Coalesce Capital has made a growth investment in ClearDefense Pest Control, providing backing for the residential pest control company as it looks to expand beyond a footprint that has reached 27 locations across 16 states.
ClearDefense’s founders and management team will keep a meaningful equity stake and continue to lead the business in partnership with Coalesce.
Founded in 2013, ClearDefense provides residential pest management services that include general pest, mosquito, and termite control. The company has grown primarily through organic expansion, supported by a multi-channel customer acquisition strategy and investments in recruiting and developing sales representatives and technicians.
The new investment is intended to give ClearDefense more resources to grow in its current markets and move into adjacent ones while keeping its management team and operating model in place. Chairman and founder of ClearDefense, John-Mark Bolton, said:
"We started ClearDefense with a vision to build a unique and scalable pest control platform that delivers an exceptional customer experience while creating a culture that attracts and retains the best people in our industry."
Bolton added that the partnership is meant to speed up the company’s next stage of growth without changing its culture or operating principles.
For Coalesce, the investment aligns with its focus on human capital-driven and technology-enabled services businesses. The firm has more than $1.8 billion in regulatory assets under management and said recurring revenue, resilient demand and industry fragmentation supported its interest in the pest control sector. Stephanie Geveda, founder and managing partner of Coalesce, had this to say of the acquisition:
"What particularly stood out to us about ClearDefense is the combination of a best-in-class commercial engine, unique talent development capabilities, and a culture that consistently delivers outstanding customer outcomes."
ClearDefense also provides commercial pest management services and has emphasized customer service and employee development as part of its expansion strategy. Its 27-location network gives it a base for further geographic growth, with local teams supported by broader sales and customer acquisition operations.
The company’s management team will remain in place after the transaction as it pursues growth across its existing footprint and in additional markets. Citizens M&A Advisory served as financial advisor to ClearDefense, with Orrick as legal counsel. Piper Sandler advised Coalesce, and Latham & Watkins acted as its legal counsel.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Also, the companies did not disclose specific plans for new locations, acquisition activity or a timetable for entering additional markets.
