exterminating, Puget Sound, Wash., and Eco Elite Pest Control, Seattle, Wash.